“Theres so much I’m learning, when I come back to Samoa, I use it. Because I have new experiences in Australia and I can bring it back to help my Banana farm here in Samoa.”
Karene is preparing for his fourth season at an Australia banana farm from through the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme.
Life before the PALM scheme
Before working in Australia, Karene lived with his wife and three sons in the village of Faleasi’u, in Samoa - describing his life as easy.
“Life in Samoa is very easy, you stay in your own house, everything is free. You’re hungry? eat pawpaw and coconut,” Karene explained.
Beyond a house and food, other areas that depend on income were difficult, such as his children’s education. To provide for his family, he found himself relying on bank loans.
That changed in 2021 when Karene joined the PALM scheme. At 42 years of age, he was nervous, especially about the language barrier.
“I was scared my English was no good,” he recalls.
Hard work pays off
Before leaving Karene discussed the opportunity with his wife, Punipuao, who he describes as "the most beautiful woman in the world”.
“If God wants us to be separate for this job, that’s a gift for us,” Karene reflects on their discussion that gave him confidence it would work out.
Karene and Punipuao, decided to work as a team, Karene working in Australia, and Punipuao in Samoa looking after the family.
“I didn’t want to do anything by myself,” he explains.
Every decision, like how much to save and where to spend, was made together.
His first season took him to a banana farm in Queensland on a nine-month contract. The weather was tough - but the work was familiar. For Karene, it was easy.
“The work was the same as here in Samoa, we already grow bananas,” he explained.
“It was easy to get used to it.”
He worked hard and quickly earned the respect of his employers, who promoted him. By his second season he was driving a tractor and spraying crops.
“From working outside in the sun to driving an air-conditioned tractor… I was very happy,” he said with a laugh.
After one season, his wife had saved all the money Karene sent back and paid off their family debts.
Dreaming big for tomorrow
Now living debt free, they turned their focus to setting up a long-term income for their family.
Karene purchased a used taxi to earn an income in his off season. He also started a poultry farm and a plantation with bananas, taro, and coconuts.
Just as when his knowledge from Samoa first benefitted him in Australia, he then began using what he learned on the PALM scheme back home, showing his family how to run a healthy banana plantation.
“Theres so much I’m learning, when I come back to Samoa, I use it. Because I have new experiences in Australia and I can bring it back to help my banana farm here in Samoa,” Karene says looking over his land.
In his three seasons Karene has extended the family home, funded his children’s schooling, and has worked for the future of his family.
Punipuao says the family is very proud of Karene’s hard work and dedication.
“Karene has changed our life, before we had a little, now the PALM scheme came into our life and gave us a chance, it’s changed our life a lot,” Punipuao says.
Preparing for his next season, Karene is ready to start planning - with his wife.
Before I go, I will sit down with my wife and we will plan our next goal,” he says.
Looking to the future, Karene dreams of one day owning a brand-new taxi, and expanding both his banana and poultry farms.
He says he’ll only stop when he’s too old to cut bananas and by then he can pass his assets on to his kids.
