Disability and NDIS providers in Cairns and Townsville are struggling to find enough experienced support workers. Both regions have their own Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA), which allows local employers to sponsor overseas workers in occupations that are not normally available for employer sponsorship, including Aged or Disabled Carer (ANZSCO 423111), the occupation that covers most disability support worker roles.
This guide explains how disability support worker visa sponsorship works in Cairns and Townsville under the Far North Queensland (FNQ) DAMA and the Townsville North Queensland (TNQ) DAMA: which areas are covered, the concessions, what workers need, the pathway to permanent residency, and how employers can get started.
Why disability support workers need a DAMA
“Disability Support Worker” is a job title. For visa purposes, most frontline disability support roles fall under Aged or Disabled Carer (ANZSCO 423111), which also covers titles such as Personal Carer and Personal Care Worker. This occupation is not on the Core Skills Occupation List, so an employer generally cannot sponsor it through the standard Skills in Demand (482) visa.
A DAMA is a labour agreement between the Australian Government and a regional area. Employers in the designated area can apply to use it to sponsor workers in occupations on that DAMA’s list, often with concessions to English, age or salary requirements. The FNQ DAMA and the TNQ DAMA both include Aged or Disabled Carer.
| Region | DAMA | Designated Area Representative |
|---|---|---|
| Cairns and Far North Queensland | FNQ DAMA | Cairns Chamber of Commerce |
| Townsville and North West Queensland | TNQ DAMA (Townsville DAMA) | Townsville Enterprise |
Areas covered: Cairns and Townsville regions
The employer’s business and the job must be located in the designated area.
| FNQ DAMA (Cairns region) | TNQ DAMA (Townsville region) |
|---|---|
| Cairns, Douglas (Port Douglas, Mossman), Mareeba, Tablelands (Atherton), Cassowary Coast (Innisfail, Tully), Cook (Cooktown), Croydon, Etheridge, Torres (Thursday Island), Northern Peninsula Area and Weipa | Townsville, Hinchinbrook (Ingham), Charters Towers, Burdekin (Ayr, Home Hill), Mount Isa, Cloncurry, McKinlay, Richmond and Flinders |
Aged or Disabled Carer (423111): concessions in Cairns and Townsville
Each DAMA sets its own concessions for each occupation. The table below is a general summary for Aged or Disabled Carer; the concessions in an employer’s own labour agreement are what apply in each case.
| FNQ DAMA (Cairns) | TNQ DAMA (Townsville) | |
|---|---|---|
| Skill level | ANZSCO Skill Level 4 | ANZSCO Skill Level 4 |
| Visas | 482 (labour agreement stream), 494 and 186 | 482 (labour agreement stream), 494 and 186 |
| Salary concession | Available: salary may be as low as 90% of the Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT), if endorsed | Not available: salary must be at least the CSIT |
| English concession | Not listed for this occupation: the standard English requirement for the visa applies | May be available (check the current TNQ list): average IELTS 5.0 for 482 and 494; average 5.0 with no band below 4.0 for 186 |
| Age concession (494 and 186) | Must be under 55 at nomination | Must be under 55 at nomination |
| Skills assessment | VETASSESS | As required by the agreement |
The salary must also meet the market salary rate for the position and the relevant Award, usually the SCHADS Award for disability services. Occupation lists and concessions change, so always check the current list with the Cairns Chamber of Commerce or Townsville Enterprise.
What workers need for DAMA sponsorship
Under the FNQ DAMA, Aged or Disabled Carer is a Group 7 occupation. In general, a worker needs:
- Qualification: a Certificate III in Individual Support (or an equivalent qualification), with a Certificate IV in Disability Support also relevant;
- Experience: at least one year of relevant work experience at 20 hours or more per week, completed in the last five years;
- Skills assessment: a positive skills assessment from the relevant assessing authority (VETASSESS for the FNQ DAMA);
- English: the English level that applies to the visa and any concession in the agreement;
- Queensland screening checks: an NDIS Worker Screening Check (the Queensland “yellow card”) and, where the role involves children, a Blue Card;
- Driving: a driver licence and, for community roles, a reliable car;
- First Aid and CPR certificates; and
- A job offer from an employer that has, or applies for, a DAMA labour agreement.
Your work history must be genuine and supported by evidence such as payslips, contracts and a statement of service. Describing your duties inaccurately can lead to a visa refusal.
Pathway to permanent residency
| Visa | Type | Pathway to PR |
|---|---|---|
| 482 (labour agreement stream) | Temporary, up to 4 years | Employer Nomination Scheme (186) after working in the designated area in the occupation, generally for 2 years |
| 494 (Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional) | Provisional, up to 5 years | Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa (191) after 3 years |
| 186 (Employer Nomination Scheme) | Permanent | Requires employer nomination and DAMA endorsement |
Age, English, skills and other requirements apply at each stage, and the worker must have lived and worked in the designated area.
How employers in Cairns and Townsville can sponsor disability support workers
- Endorsement: apply to the Designated Area Representative (Cairns Chamber of Commerce or Townsville Enterprise) for endorsement of the positions and concessions. You will need to show a genuine need, labour market testing and that the business is financially viable. Under the FNQ DAMA, the business must generally have operated in the area for at least 12 months.
- Labour agreement: request a DAMA labour agreement with the Department of Home Affairs, using the endorsement.
- Nomination: nominate each worker for the 482, 494 or 186 visa.
- Visa application: the worker lodges their visa application.
Endorsement fees are charged per position. Under the FNQ DAMA they are currently $885 for Chamber members and $985 for non-members (including GST). Under the TNQ DAMA they depend on business size and membership.
Other options for disability workers
If your duties genuinely match Community Worker (411711), Residential Care Officer (411715) or Youth Worker (411716), an employer anywhere in Australia, including Cairns and Townsville, may be able to sponsor you through the standard 482 visa, Core Skills stream. Read our guide to community worker visa sponsorship for NDIS workers.
Disability support jobs with visa sponsorship in Cairns and Townsville
Sleek Migration works with NDIS and disability service providers in Queensland, including Cairns and Townsville. If you are a disability support worker interested in employer sponsorship in these regions, email us at info@sleekmigration.com with:
- your resume and current visa type and expiry date;
- your qualifications (for example, Certificate III in Individual Support or Certificate IV in Disability Support);
- your NDIS Worker Screening Check, Blue Card, driver licence, and First Aid and CPR certificates; and
- a short description of your duties and the services you work in.
Where your profile suits their needs, we may recommend you to employers in Cairns or Townsville. Interviews, job offers and sponsorship decisions are made by the employers, endorsement decisions are made by the Designated Area Representative, and visa decisions are made by the Department of Home Affairs, not by Sleek Migration.
Information for NDIS providers in Cairns and Townsville
If you are a disability or NDIS provider in Cairns, Townsville or the surrounding regions, Sleek Migration can help with DAMA endorsement applications, labour agreement requests, labour market testing, nominations, 482, 494 and 186 visas, employment contracts aligned with the SCHADS Award, and sponsorship compliance. Read our guide to NDIS provider sponsorship.
Frequently asked questions
Can a disability support worker be sponsored in Cairns?
Yes, possibly. Under the FNQ DAMA, an employer in the designated area with a DAMA labour agreement may sponsor a worker as an Aged or Disabled Carer (423111), if the worker meets the requirements.
Is Townsville covered by the FNQ DAMA?
No. Townsville has its own DAMA, the Townsville North Queensland (TNQ) DAMA, managed by Townsville Enterprise. The FNQ DAMA covers Cairns and Far North Queensland.
Is there an English concession for disability carers?
It depends on the DAMA. The current FNQ DAMA list does not show an English concession for Aged or Disabled Carer, while the TNQ DAMA list has been reported to include one. Check the current list before applying.
Can I apply for a DAMA visa without an employer?
No. A DAMA visa needs an employer in the designated area that is endorsed and has a DAMA labour agreement. You cannot apply for a DAMA visa by yourself.
Can a DAMA visa lead to permanent residency?
Yes. A 482 visa holder may move to the 186 visa, generally after 2 years in the designated area, and a 494 visa holder may apply for the 191 visa after 3 years, if they meet the requirements.
Get advice from a Registered Migration Agent
Sleek Migration is led by Dr Majid Panahandeh Fard, Registered Migration Agent (MARN 2418637). We work with NDIS providers and disability workers on DAMA, employer sponsorship, 482, 494 and 186 visas, and skills assessments.
Contact us: 2703/31 A’Beckett Street, Melbourne VIC 3000 | info@sleekmigration.com | Book a consultation
This article is general information only and is not legal or migration advice. DAMA occupation lists, concessions, fees and income thresholds change regularly, and endorsement is not guaranteed. Information checked November 2026 against the FNQ DAMA Information Guide (v11.4) and Occupation and Concessions List (v7.7).