The Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM)
The Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme is a program that was established by the Australian Government to facilitate the temporary entry of Pacific islanders to work in selected industries in Australia. The program aims to address labour shortages in the Australian economy by allowing employers in certain industries to hire workers from Pacific Island countries, including Kiribati, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.
The PALM scheme is part of Australia's broader commitment to strengthen its economic and cultural ties with Pacific Island countries. It provides opportunities for Pacific islanders to gain valuable work experience in Australia, earn an income, and send remittances back to their families and communities. At the same time, it allows Australian employers to access a reliable and flexible source of labour, particularly in industries such as agriculture, tourism, and aged care.
In this article, we will provide an overview of the PALM scheme, including its eligibility criteria, application process, and key features. We will also discuss the benefits and challenges of the program, as well as its impact on both Pacific Island countries and Australia.
What is the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme?
The Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme allows people from Pacific island countries and Timor-Leste to work in unskilled, low-skilled, and semi-skilled jobs in rural and regional Australia for up to 3 years. You can join the PALM scheme, which includes the Seasonal Worker Programme (SWP) and the Pacific Labour Scheme (PLS), through a single application.
The Seasonal Worker Programme (SWP) for workers for up to 9 months - with the ability to return in following years. It allows unskilled and low-skilled workers to work in agriculture (including pastoral work, canework, and cotton work), horticulture and aquaculture industries. Seasonal workers can also be employed in the accommodation sector, with a focus on rural and regional parts of Australia. Since it commenced in 2012, the program has helped fill more than 50,000 seasonal jobs, supporting both our Pacific family and the economic activity and competitiveness of rural and regional Australia.
The Pacific Labour Scheme (PLS) for workers for between 1 and 3 years. After 3 years you must spend a mandatory period outside Australia before you can apply for this visa again. Workers are currently placed in a range of sectors including meat processing, agriculture, aged care, accommodation, fisheries and forestry.
Which countries are participating in the PALM scheme?
There are 9 Pacific island countries and Timor-Leste participating in the aligned PALM scheme. The countries are Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Timor-Leste.
Who can apply to join the PALM scheme as a worker?
To be eligible, workers must meet the following criteria:
hold or obtain a valid passport for the duration of the contract or be able to obtain one
be physically fit and healthy for the work specified
have no police criminal record (workers who have lived in a foreign country for 12 months or more after the age of 16, or worked on a foreign ship for 12 months or more, require a police check from that country)
be of good character
have the right qualifications and/or work experience required by employers
demonstrate a positive attitude to work and a willingness to learn and commit to the employer’s values
have an intention to return to their participating country
be over 21 years of age
have a reasonable standard of English (for Pacific Labour Scheme (PLS) workers only).
How do I apply for Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme?
From 4 April 2022, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) will administer the PALM scheme in partnership with the Pacific Labour Facility (PLF). Citizens of participating PALM scheme countries must apply to join through the labour sending unit (LSU) or the labour mobility unit (LMU) in their country. Candidates need to bring their CV, passport, birth certificate, referees and any relevant work/qualification/licence documentation. Former seafarers should bring their official logbook detailing any service at sea over the past 10 years.
Fiji: Fijian citizens can complete a registration form at a National Employer Centre (NEC) office or at a registration event. Register your interest at your local National Employment Centre or email (fores@govnet.gov.fj). You can also call (+679 3303 500), (+679 9906 421) or (+679 892 5087).
Kiribati: If you are interested in applying, please email the Senior Labour Officer at the Ministry of Employment and Human Resources at (slo.eu@employment.gov.ki), (lo.eu2@employment.gov.ki), (lo.ner@employment.gov.ki) or phone (+686 750 21068) or (+686 750 21018).
Nauru: Citizens of Nauru should contact the LMU at the Ministry of Labour by phone (+674 5561510) or email the LMU Director (rebecca.amwano112@gmail.com) or Labour Mobility Coordinator (lynsydab25@gmail.com).
Papua New Guinea: PNG citizens who wish to find out more, please email (swp@treasury.gov.pg) or call (+675 7285 7281) or (+675 7391 4173). You can also visit the PNG Labour Mobility Unit website (https://www.pngworkers.org/) or Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/PNGLMU).
Samoa: Please contact the Labour and Employment Export Division on (+685 20 441) or by email on (leep@mcil.gov.ws). LEEP opens registrations twice a year and will advertise in Samoan media when this occurs.
Solomon Islands: Please contact the labour mobility unit by phone on (+677 212 50), (+677 202 51), call the support service on (20452), email (lmu@mfaet.gov.sb) or visit the office at Ground Floor, Anthony Saru Building, Point Cruz.
Timor-Leste: Citizens of Timor-Leste who wish to apply for short-term seasonal labour (up to 9 months) in Australia can email (swp.lsu.tl@gmail.com), or for longer term labour (up to 3 years) please contact (pls.lsu.tl@gmail.com). Otherwise, you can visit the Timor-Leste Government labour mobility website (http://www.dnee.sefope.gov.tl/) or the Timor-Leste Government labour mobility Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/sefopednee) for more information.
Tonga: Citizens of Tonga should contact the Overseas Employment Division by phone on (+ 67626820) or email (aaltuihalamaka@gmail.com).
Tuvalu: Citizens of Tuvalu should contact the Tuvalu Department of Labour by email at (meafou.brian@gmail.com) or (tellyfinauga@gmail.com).
Vanuatu: Citizens of Vanuatu who wish to apply for the short-term seasonal labour (up to 9 months) please contact (snaio@vanuatu.gov.vu), or for longer term labour (up to 3 years) contact (gvuti@vanuatu.gov.vu).
NOTE: No payments or gifts are required to join the PALM scheme. Costs may be incurred for flights and other expenses once successful applicants have been placed in jobs in Australia. These costs are paid up front by the employer and reimbursed later by the worker once they start earning a wage.
If you want to participate, you will need to check your eligibility, contact your LSU and have a valid visa.
How do I apply for the PALM visa online in ImmiAccount?
Before you lodge your visa application you must meet DFAT’s eligibility requirements to participate in the PALM scheme, which includes minimum age requirements, adequate skills to perform the position, English language skills appropriate to the tasks to be performed, and good character. You will also need to have received a Letter of Offer for a work placement. Your sponsor will provide you with a DFAT Recruitment endorsement number that you will need to lodge your online application.
Step to apply for the PALM visa online in ImmiAccount
You need to ask your LSU if you can apply online in your country.
Log in or create an ImmiAccount on the Australian Department of Home Affairs website.
Proceed to submit the documents online including Identity documents, Character documents, and The DFAT Recruitment endorsement number.
Pay the application fee, about AUD325.
If you lodged your Pacific Labour Scheme stream application outside of Australia, you must be outside of Australia when they decide your application. They will let you know when they have received your application. If it is within standard processing times do not call. You can see if they have asked for more information in your ImmiAccount.
Do not arrange to travel to Australia until they let you know, in writing, that they have granted you the visa. If they grant your visa, they will tell you: your visa grant number, how long your visa is valid for, and your visa conditions (if applicable).
What support do workers receive under the PALM scheme?
Workers participating in the PALM scheme have the same rights and protections as Australian workers. PALM scheme employers have worker welfare embedded into their systems and practices to create positive, productive working environments.
If you have questions about your work conditions, job and pay, you can ask your employer. You can also ask them questions about your accommodation, your local community and adjusting to life in Australia. If they don’t know the answer, they can tell you who to talk to.
The Fair Work Ombudsman has an important role in providing information and advice about wages and entitlements, and workplace rights and obligations. DESE contract managers and Pacific labour mobility officers will continue to support SWP workers, and the Community Connections initiative will help to create links between workers and their host communities.
Whether you are in Australia as part of the SWP or the PLS, you can get in touch with the PLF worker welfare team, SWP Pacific Labour Mobility Officers, or your country liaison officer or labour attaché, if available (see table below).
If you are a PLS worker call the 24-hour hotline on (1800 51 51 31), or email (welfare@pacificlabourfacility.com.au).
If you are an SWP worker call the SWP information line on (+61 2 6240 5234), 9 am-5 pm (AEDT) Monday to Friday, or you can call the 24-hour hotline above after hours. You can also send an email to (seasonalworker@dese.gov.au).
The Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) can also be contacted if you have concerns about your pay or employment conditions in Australia. The FWO information line is (13 13 94), or call (13 14 50) if you need an interpreter.
Country liaison officer/labour attaché contact details:
Kiribati: Please call Ms. Akineti Moataake Agnes at 0422 926 573 or email (akineti.moataake@employment.gov.ki).
Nauru: Please call Mr. Trent Dabwido at 0417 611 730 or email (trent.dabwido@brisbane.gov.nr).
Samoa: Please call Mr. Fulisiailagitele Saleuesile Aufa'i at 0406 506 274 or email (fulisia.saleuesile@mcil.gov.ws).
Timor-Leste (referred to as labour attaché): Please call Mr. Tomas De Araújo Guterres Tommy at 0459 337 125 or email (tls.labourattache@gmail.com). You can also call Ms. Cathy Molnar at 0480 208 270 or email (tls.program.coordinator@gmail.com)
Tonga: Please call Rev Sione Vaka at 0434 179 150 or email (spvaka@yahoo.com). You can also call Rev. Paula Talakai at 0472 753 367 or email (paul.talakap@gmail.com)
Where can I find a current employer?
The PALM scheme allows approved employers to hire workers from nine Pacific islands and Timor-Leste when there are not enough local workers available. You can find current employers in both the Seasonal Worker Programme (SWP) and the Pacific Labour Scheme. Check the list here: https://www.palmscheme.gov.au/current-employers.
How much can you earn in Australia?
The national minimum wage is currently AU$20.33 per hour or AU$722.60 per 38-hour week (before tax). Casual employees covered by the national minimum wage also get at least a 25% casual loading. Visit the Fair Work Ombudsman website for complete details on minimum wage and workers' rights.
The average farm salary in Australia is AU$23.80 per hour ($52,500 per year). An Entry Level Farmer with less than three years of experience can expect to earn an average compensation of AU$19.86 per hour. A mid-career Farmer with 4-9 years of experience earns an average compensation of about AU$23.50, while an experienced Farmer with 10-20 years of experience makes on average AU$34.30. Farmers with more than 20 years of experience earn AU$38.80 per hour on average.
The average salary for a Farm Worker is AU$23.60 per hour (AU$48,600 per year). An Entry Level Farm Worker with less than three years of experience can expect to earn an average compensation of AU$19.84 per hour. A mid-career Farm Worker with 4-9 years of experience earns an average compensation of about AU$23.50, while an experienced Farm Worker with 10-20 years of experience makes on average AU$33.20. Farm Workers with more than 20 years of experience earn AU$38.60 per hour on average.
The average salary for an arborist is AU$28.28 per hour (AU$59,743 per year). An Entry Level Arborist with less than three years of experience can expect to earn an average total compensation of AU$43,000 per year. A qualified Arborist with 4-9 years of experience earns an average total compensation of AU$57,000, while a Senior Arborist with 10-20 years of experience makes on average AU$67,000. Arborists with more than 20 years of experience earn AU$68,000 per year on average.
The average salary for a Winemaker is AU$76,200 per year (AU$6,350 per month). An Entry Level Winemaker with less than three years of experience can expect to earn an average compensation of AU$52,440 per year. A mid-career Winemaker with 4-9 years of experience earns an average compensation of about AU$72,100, while an experienced Winemaker with 10-20 years of experience makes on average AU$96,530. Winemakers with more than 20 years of experience earn AU$112,430 per year on average.
You can find more about the average salary in Australia at Jobted: https://au.jobted.com/salary.
Where can I find farm jobs?
Australia has a varied climate which can be a great benefit to finding farm work. No matter what time of the year you are looking, there should be opportunities for you to find work and meet the requirements you need. In the southern part of Australia, the highest demand for labour is between November and February (harvest period). In the north, where the climate is tropical, you find work throughout the year.
You can find a farm job through job search sites, such as:
Gumtree: https://www.gumtree.com.au/s-harvest+job/k0?sort=rank.
Harvest Trail: https://jobsearch.gov.au/harvest.
Fruit Picking Jobs: https://www.fruitpickingjobs.com.au/.
Indeed: https://au.indeed.com/.
Seek: https://www.seek.com.au/.
Jora: https://au.jora.com/.
Fruit Picking Jobs Fanpage: https://www.facebook.com/fruitpickingjobs/.
Jobs in Australia group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/jobsinallaustralia.
Note: Make sure you research the farming companies and ensure their ABN is real to avoid scams.
Where can I find more detail on each of the reform initiatives?
For more information, please visit Pacific Australia Labour Mobility website here: https://www.palmscheme.gov.au/
Join our community now on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/pacificaustralialabourmobility
