Aged Care Worker in South Australia: The Statewide DAMA, Pay and Which Visas Reach It

Why this occupation needs a different pathway at all

Aged or Disabled Carer (ANZSCO 423111), Nursing Support Worker (423312) and Personal Care Assistant (423313) sit at ANZSCO Skill Level 4, below the level the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List, the Core Skills Occupation List and the points-tested visa system are built around. None appears on a federal skilled occupation list, which is why there's no /occupations entity page or /occupations/visa/482 listing for them — the general reverse index only covers occupations that are actually on one of the four federal lists. Migratio's aged care worker pathway guide and how to move to Australia as an aged care worker article cover the general mechanics; this page is about what South Australia's specific agreement adds.

What the South Australian DAMA says, code by code

The South Australian DAMA Occupation List, published on migration.sa.gov.au, lists Aged or Disabled Carer (423111) at Skill Level 4, available across the whole of South Australia. Nominees must satisfy the standard skills, qualifications, experience and background requirements EXCEPT that only 1 year of relevant work experience is required for a subclass 482 (Skills in Demand) nomination, or 1 year where the AQF qualification was obtained in Australia (2 years otherwise) for a subclass 494 (Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional) nomination. A relevant AQF Certificate III or higher (minimum 6-month course, with at least 120 hours of practical experience) satisfies the qualification requirement, or 2 years of relevant work experience can substitute for it.

Nursing Support Worker (423312) and Personal Care Assistant (423313) carry the same "Whole of South Australia" availability and Skill Level 4 designation on the same list. Work experience for any of the three must be in the nominated occupation or a related occupation at the same skill level, undertaken within the last 3 years (for the TSS/SESR pathway) or 5 years (for the Employer Nomination Scheme subclass 186 pathway), and can be full-time or part-time pro-rata, including internships, clinical placements, apprenticeships and traineeships.

The page also states English concessions apply: Concession Type 1, for the subclass 482 (SID) and 494 (SESR), sets an overall IELTS-equivalent score of 5.0 with a minimum of 4.0 in each individual band; Concession Type 3, for the subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme, sets an overall score of 5.0 with a minimum of 4.5 per band. A Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT, formerly TSMIT) concession is separately marked "Available for this occupation" — the page states that a concession exists without stating the exact percentage, so the specific concession rate would need confirming with the Designated Area Representative directly.

Age and permanent-residence conditions

The SA DAMA page sets an age condition tied to the pathway: for the subclass 494 (SESR), the nominee must be under 55 at the time of the approved sponsor's nomination. For the subclass 482 (TSS), there is no age limit to hold the visa itself, but transitioning to permanent residence via the subclass 186 (Employer Nomination Scheme) requires being under 55 at the time of that ENS nomination. These conditions apply the same way across all three occupation codes on the list.

How this compares to Queensland's approach

This is a genuine, sourced difference worth stating directly. The Far North Queensland DAMA (covered on Migratio's regional Queensland aged care page) — one specific region within Queensland, not a statewide agreement — names Nursing Support Worker and Personal Care Assistant in its current guide but does not list Aged or Disabled Carer. South Australia's statewide agreement names all three. That doesn't mean South Australia's DAMA is easier to use overall — it has its own age, experience and skills-assessment conditions — only that the occupation coverage itself is broader on this specific point.

What the Aged Care Award pays — a national figure, not an SA one

The Aged Care Award (MA000018) is a national modern award, so its minimum doesn't change between South Australia and anywhere else. From 1 July 2026, a Direct Care Worker Level 2 is paid $34.42 an hour ($1,307.80 for a 38-hour week); a qualified Direct Care Worker Level 3 is paid $36.23 an hour ($1,376.70 for a 38-hour week); casual loading is 25%. Where a Core Skills Income Threshold concession applies under the SA DAMA, the employer would be working against whichever of the award rate or the concession floor is higher for the specific nomination — the exact concession percentage isn't stated on the public SA DAMA page.

Registration and demand: what this page does and doesn't claim

None of the three codes require an ongoing professional registration the way nursing does. The SA DAMA page states that nominees for Aged or Disabled Carer must undergo a skills assessment conducted by the Designated Area Representative for the TSS and SESR visas — that's a one-off assessment step tied to the visa application, not a licence to maintain. Worker screening requirements specific to aged care work are separate and should be confirmed directly with the employer or the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission.

Check Jobs and Skills Australia's own vacancy and shortage data directly — no demand or shortage figure for aged care work in South Australia appears on this page. Migratio's directory of agents specialising in skilled visas covers South Australia at /agents/skilled-visa/sa, and the full SA directory is at /agents/in/sa.

Does South Australia's DAMA cover Aged or Disabled Carer?

Yes. Unlike the Far North Queensland DAMA, South Australia's statewide DAMA Occupation List names all three codes — Aged or Disabled Carer (423111), Nursing Support Worker (423312) and Personal Care Assistant (423313) — available across the whole state.

How much work experience is needed under the SA DAMA for aged care?

For Aged or Disabled Carer: 1 year of relevant work experience for a subclass 482 nomination, or (for the subclass 494) 1 year where the AQF qualification was obtained in Australia and 2 years otherwise. A relevant Certificate III or higher, or 2 years of work experience, can satisfy the qualification requirement.

Is there an age limit for the SA DAMA aged care pathway?

For the subclass 494, yes — under 55 at the time of the sponsor's nomination. The subclass 482 itself has no age limit, but transitioning to permanent residence via the subclass 186 requires being under 55 at that later nomination.

What English level does the SA DAMA require for aged care work?

For the subclass 482 or 494: an overall score equivalent to IELTS 5.0 with a minimum of 4.0 in each band. For the subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme: an overall 5.0 with a minimum of 4.5 per band.

Is there a salary concession for aged care under the SA DAMA?

The SA DAMA page marks a Core Skills Income Threshold (formerly TSMIT) income concession as "Available for this occupation" but does not state the exact percentage on the public page — that detail sits in the negotiated employer agreement, not the general occupation list.

What does aged care work pay in South Australia?

This page cites only the national Aged Care Award floor, which doesn't vary by state: $34.42/hour for a Direct Care Worker Level 2 and $36.23/hour for a qualified Level 3, both from 1 July 2026. No South Australia-specific figure above the national award was found or claimed.

Do I need registration to work in aged care in South Australia?

Not an ongoing professional registration. The SA DAMA requires a one-off skills assessment by the Designated Area Representative as part of the visa nomination. Worker screening requirements are separate and should be confirmed with the employer or the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission.