The purpose of these guidelines is to provide information to PALM scheme approved employers to enable their successful participation in the scheme. They are intended to help employers understand and meet their obligations and responsibilities as detailed in the PALM scheme Deed of Agreement.
In Version 2 of the PALM scheme Approved Employer Guidelines (Guidelines) (released on 15 August 2025), the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations amended section 8.3.4, regarding attendees at Arrival Briefings.
The Department has reversed this amendment to section 8.3.4 with effect from 31 October 2025, to reinstate the wording used in section 8.3.4 of the previous version of the Guidelines – version 1.9 (released on 4 November 2024).
Section 8.3.4 of the Guidelines now states:
Attendees at Arrival Briefings
8.3.4 You must invite the following people to address the Workers at each Arrival Briefing.
(a) A representative from the relevant union.
(i) If You are a Continuing Approved Employer, for Transition Recruitments, by 1 October 2023 You must invite representatives from a relevant union to address Workers that have not previously been invited to be addressed by such representatives and Notify Us.
(b) A representative from the FWO.
(i) If You are a Continuing Approved Employer, for Transition Recruitments, by
1 October 2023 You must invite representatives from the FWO to address Workers that have not previously been invited to be addressed by such representatives and Notify Us.
(c) The Welfare and Wellbeing Support Person.
(d) Any other relevant persons such as employee organisations, church, Country Liaison Officer, and/or community representatives.
(e) Any other relevant person if Notified by Us.
This change takes effect from 31 October 2025 and will be included in the next version of the Guidelines (v2.1), which is due to be released on 30 January 2026.
This change to section 8.3.4 reinstates the previous wording of section 8.3.4, and the requirement for Approved Employers to invite representatives from “the” relevant union – as opposed to “a” relevant union.