Jesuina, Elisa, and Natalina from Timor-Leste have recently joined their partners in Tamworth after 2 years apart, through the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme’s family accompaniment pilot.

In November 2024, the picturesque coastal city of Coffs Harbour hosted a Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme engagement event for workers, employers and community stakeholders in the region.

Elsa is the proud owner of a new sewing business in Dili – a dream that has been years in the making.

The 28-year-old seamstress from Bacau has wanted to start a business for a long time but knew this would involve upfront costs to buy fabric and machines that working on her parents' farm could not cover. 

'Unoloto Vainga was one of the first Tongan women to take up meat processing work through the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme – a big achievement for her, but one she took in her stride as she focused on supporting her family.  

Meeting Joel for the first time, it's hard not to notice his neck tattoos. On one side is the large strawberry logo of his employer, Hillwood Berries, and on the other are the numbers 8-2-3, his employee ID.  

Perhaps few people would consider a tattoo to commemorate their place of work, however Joel credits his employer for altering the course of his life.  

When Pesiki arrived in Pottsville, NSW to work in aged care, she joined a growing trend of Tuvaluan women participating in the workforce – and an increasing number of workers from the Pacific and Timor-Leste supporting Australian aged care providers.

Ofa Ulupano has worked in the hospitality industry for most of her professional life and until recently would never have imagined working on a farm in Australia. 

Now she leads teams and trains new staff at one of the largest commercial berry farms in Australia and plans to continue working in horticulture well into the future.

Sesa Metui is one of 9 siblings, and until recently, lived in her family home in Nukuleka, Tonga caring for her parents.

In July 2022 Sesa decided to start supporting her family in a different way, taking up a position at a meat processing site in Australia through the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme to earn more money for them.

When Manuella from Vanuatu first saw the white sandy shoreline and turquoise waters of the Kimberley coast in Western Australia’s far north, it reminded her of the similar yet distant landscapes she had left behind.

Jimmy from Solomon Islands has earned a reputation as one of PB Agrifood’s most productive and enthusiastic workers.