Hospitality Employers Guide to the Orana DAMA Agreement

Hospitality Employers Guide to the Orana DAMA Agreement

Regional Australia faces unique workforce challenges, especially in specialised industries like hospitality. The Orana Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA) provides a practical solution for hospitality venue operators struggling to fill critical roles when local workers aren’t available.

What is the Orana DAMA?

 
The Regional Development Australia Orana Designated Area Migration Agreement (Orana DAMA) is a five-year employer-sponsored visa program agreement between Regional Development Australia Orana (RDA Orana) and the Australian Government.

This agreement enables local employers operating within the designated area to access overseas workers with specialised skills across 129 eligible occupations. Crucially, the Orana DAMA offers access to a wider range of occupations than standard skilled migration pathways, along with flexible concessions on requirements such as age, English language proficiency, salary thresholds, and work experience.

The priority remains employing Australians first. However, when positions can’t be filled from the Australian labour market, the Orana DAMA enables employers to recruit skilled overseas workers quickly and efficiently, addressing critical skill shortages that would otherwise take years to resolve through local training programs alone.

Geographic Coverage: Which Areas Are Included?

 
The Orana DAMA covers an extensive area across regional New South Wales, encompassing five Regional Development Australia regions:

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

To access the Orana DAMA, employers must have operations within the designated area, and the positions being sponsored must be located within those operations.

Hospitality Roles Included in the Orana DAMA

 
The Orana DAMA includes several key hospitality occupations, making it particularly valuable for venue operators in regional NSW. The hospitality roles covered under the agreement include:

Food and Beverage Attendant (Waiter)

This role encompasses front-of-house service staff who take orders, serve food and beverages, and provide customer service in restaurants, cafes, hotels, and other hospitality venues.

Cafe or Restaurant Manager

These managers oversee the daily operations of cafes and restaurants, including staff management, customer service, inventory control, financial management, and ensuring compliance with food safety regulations.

Hotel Manager

Hotel managers are responsible for the overall operation of accommodation facilities, managing staff, guest services, budgets, marketing, and maintaining service standards across all hotel departments.

These roles reflect the ongoing workforce challenges faced by hospitality operators in regional areas, where finding qualified staff with the right experience and skills can be particularly difficult.

Concessions Available for Hospitality Roles

 
One of the most significant advantages of the Orana DAMA is the range of concessions available, which makes it easier for employers to sponsor overseas workers who may not quite meet standard visa criteria but are still capable of performing their roles safely and effectively.

Important note: All concessions must be specifically requested and justified in the employer’s endorsement application. Not all concessions are available for all roles.

Age Concessions

The Orana DAMA offers age concessions that vary depending on the skill level of the occupation. This allows employers to sponsor experienced workers who may exceed the standard age limits for skilled migration visas.

English Language Concessions

Standard skilled migration visas require nominees to demonstrate specific English language proficiency through accepted testing. Under the Orana DAMA, English language concessions are available for eligible occupations.

When requesting an English language concession, employers must provide clear reasoning explaining why a lower level of English is acceptable for the specific role. Significantly, employers must also demonstrate how workplace safety risks will be managed for workers with lower English proficiency.

The level of English concession available varies depending on the substantive visa being applied for under the DAMA.

Salary Threshold Concessions (TSMIT/CSIT)

The Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT) and Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT) are set by legislation to ensure migrant workers can financially support themselves in Australia. The current threshold is $76,515 (excluding superannuation).

The Orana DAMA offers two types of salary concessions:

Type 1 Concession: Businesses must demonstrate that annual monetary earnings will be at least 90% of TSMIT/CSIT while still meeting Award requirements and Annual Market Salary Rate expectations for the specific occupation and location.

Type 2 Concession: Businesses must demonstrate that monetary earnings will be at least 90% of TSMIT/CSIT, with non-monetary earnings (such as food and accommodation) not exceeding 10% of TSMIT/CSIT. The total package must equal at least the full TSMIT/CSIT amount.

There are specific rules governing what constitutes eligible non-monetary earnings, and total earnings must still meet award requirements and market salary rate expectations.

Critical requirement: The use of concessions must not undermine relevant industrial awards or market salary rates for equivalent Australian employees in the same location.

Permanent Residence Pathway

 
All occupations on the Orana DAMA occupation list, including hospitality roles, offer a pathway to permanent residence through the Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS subclass 186) visa. This pathway becomes available after the worker has lived and worked in the Orana region for two years on a Skilled Independent (TSS) visa granted under the Orana DAMA.

Additional requirements apply, and employers should seek specific advice about permanent residence pathways for their sponsored workers.

Why the Orana DAMA Matters for Hospitality Operators

 
For hospitality venue operators in regional NSW, the Orana DAMA represents a valuable tool for building sustainable workforces. The combination of expanded occupation access and flexible concessions means that qualified overseas workers who bring valuable experience and skills can fill critical gaps—even when they don’t meet every criterion of standard skilled migration programs.

By offering pathways to permanent residence, the agreement also helps regional areas retain skilled workers long-term, contributing to community stability and business continuity.

However, the commitment to prioritising Australian workers remains paramount. The Orana DAMA should be viewed as a supplement to—not a replacement for—local recruitment efforts and workforce development programs.

Next Steps for Employers

 
If you’re a hospitality operator in the Orana DAMA designated area experiencing difficulty filling positions from the Australian labour market, the agreement may offer a solution. The endorsement process requires careful documentation, including evidence of labour market testing and justification for any requested concessions.

For detailed information about employer eligibility, the endorsement process, fees and charges, and how to apply, visit the RDA Orana DAMA website or contact us at info@edupi.com.au.