DAMA · Broome, Kununurra and the Kimberley · East Kimberley Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DAR)
Kimberley DAMA — Build Your Future in Broome, Kununurra and the Kimberley
The Kimberley DAMA allows employers in Broome, Derby-West Kimberley, Halls Creek, and Wyndham-East Kimberley to sponsor overseas workers in shortage industries. It offers concessions on age, English, and salary, plus PR pathways through Subclass 482, 494, and 186 visas. Its permanent route is two years, a year shorter than the Pilbara's.
What is the Kimberley DAMA?
The Kimberley DAMA is a head agreement between the Australian Government and the East Kimberley Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The Chamber is the Designated Area Representative. An endorsed employer then signs its own labour agreement, usually for five years, with occupations and concessions pre-approved. Workers are sponsored on the 482, 494 or 186 and are expected to live in the designated area.
Key facts
- Four shires. Wyndham-East Kimberley, Broome, Derby-West Kimberley and Halls Creek. The business and the position must both sit inside them.
- The 482 to 186 route is two years, not three. Full-time in the nominated or a closely related listed occupation, lived and worked in the designated area throughout.
- Time on a non-DAMA visa can count. A worker may already have the experience in the area, in the same occupation, on another work visa. The employer can then seek endorsement straight for the 186.
- Every concession must be requested at endorsement. If the age concession is not requested, no one over 45 can be nominated for the 494 or 186 later.
- Age concession. Under 55 at nomination for listed skill level 1–4 occupations, under 50 for skill level 5. It applies to the 494 and 186; the 482 has no age requirement.
- English concession for listed occupations. 482 and 494: an average IELTS 5.0 with no minimum component. 186: an average 5.0 with no component below 4.0. OET, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic and CAE equivalents.
- Income-threshold concession. Reduced means 90 per cent of the threshold, in two types; the market salary rate applies either way.
- Caveats do not apply. The occupation-list caveats used in the standard program are switched off for every occupation on the Kimberley list.
Kimberley DAMA Program Overview
The Kimberley DAMA is a key regional migration agreement supporting industries in one of WA's most remote and diverse regions.
- Administered by: EKCCI (Designated Area Representative). In full, the East Kimberley Chamber of Commerce and Industry, based in Kununurra.
- Regions covered: Broome, Derby-West Kimberley, Halls Creek, Wyndham-East Kimberley — the four local government areas.
- Industries targeted: mining, agribusiness, aged care, hospitality, construction, and trades.
- Purpose: Help employers address skills shortages by offering concessions and clear PR pathways.
- Occupations: set out in the Kimberley DAMA Occupation and Concessions List. It marks, per occupation, whether the age, English and income-threshold concessions are available.
Example: A pastoral station in Halls Creek can sponsor farm managers with lower English requirements. The occupation must be listed for that concession.
Is it the Kimberley DAMA or the East Kimberley DAMA?
Both names are in use and they are the same agreement. The Chamber is the East Kimberley Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The agreement began by covering the Shire of Wyndham-East Kimberley alone. It now covers four shires, and the Chamber's own documents call it the Kimberley DAMA. The Department's list of agreements still uses the older name.
Where the Kimberley sits among the WA agreements
Western Australia has four regional agreements — Goldfields, Kimberley, Pilbara and South West — plus the state-wide WA DAMA. A Kimberley employer applies to EKCCI first. The WA DAMA is used only where the occupation is not on the Kimberley list.
Eligibility
For Employers
Employers must:
- Operating in Kimberley for at least 12 months. Both the business and the position must be in the designated area, unless exceptional circumstances exist.
- Be financially viable. The Chamber asks for business registration, recent accounts and a letter from a chartered or certified practising accountant.
- Provide Labour Market Testing (LMT) evidence. The Kimberley is a Category 3 region and testing must have been done in the previous twelve months.
- Show a genuine vacancy, with position descriptions, trading evidence and the recruitment history for each role.
- Declare any adverse finding in the last five years on workplace relations, work health and safety, or migration compliance.
- Apply for endorsement via EKCCI (fees apply). The fee is per position sought and is paid when the request is lodged.
- Apply for a labour agreement with Home Affairs after endorsement. The Chamber is not a party to it and is under no obligation to endorse.
- Comply with sponsorship obligations (pay, training, workplace laws), and give the worker settlement information before they start or lodge.
Example: A construction company in Broome unable to find local electricians applies for endorsement, then nominates overseas workers through a labour agreement.
For Skilled Workers
Workers must:
- Occupation must be on the Kimberley DAMA occupation list. Workers cannot apply alone — an endorsed employer nominates them.
- Relevant skills, experience, and qualifications are required. Experience must be relevant, at the occupation's skill level, and gained in the last five years.
- Hold a skills assessment where the list's category requires one. Categories 3 to 7 always require it.
- Must meet health and character requirements.
- Live in the designated area. Time outside it beyond three of any twelve months needs the Department's agreement.
Concessions available:
- Age: under 55 at nomination for listed skill level 1–4 occupations on the 494 and 186. Under 50 for skill level 5. The employer must request it at endorsement.
- English: for listed occupations, an average IELTS 5.0 with no minimum component on the 482 and 494. On the 186, average 5.0 with no component below 4.0. Higher where registration or licensing requires.
- Experience: for occupations already on a skilled occupation list, one year where the qualification is Australian, two years for the 494. Other categories set their own floors.
- Salary: reduced income threshold means 90% of the threshold. Type 1 allows guaranteed overtime in earnings. Type 2 keeps the full threshold but counts food and board, capped at 10 per cent.
Example: A chef in Broome can access English concessions and apply for PR via 186 after 2 years. The occupation must carry the concession, and the work must be done in the area.
What we see in practice
As a visa agent in Sydney working Kimberley files, the costly mistake is the concession nobody asked for. Concessions are approved per occupation at endorsement. The age one bites hardest. Leave it out, and a 47-year-old cook you want to keep cannot reach the 186. Ask for what the recruitment history supports, and use the variation process for the rest.
Step-by-Step Guide for Employers and Skilled Workers
Employers
- Check the occupationCheck the occupation is on the Kimberley DAMA list, with its category and the concessions marked against it.
- EndorsementApply for endorsement via EKCCI (pay fee). Submit the request form, the Part F checklist and a separate credit card authority. Well-documented requests are generally finalised in five working days.
- Labour agreement, then nominateApply for a labour agreement with Home Affairs through ImmiAccount, using the endorsement letter. There is no fee for the request. Then nominate the overseas worker.
The agreement runs about five years. It can be varied to add occupations, positions or concessions, or to roll unused positions into the next year. A variation needs a fresh endorsement from the Chamber.
Skilled Workers
- Secure a job offer from an endorsed Kimberley employer.
- Confirm concessions available for your occupation — they are set per occupation, not per person.
- Lodge visa application (482, 494, or 186) against the approved nomination.
- Provide documents (skills, health, police checks).
- Await decision — the Department publishes processing times monthly; the current figure is linked in the sources block.
Visa Subclass Pathways
| Visa | Duration | PR Pathway | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subclass 482 – Skills in Demand Visa | Up to 4 years | 186 after 2 years in the area, in the occupation | Age/English/salary concessions; a two-year route to permanent residence |
| Subclass 494 – Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional | Up to 5 years | 191 after 3 years regional work | Regional settlement pathway; the 191 needs no endorsement and no nomination |
| Subclass 186 – Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) | Permanent | Direct PR (labour agreement stream) | Employer-sponsored, no points test; open where the worker already has two years in the area |
Example: A mining services worker in Wyndham may start on a 494 and transition to PR via 191 after 3 years.
The 186 conditions the labour agreement will carry
- The nomination identifies an occupation on the Kimberley DAMA Occupation and Concessions List.
- Two years full-time in that occupation or a closely related listed occupation, or part-time work equivalent to two years full-time.
- For that whole period the worker lived and worked in the designated area and complied with their visa conditions.
- Age under 55 at the nomination for skill level 1–4 occupations, or under 50 for skill level 5.
- The employer will employ the worker full-time in the position for at least two years. No clause rules out an extension.
494 DAMA visa requirements in the Kimberley
- The occupation is on the Kimberley list and in the employer's labour agreement. The position sits in the four shires.
- Age under 55, or under 50 for skill level 5, where the employer requested the age concession.
- English at the concessional level for listed occupations, otherwise the standard 494 level.
- Two years of relevant full-time experience for occupations already on a skilled occupation list, with a skills assessment where required.
- The 494 labour agreement stream carries the regional conditions, so the worker stays in the area.
Visa Fees & Charges
Four cost layers apply. The EKCCI endorsement fee, charged per position and payable in full when the request is lodged. Members of any Kimberley-based chamber pay a lower rate. A variation or roll-over carries a separate flat fee. The Department's nomination charges and the Skilling Australians Fund levy, both paid by the employer. The labour agreement request itself is free. The visa application charge, indexed every 1 July. And professional fees, quoted in writing after a consultation. We do not print the figures here, because the Chamber's schedule and the Department's charges both change. Both are linked in the sources block.
Family Members You Can Include
- Spouse or De Facto Partner: Full work rights in Australia.
- Dependent Children under 18: School access and Medicare on the permanent visas.
- Older dependents: Can be included if financially dependent.
Family must be declared when applying or added later as subsequent entrants. On the 494 the family carries the regional condition too. A later joiner's visa ends when the primary holder's does.
Free download
The DAMA Handbook — the 13 regional agreements, how they work
How a DAMA works end to end. The four stages, why the regional representative comes before the Department, and what an endorsement business case has to show. Includes the 482 to 186 and 494 to 191 routes and a directory of all 13 agreements.
PDF · 2026 edition · no cost · prepared by a MARA-registered agent
The DAMA Handbook
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Common Mistakes and Tips to Strengthen Your Application
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Employers applying directly to Home Affairs instead of EKCCI.
- Confusing endorsement fees with federal visa charges.
- Applicants assuming concessions apply automatically. They are approved per occupation, on the employer's evidence.
- Not requesting the age concession at endorsement, which closes the 494 and 186 to anyone over 45 later.
- A position outside the four shires, or a worker away from the area for more than three months in twelve.
Tips for Strong Application
- Always check the Kimberley DAMA occupation list.
- Budget for the endorsement fee, the Department's charges and the levy together.
- Allow time: endorsement and labour agreement stages can delay applications if not started early.
- Keep the recruitment evidence current. The Chamber, the agreement request and each nomination all need testing from the last twelve months.
Related visas and resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Kimberley DAMA?
It's a regional migration program allowing Kimberley employers to sponsor overseas workers with concessions on age, English, and salary. The East Kimberley Chamber of Commerce and Industry is the Designated Area Representative. An endorsed employer signs its own labour agreement with the Department.
Which areas are covered?
Broome, Derby-West Kimberley, Halls Creek, Wyndham-East Kimberley. Those four shires are the designated area. Both the employer's operations and the position itself must sit inside them.
Who manages endorsements?
The East Kimberley Chamber of Commerce and Industry (EKCCI). It assesses the request, and well-documented submissions are generally finalised within five working days. It is not a party to the labour agreement and is under no obligation to endorse.
Are endorsement fees required?
Yes — a fee per position sought, payable in full when the request is lodged. Members of any Kimberley-based chamber pay a lower rate. A variation or roll-over carries a separate flat fee. The current schedule is in the Chamber's information guide.
What visas are available?
What are the PR pathways?
Do I need a points test?
No, DAMA visas are employer-sponsored. There is no points test and no invitation round. The employer's endorsement, its labour agreement and its nomination carry the application.
What industries are targeted?
Mining, agribusiness, aged care, construction, trades, and hospitality. What matters in practice is the occupation list rather than the industry, since concessions are marked per occupation.
What if my occupation isn't listed?
You cannot apply under Kimberley DAMA; alternative visas may be available. The state-wide WA DAMA may carry the occupation, and the standard 482, 494 and 186 programs sit outside any agreement.
Is the East Kimberley DAMA the same thing?
Yes. The agreement started in the Shire of Wyndham-East Kimberley and now covers four shires. The Chamber's own documents call it the Kimberley DAMA. The Department's published list of agreements still uses the older East Kimberley name.
Does time on an ordinary work visa count toward the two years?
It can. A worker may already have that experience in the designated area, in the same occupation, on another work visa. The employer can then seek endorsement directly for the 186. The Chamber does not assess individuals, so get advice on the specific history first.
What English score do I need under the Kimberley DAMA?
For a listed occupation: an average IELTS 5.0 with no minimum component on the 482 and 494. On the 186, an average 5.0 with no component below 4.0. OET, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic and CAE equivalents are accepted. Registration or licensing can require more.
Two years to permanent residence — if the endorsement is right.
A free eligibility check tells you whether the occupation is on the Kimberley list and which concessions attach to it. It also confirms whether the position sits inside the four shires.
Visa Advisor is a MARA-registered visa agent in Sydney, NSW, working with Kimberley employers on DAMA sponsorship. We advise sponsored workers too, by phone and video, Australia-wide and offshore.
Sources and last checked dates
- East Kimberley Chamber of Commerce and Industry — Kimberley DAMA Information Guide v4.0, effective 6 May 2025 (Parts 1–3: how it works, endorsement instructions, technical matters; designated area, LMT, English, age, income-threshold and skills concessions, permanent-residence conditions, fee schedule) read in full 8 September 2026 open ↗
- East Kimberley Chamber of Commerce and Industry — Kimberley DAMA Occupation and Concessions List, public version v6.1 checked 8 September 2026 open ↗
- East Kimberley Chamber of Commerce and Industry — Kimberley DAMA, about and accessing the agreement checked 8 September 2026 open ↗
- Migration WA — Designated Area Migration Agreement (the four regional WA agreements and the state-wide WA DAMA; regional representative first) read in full 8 September 2026 open ↗
- Department of Home Affairs — Designated Area Migration Agreements (the current list of agreements and representatives) list last updated 5 November 2025 · checked 22 July 2026 open ↗
- Migration Regulations 1994 — Schedule 2 clauses 482.24, 186.24 and 494.23 (Labour Agreement streams), Schedule 2 Part 482 (no age criterion), regulation 2.72(9) (caveats), Compilation No. 288, 1 July 2026 (F2026C00667) read 8 September 2026 open ↗
- Migration (Exemptions from Skill, Age and English Language Requirements for Subclass 186, 187 and 494 Visas) Instrument 2019 — LIN 19/216 read 8 September 2026 open ↗
- Department of Home Affairs — cost of sponsoring (Skilling Australians Fund levy) checked 8 September 2026 open ↗
- Department of Home Affairs — visa fees and charges (current visa pricing table and estimator) checked 8 September 2026 open ↗
- Department of Home Affairs — visa processing times checked 8 September 2026 open ↗
The income threshold, the visa application charge, the Skilling Australians Fund levy, the Chamber's fee, the occupation list and processing times change during a programme year. Confirm the current figure with the source before acting on anything on this page.