Orana DAMA Explained: Concessions for Regional NSW Migration
Cooper
Editor, VisaClarity Australia
Published June 23, 2026Last reviewed
What is a DAMA?
A DAMA is a labour agreement framework for a specific region. The Department of Home Affairs describes a Designated Area Migration Agreement as a formal arrangement that gives employers in a designated area access to more overseas workers than the standard skilled migration program, in response to local labour shortages. You can read the overview on the Home Affairs DAMA and labour agreements page.
It works in two layers. First, a regional body negotiates a head agreement with the Government setting out which occupations the region can sponsor and what concessions apply. For Orana, that regional body is Regional Development Australia Orana. Second, an individual employer signs a labour agreement under that head agreement, which is what actually lets them nominate a worker. The worker is then sponsored onto a visa through that employer's labour agreement.
This page is general information only. It is not personal advice. The exact occupations and concessions sit inside the agreement itself and change over time, so treat every detail here as a starting point and confirm the current position with Regional Development Australia Orana and Home Affairs.
Where does the Orana DAMA apply?
The Orana DAMA covers the Orana region of regional NSW, a large inland area centred on Dubbo and extending across the Central West and surrounding local government areas. The region is administered by Regional Development Australia Orana, and the precise list of included local government areas is set by the agreement. Because boundaries and included areas can be adjusted, check the current coverage on the RDA Orana migration page rather than relying on a fixed list.
If you are weighing up regional NSW more broadly, our regional NSW migration hub explains how the different regional pathways fit together, and the DAMA finder helps you see which regional agreements cover which areas.
What concessions can the Orana DAMA offer?
A DAMA can offer concessions on the standard visa requirements, but it does not waive them all, and the exact set is fixed by the agreement. The kinds of concessions a DAMA can include are:
- age limits, where an older applicant might be eligible than under the standard program
- English language thresholds, sometimes set lower than the usual requirement
- skills and qualification requirements, with some flexibility on how experience or qualifications are recognised
- salary, where a concession may apply to the minimum an employer must pay, sometimes described against the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT)
These are categories of possible concessions, not a promise that all of them apply in Orana or apply at any particular level. A concession also usually comes with conditions. The Department sets out how DAMA concessions work in general on the Home Affairs DAMA page, and the specific Orana concessions are published by RDA Orana. Confirm the current figures and rules with both before relying on them.
Which occupations are covered, and how do I check?
The occupations available under the Orana DAMA are set by the agreement and listed by Regional Development Australia Orana, and the list changes over time. There is no single permanent occupation list for a DAMA, because the point of the deal is to target current local shortages, which shift. An occupation on the list this year may not be next year, and new occupations can be added.
To check what is currently included, go to the source. Regional Development Australia Orana publishes the occupation list and the conditions on its DAMA page. You can also use our occupation list explorer to look up an occupation and see where it appears across visa programs, and the DAMA finder to compare regional agreements. Treat these tools as a guide and the RDA Orana list as the authority.
How does the Orana DAMA actually work for a worker?
The Orana DAMA is employer-sponsored, so the process starts with a job, not with you. In broad terms, a local employer identifies a role they cannot fill locally, the employer enters or uses a labour agreement under the Orana DAMA, the employer nominates the position, and the worker is then sponsored onto a visa through that agreement. The visa pathway depends on the agreement and the role, and can include a route to permanent residence in some cases.
In practice, the employer carries much of the process. They must show the role is genuine, that local recruitment was attempted, and that the terms meet the agreement. For the worker, eligibility still has to be met, even if a concession lowers a particular bar. The Department explains the labour agreement mechanics on its labour agreements page.
How does the Orana DAMA compare with other regional pathways?
The Orana DAMA is one of several ways into regional NSW, and it suits a different situation from the points-tested visas. The skilled regional visa 491 and the skilled nominated 190 are points-tested and need state or regional nomination, and they do not require an employer the way a DAMA does. A DAMA is built around an employer sponsor and a labour agreement, and trades the points test for that sponsorship plus the agreement's concessions.
Which pathway fits depends entirely on your own occupation, points, age, English, and whether you have an employer. That is a personal-circumstances question, and it is exactly the kind of thing a registered migration agent should look at with you. Our points explainer and route wizard can help you understand the general landscape, and the state nomination and invitation rounds tools cover the points-tested side. For advice on your situation, find a registered migration agent.
What should I do before relying on any of this?
Verify the current detail with the official sources, because DAMA terms move. The occupations, the concessions, and the included areas are all set by the agreement and updated from time to time. Two sources are authoritative: Regional Development Australia Orana for the Orana-specific list and concessions, and Home Affairs for how DAMAs and labour agreements work nationally.
Start here:
- Regional Development Australia Orana DAMA page for the current Orana occupation list, concessions, and contact details
- Home Affairs DAMA and labour agreements page for the national rules
If your question is about whether you personally qualify, or which visa you should aim for, that is personal advice and outside what this page can give. A registered migration agent can advise on your circumstances. This article is general information published under section 280 of the Migration Act 1958.
Frequently asked questions
Can I apply for the Orana DAMA myself, without an employer?
No. A DAMA is employer-sponsored. The pathway runs through a local employer who holds a labour agreement under the Orana DAMA, so it starts with a job offer from an eligible employer in the region, not with an individual application. Home Affairs sets out the employer-led structure on its labour agreements page at immi.homeaffairs.gov.au.
Does the Orana DAMA guarantee lower English or age requirements?
Not automatically. A DAMA can include concessions on English, age, qualifications, and salary, but the exact concessions and the level they are set at are fixed by the agreement and can change. Check the current concessions with RDA Orana at rdaorana.org.au and confirm how they apply with Home Affairs.
Where can I find the current Orana occupation list?
On the Regional Development Australia Orana DAMA page at rdaorana.org.au. The list is set by the agreement and updated over time, so the published RDA Orana list is the one to trust. Our occupation list explorer and DAMA finder can help you cross-check, but they are a guide, not the source of truth.
Can the Orana DAMA lead to permanent residence?
It can in some cases, depending on the agreement and the role, but this is not automatic and the pathway depends on your visa and circumstances. Because this turns on your own situation, confirm the current arrangements with RDA Orana and Home Affairs, and speak to a registered migration agent about your options via /find-an-agent.
Official sources
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