For many workers under the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme, coming to Australia is more than just a job, it's a journey toward personal growth, independence and valuable life skills.

For Ilai, an Early Childhood Educator from Papua New Guinea based in Katherine on a four-year visa, that journey recently reached a new milestone: earning his Australian driver’s licence. 

While employed on the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme, Sala is turning her hard work into a brighter future for her family. As well as renovating the family home in Fiji, she is investing in her daughter Lucy’s higher education, ensuring she has an opportunity to thrive. 

Sylvester Lepi was a subsistence farmer in Papua New Guinea (PNG) when he joined the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme in 2019.

Like many Papua New Guineans, he was highly capable, hardworking and knew a lot about growing food but had never worked on an Australian farm.

For chef Anesh Kumar, cooking is a labour of love. 

After gaining new skills and experience in Australia, he has transformed his passion for food into a profession, and now gives his fellow Fijians the chance to pursue their own dreams of culinary excellence.  

Misa is a personal care worker in Alice Springs, Australia, and spends his days looking after elderly residents, making sure they have their medication, and that they’re fed, comfortable and happy.   

Misa is employed through the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme, which connects Pacific Island and Timor-Leste workers with employers in various industries across Australia.    

Victoria in July can get cold, especially at 5:15 am when Junior starts his day at the local Greenham abattoir in Australia’s Gippsland food bowl. 

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.