In the 2023-24 program year, Australia is taking a new direction in its skilled migration policy. Invitations for Subclass 189 Skilled Independent visa have been significantly reduced to just 8,300 so far, with a shifted focus towards Employer-Sponsored visas and Designated Area Migration Agreements (DAMA) in regional areas. These lower invitation numbers align with the Australian Government’s plans to reform the skilled migration points test system. According to the Review of the points test discussion paper recently released, these reforms aim to enhance the immigration system while reducing overall migration numbers to halve net overseas migration by 2025.
“Our goal is to build a smaller, better planned, more strategic migration system that works for Australia” – Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil.
DAMA
In recent weeks, various Designated Area Migration Agreements (DAMA) across Australia have been significantly updated. Some of these agreements have been renewed, demonstrating a commitment to ongoing regional development and skilled migration. Meanwhile, other areas are still operating under the standard five-year agreement framework.
Here’s a table with the latest on Australia’s 12 DAMAs, including the number of eligible ANZSCO occupations within each agreement and the date of the most recent update. This comprehensive overview will allow you to see the current scope and status of each DAMA at a glance.
| DAMA | # Eligible Occupations | Last Update on list |
| Goldfields | 145 | 22 Apr 2024 |
| Orana | 131 | 16 Apr 2024 |
| South Australian Regional Workforce | 320 | 15 Apr 2024 |
| Adelaide City Technology and Innovation Advancement | 56 | 15 Apr 2024 |
| Great South Coast | 114 | 28 Mar 2024 |
| Pilbara | 135 | 19 Jan 2024 |
| Kimberley | 187 | 12 Jan 2024 |
| Far North Queensland | 175 | 10 Jan 2024 |
| The Northern Territory DAMA | 135 | 13 Nov 2023 |
| TNQ (Townsville) | 193 | 02 Jun 2023 |
| Goulburn Valley | 56 | 26 Oct 2022 |
| South West | 56 | 12 May 2022 |
Core Skills Occupations List (CSOL) (Draft)
Employer-sponsored visas have become increasingly important in the current migration program year, especially as the number of invitations for state nominations and skilled independent visas has decreased.
The Government’s plan to reform the sponsored program by introducing a new Skills in Demand visa in late 2024 appears to support a broader goal of a more targeted and responsive immigration system and complement the updates on the different Designated Area Migration Agreements.
Central to this reform and initiative is the Core Skills Occupations List (CSOL), currently in the draft stage and undergoing consultation to ensure it aligns with labour market needs.
The draft CSOL, based on the 2022 ANZSCO catalogue, includes occupations from ANZSCO Skill Levels 1 to 3. It is divided into categories for recommended inclusion, exclusion, and those needing targeted feedback based on labour market data and stakeholder input.
Learn more about the occupations featured in the Core Skills Occupations List (CSOL) on Anzscosearch. Filter by category and swiftly navigate and sort the list by skill level, occupation title, or ANZSCO code.
