Bolton Clarke joined the PALM scheme (formerly the Pacific Labour Scheme) in 2017 and now employs workers from Kiribati and Samoa. Like many aged-care providers in regional Australia, it has struggled to fill personal carer and support roles with local workers but found a source of caring a reliable labour through the PALM scheme for its residences at Longreach and Bowen in Queensland.
‘They always smile and love to have a laugh’
Aged care is an example of an industry in Australia where employers are finding it difficult to meet the growing need for labour, especially in rural and remote areas.
Bolton Clarke, one of Australia’s leading not-for-profit providers of independent living services, is meeting this challenge through the PALM scheme.
Bolton Clarke joined the PALM scheme, formerly the Pacific Labour Scheme (PLS) in 2017, when Alison Boundy, Bolton Clarke’s then Workforce Resourcing Manager, travelled to Kiribati to recruit 5 personal care workers and 2 hotel services workers for its Pioneers retirement village at Longreach.
“One of the challenges we face in aged care is finding workers who have the right skills but who also genuinely care for older people,” Alison said.
“The PLS workers who came to Longreach have such beautiful natures. They’re caring and genuine, they always smile and love to have a laugh. You see a resident when the new staff member comes up to them and they just light up.”
Based on the success of these workers, Bolton Clarke recruited more workers from Kiribati, as well as from Samoa, for its assisted-living community at Bowen in Queensland's Whitsunday region.