South West DAMA Skills Requirements – Qualifications & Experience Concessions – Updated 2026

Standard employer-sponsored visas often require formal qualifications and years of experience. The South West DAMA lowers these barriers, particularly for lower-skilled roles (Skill Levels 4 and 5).

To make it easy, the South West DAMA breaks down the qualification and experience requirements into specific occupation groupings based on their ANZSCO Skill Level. Below we have explained South West DAMA Skills Requirements, Qualifications and Experience concessions.

Occupations on Combined Skilled Occupation List (CSOL)

Category A: ANZSCO Skill Level 1-3 Occupations on the Combined Skilled Occupation List (CSOL)

If your occupation falls into this category, you generally follow the standard visa program rules, with some specific exceptions for temporary visas:

• Skills Assessment: Only required where applicable under the standard SID, SESR, or ENS visa programs.
• Subclass 482 (SID): If your AQF qualification was obtained in Australia, you only need one (1) year of relevant full-time work experience.
• Subclass 494 (SESR): You need at least two (2) years of relevant full-time work experience.
• Subclass 186 (ENS): Must satisfy the standard skills, qualifications, experience, and employment background required under the standard ENS visa program.

Category B: Specified ANZSCO Skill Level 1-3 Occupations on CSOL

For these specific roles, you must meet the standard ANZSCO skill level (relevant experience can substitute for formal qualifications where ANZSCO allows).

• Skills Assessment: Only required where applicable under the standard SID, SESR, or ENS visa programs.
• Subclass 482 (SID): At least one (1) year of full-time experience if the qualification was undertaken in Australia.
• Subclass 494 (SESR): At least two (2) years of full-time experience.
• Subclass 186 (ENS): Must meet the additional work experience required under the standard ENS program.

Other Occupations NOT on Combined Skilled Occupation List (CSOL)

Category C: ANZSCO Skill Level 1-4 occupations which are not on the combines skilled occupation list (CSOL)

For these specific roles, you must meet the standard ANZSCO skill level, where relevant experience can substitute for formal qualifications.

• Skills Assessment: Mandatory. You must undergo a skills assessment conducted by the relevant Skills Assessing Authority specified in the Labour Agreement.
• Subclass 482 (SID): At least one (1) year of full-time experience if the qualification was undertaken in Australia.
• Subclass 494 (SESR): At least two (2) years of full-time experience.
• Subclass 186 (ENS): Must meet the additional work experience required under the standard ENS program.

Category D: General ANZSCO Skill Level 4 Occupations

For these roles, you meet the ANZSCO skill level definition (which allows experience to substitute for formal qualifications).

• Skills Assessment: Mandatory. You must undergo a skills assessment conducted by the relevant Skills Assessing Authority specified in the Labour Agreement.
• Subclass 482 (SID): At least one (1) year of full-time experience undertaken in Australia.
• Subclass 494 (SESR): At least two (2) years of full-time experience.
• Subclass 186 (ENS): Must meet the additional work experience required under the standard ENS program.

Category E: Specified ANZSCO Skill Level 5 Occupations

This category offers incredibly generous concessions for entry-level agricultural roles. You must undergo a skills assessment, AND have an AQF Certificate I (or compulsory secondary education) OR have one (1) year of full-time experience to substitute for the formal qualification.

• Skills Assessment: Mandatory. You must undergo a skills assessment conducted by the relevant Skills Assessing Authority specified in the Labour Agreement.
• Subclass 482 (SID): One (1) year of full-time experience undertaken in Australia.
• Subclass 494 (SESR): Two (2) years of full-time experience.
• Subclass 186 (ENS): Must meet the additional work experience required under the standard ENS program.

Category F: General ANZSCO Skill Level 5 Occupations

For these general entry-level roles, you must meet the ANZSCO skill level definition (where work experience can substitute for formal qualifications).

• Skills Assessment: Mandatory. You must undergo a skills assessment conducted by the relevant Skills Assessing Authority specified in the Labour Agreement.
• Subclass 482 (SID): One (1) year of full-time experience undertaken in Australia.
• Subclass 494 (SESR): Two (2) years of full-time experience.
• Subclass 186 (ENS): Must meet the additional work experience required under the standard ENS program.

Category G: Non-ANZSCO Occupations

Because these specific supervisory roles do not have a standard ANZSCO code, the DAMA has created bespoke requirements and position descriptions.

• You must undergo a skills assessment.
• You need at least an AQF Certificate II or III OR one (1) year of full-time experience to substitute for the formal qualification.
• Subclass 482 (SID): At least 1 year of relevant work experience (38 hours per week) undertaken in Australia.
• Subclass 494 (SESR): At least 2 years of relevant work experience (38 hours per week).
• Subclass 186 (ENS): Must meet the additional work experience required under the standard program.

Contact Us to know more about your options and eligibility for South West DAMA region.