The Orana DAMA: Sponsoring Skilled Workers Across Regional NSW

Inland New South Wales carries real skill shortages. Employers in Dubbo, Orange, Wagga Wagga and Albury all feel them. The Orana DAMA gives those employers another route. Regional Development Australia Orana acts as the Designated Area Representative, or DAR.

The agreement reaches well beyond the Orana shires. In fact, it now covers five RDA regions. All regional figures below come from the DAR’s own website, checked on 9 September 2026.

Which parts of NSW the agreement covers

The business must have a physical presence in the designated area, and the work must sit there too. The DAR publishes five regions.

• Orana: Dubbo Regional, Mid-Western Regional, Narromine, Gilgandra, Warren, Coonamble, Warrumbungle, Walgett, Brewarrina, Bogan, Cobar and Bourke.
• Central West: Bathurst, Blayney, Cabonne, Cowra, Forbes, Lachlan, Lithgow, Oberon, Orange, Parkes and Weddin.
• Riverina: Bland, Carrathool, Coolamon, Cootamundra Gundagai, Griffith, Hay, Junee, Leeton, Lockhart, Murrumbidgee, Narrandera, Snowy Valleys, Temora and Wagga Wagga.
• Murray: Albury, Balranald, Berrigan, Edward River, Federation, Greater Hume, Murray River and Wentworth.
• Southern Inland: Wingecarribee, Goulburn Mulwaree, Upper Lachlan, Hilltops, Yass Valley, Queanbeyan Palerang and Snowy Monaro.

Furthermore, the business must be a registered Australian entity, operating in the region for at least 12 months. It also needs a clean record under workplace law. Finally, sponsored workers must live in the region.

The occupation list

The Orana DAMA covers 129 occupations. They span farming, food processing, health, aged care, construction, hospitality and the trades. For example, they include chefs, diesel motor mechanics, registered nurses and fruit pickers.

Concessions do not attach to every occupation. Instead, the DAR flags each one separately, so check your ANZSCO code before you plan a salary.

Where an Industry Labour Agreement already covers an occupation, the DAMA can only endorse it in a different industry. Meat occupations follow the Meat Industry Labour Agreement requirements.

The concessions the agreement allows

Salary

Home Affairs sets the Core Skills Income Threshold and the TSMIT at AUD79,423. That figure applies to nominations lodged from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027. However, the Orana DAMA allows two concessions to 90 per cent of that threshold. On the current figure, 90 per cent is about AUD71,481.

Type 1 requires monetary earnings of at least 90 per cent. Type 2 lets guaranteed food and board fill the gap. Those non-monetary earnings cannot exceed 10 per cent, and the package must still reach the full threshold.

The award and the annual market salary rate still apply. Therefore the higher amount governs.

English

Where the occupation carries an English concession, an overall IELTS 5.0 applies. For PTE Academic, the equivalent overall score is 31. For the 482 and 494, no minimum component score applies. For the 186, no component may fall below IELTS 4.0, or PTE 24.

Licensing rules can still demand more. In addition, the employer must justify the concession when requesting endorsement. That case should cover workplace health and safety risks.

Age

The 494 and 186 normally require applicants under 45. Under the Orana DAMA, however, skill level 1 to 4 runs to 55, and skill level 5 to 50.

Skills and experience

Where the worker gained the relevant AQF qualification in Australia, the 482 needs only one year of experience. The 494 needs two years. Meanwhile, occupations off the standard skilled lists still need a skills assessment.

The Orana DAMA at a glance

What the process costs

RDA Orana charges an up-front, non-refundable processing fee. It costs AUD990 plus GST per position for the first five positions, then AUD550 plus GST. A later variation costs AUD800 plus GST per additional position, or AUD500 for smaller changes.

Commonwealth charges sit on top. Sponsorship approval costs AUD420. A 482 nomination costs AUD330 and a 186 nomination costs AUD540. The Skilling Australians Fund levy also applies. For a 482, it is AUD1,200 per year under AUD10 million turnover, and AUD1,800 above it. For 186 and 494 nominations, it is a one-off AUD3,000 or AUD5,000. Importantly, employers cannot pass the levy to the worker.

How endorsement works

The DAR runs an eight step process. First, book a pre-lodgement meeting with the RDA for your sub-region. It checks your eligibility, the occupation, your labour market testing and the concessions you need.

Next, lodge the application form by email with your evidence. The RDA issues an invoice, and assessment begins once you pay. It aims for initial feedback within 10 business days. Your application stays valid for three months.

A successful business then receives an endorsement letter within another 10 business days. That endorsement lasts 12 months. Next, you request the labour agreement through ImmiAccount, at no charge. Home Affairs usually responds within one to three months. Once approved, you have 12 months to nominate a worker.

Labour market testing

You must show genuine local recruitment over the last 12 months. Evidence can include recruitment agencies, newspapers, trade publications and national job boards. However, Home Affairs still sets the duration, content and medium standards.

The permanent residence pathway

Every occupation on the list has a defined pathway. After two years in the region on a 482 under the agreement, a worker may access the 186. Further requirements apply, so plan early.

Alternatively, a 494 holder may become eligible for the subclass 191 after three years, with no employer nomination. Note that the 186 age limit of 45 still applies at application.

DAMA terms are reviewed annually and they do change. We checked the terms above on 9 September 2026. Please confirm current terms with the DAR before you rely on them.

For background, see our guide to what a DAMA is and the DAMA permanent residency pathway. In addition, you can compare the Northern Territory guide, our Victorian overview and the Goulburn Valley guide.

Frequently asked questions

How many occupations does the Orana DAMA cover?

The DAR lists 129 occupations across the 482, 494 and 186 programs. However, concessions do not attach to every occupation, so check the DAR table first.

What salary concession does the Orana DAMA allow?

The agreement allows two concessions to 90 per cent of the CSIT or TSMIT. On the current threshold of AUD79,423, that is about AUD71,481. However, the award and the annual market salary rate still govern.

What does RDA Orana charge for endorsement?

The DAR charges AUD990 plus GST per position for the first five positions, then AUD550 plus GST each. A later variation costs AUD800 plus GST per additional position, or AUD500 plus GST for smaller changes.

Which parts of regional NSW does the Orana DAMA cover?

It covers five RDA regions: Orana, Central West, Riverina, Murray and Southern Inland. Therefore Dubbo, Orange, Griffith, Wagga Wagga and Albury all sit inside it.

Sam Kanjo, Migration Lawyer, Skyline Migration Lawyers, Melbourne.

Talk to us about your Orana DAMA endorsement

We help regional NSW employers scope the occupation and build the endorsement application. We also manage the labour agreement and nomination stages. Call us on 03 8108 8748 or email info@skylinemigrationlawyers.com.au.

This article is general information only. It is not legal advice and it does not consider your circumstances. DAMA terms and charges change, so please seek tailored advice.