The Albanese Government has announced a new program of support to assist Timorese workers participating in the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility Scheme (PALM).
Working in partnership with the Timor-Leste Government, this $4 million commitment will provide additional social and reintegration support to maximise the ongoing benefits for Timorese workers’ participation in PALM.
Reintegration support will include practical assistance such as financial literacy skills and support to connect with employment and education opportunities on return to ensure families and communities receive long-term benefits from PALM participation.
Additional support will also be provided to prepare workers’ families for separation during participation in PALM.
PALM is essential to both people across our region, and to communities and businesses in Australia.
It provides jobs, opportunities and income for Pacific and Timor-Leste workers, while also supporting Australian businesses by filling labour gaps in regional and rural Australia, and agriculture nationally.
Approximately 4,500 Timorese workers are currently working in Australia under PALM, with remittances now the second largest non-aid contributor to Timor-Leste’s GDP after oil and gas.
This funding will be delivered over four years through Australia’s bilateral aid program in Timor-Leste.
Quotes attributable to Federal Member for Solomon (Darwin and Palmerston) Luke Gosling OAM:
“The PALM Scheme is vital for filling workforce shortages in regional Australia – including here in the Northern Territory - ensuring businesses can grow and continue supporting their communities.
“The Territory hosts over 1,000 PALM Scheme workers – bolstering our tourism, hospitality, aged care, disability, and agriculture workforces.
“I have been working with employers and organisations like the Northern Territory Farmers Association (NT Farmers) to advocate for improvements to strengthen and grow the PALM Scheme and ensure its sustainability.
“This investment reflects some of these improvements, particularly around pastoral care, and reinforces our strong mutually beneficial partnership with our closest neighbour Timor-Leste.”
