The Townsville DAMA: A Guide for North Queensland Employers
Employers from Townsville to Mount Isa often run short of local candidates. The Townsville North Queensland DAMA gives them another lawful option. So this guide sets out its published terms.
TNQ DAMA terms checked on 23 September 2026. DAMA terms are reviewed each year. Therefore, always confirm the current position with Townsville Enterprise before you act.
Where the Townsville DAMA applies
Townsville Enterprise Limited is the Designated Area Representative, or DAR. Its Information Guide names nine councils in the area.
They are the City of Townsville, Hinchinbrook Shire, Charters Towers Regional Council and Burdekin Shire. In addition, the area runs west to the City of Mount Isa. The Shires of Cloncurry, McKinlay, Richmond and Flinders are covered too.
The position itself must sit inside that area. However, a worker may travel outside it briefly for work. Beyond three months in twelve, Home Affairs must agree first. Your business also needs twelve months of operation there, unless exceptional circumstances apply.
The TNQ DAMA at a glance
| Item | Published position, checked 23 September 2026 |
|---|---|
| Covered area | Nine councils, Hinchinbrook and Burdekin west to Mount Isa |
| Occupations | 211 entries counted on the June 2025 list |
| Salary concession | 10 per cent discount to the income threshold, on 37 entries |
| English concession | Average IELTS 5.0, on 37 entries |
| Age concession | 55 for skill levels 1 to 4, 50 for level 5, on the 494 and 186 |
| Annual ceiling | Not published by the DAR. Each labour agreement sets its own numbers |
What the occupation list actually shows
The current list is the Townsville North Queensland Occupation List dated June 2025. We counted 211 entries on it on 23 September 2026. Two of them, Ship’s Master and Ship’s Officer, follow the Fishing Industry Labour Agreement.
The DAR’s own counts differ. Its DAMA page says over 200 occupations, while its FAQ page says 195. So always work from the current list itself.
Moreover, the agreement switches off the ANZSCO caveats used in the standard program.
The concessions the agreement allows
Concessions are what the agreement permits. They are never automatic, because the DAR must be satisfied each one is justified.
Salary
The list flags a 10 per cent income threshold concession on 37 entries. Home Affairs sets the Core Skills and Temporary Skilled Migration Income Thresholds at AUD79,423. That figure covers nominations lodged between 1 July 2026 and 30 June 2027. A 10 per cent discount therefore lands near AUD71,481. The DAR publishes the percentage, not the dollar figure. The market salary rate still governs where it sits higher.
English
An English concession is flagged on 37 entries. For the 482 and 494, it is an average of IELTS 5.0 with no minimum component score. For the 186, it is an average of 5.0 with no component below 4.0. OET, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic and Cambridge CAE are also accepted. However, licensing or registration rules can still require more. The DAR asks employers to address workplace health and safety in the request.
Age and experience
The age concession applies to the 494 and 186 only. Workers must not have turned 55 for skill level 1 to 4 occupations. For skill level 5 occupations the limit is 50. We counted age 55 on 199 entries and age 50 on 12. There is no age concession on the 482 itself.
Group 1 occupations need one year of relevant full time experience for the 482. For the 494, two years applies at skill levels 1 to 3. Groups 2 to 4 require a skills assessment as well.
What endorsement costs and how long it takes
The DAR charges a fee for every ANZSCO position requested. It is payable in full when you lodge, and rises with business size.
On the DAR fee page, member rates run from AUD800 to AUD1,800 including GST. Non member rates run from AUD1,100 to AUD2,250. Membership must sit with the employing entity, not its agent. The Information Guide shows AUD880 for the smallest member band, so confirm the rate before you pay.
Two timeframes are published. The Information Guide says well documented requests are generally finalised within five working days. Meanwhile the FAQ page says the DAR endeavours to complete an assessment within 20 working days.
The four stages, and labour market testing
Stage one is DAR endorsement. Stage two is the labour agreement request, lodged through ImmiAccount. Stage three is the nomination, and stage four is the worker’s visa application.
Labour market testing is a Home Affairs requirement, not a DAR one. For this purpose, Townsville North Queensland is a Category 3 location. Two separate attempts are needed for each occupation. One advertisement must have national reach, while the other may be local. Testing must fall within the twelve months before the request and the nomination.
The permanent residence pathway
Every occupation in the main table carries a permanent residence pathway marker. The 186 route generally requires two years of prior full time work. It must be in the nominated or a closely related listed occupation. The worker must have lived and worked in the designated area throughout. In addition, the employer must offer two further years of full time work.
Skill level 5 occupations differ. Those workers must first move into a higher skill level role for two years. Without that move, there is no pathway to permanent residence.
What the Commonwealth charges on top
Home Affairs charges apply on top of the DAR fee. Sponsorship costs AUD420, and a 482 nomination costs AUD330. An ENS 186 nomination costs AUD540. The Skilling Australians Fund levy is payable at nomination as well. For the 482 it is AUD1,200 or AUD1,800 a year, depending on turnover. For the 186 and 494 it is AUD3,000 or AUD5,000 as a one off. Labour agreement sponsors must pay the levy too. We re-verified each figure on Home Affairs on 23 September 2026.
Townsville in the national picture
Home Affairs lists 13 DAMAs. Townsville is one of two in Queensland, with the Far North Queensland DAMA in Cairns. Terms differ between regions, so never carry concessions across.
For the wider framework, see our DAMA guide for Australian employers. For the other Queensland agreement, see our FNQ DAMA guide for Cairns employers. The East Kimberley DAMA guide offers a western contrast. Victorian employers can start with our Victorian DAMA overview.
Frequently asked questions
Which councils does the Townsville DAMA cover?
Nine councils sit in the designated area. They are Townsville, Hinchinbrook, Charters Towers, Burdekin and Mount Isa. In addition, the Shires of Cloncurry, McKinlay, Richmond and Flinders are covered.
How many occupations are on the Townsville DAMA list?
We counted 211 entries on the June 2025 occupation list on 23 September 2026. The DAR’s pages say over 200 in one place and 195 in another. So check the current list first.
What does Townsville Enterprise charge for endorsement?
The fee is charged per ANZSCO position and rises with business size. Member rates run from AUD800 to AUD1,800 including GST. Non member rates run from AUD1,100 to AUD2,250. Confirm the rate with the DAR before lodging.
Does the Townsville DAMA lead to permanent residence?
Every occupation in the main table carries a permanent residence pathway marker. The 186 route generally needs two years of prior full time work there. Skill level 5 workers must first move to a higher skill level.
Sam Kanjo, Migration Lawyer, Skyline Migration Lawyers, Melbourne.
Talk to us about the Townsville DAMA
We help employers prepare endorsement requests and labour agreements. Call Skyline Migration Lawyers 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 guarantee any outcome. DAMA terms change, so please seek advice tailored to your business before you act.
