How is the Australian Government improving the PALM scheme?
- In addition to the changes announced in the 2023-24 Budget, the Australian Government is implementing its previous commitments aimed at strengthening Australia's Pacific and Timor-Leste partnerships, delivering a comprehensive package of policy reforms to improve and expand the PALM scheme to secure our region and build a stronger Pacific and Timor-Leste family.
- The government will allow long-term PALM scheme workers to bring their families to Australia in 2024, enable a further 500 PALM scheme workers to complete their aged care certification, and make short term deploymen
What has happened to the Pandemic Event (subclass 408) visa?
- The Pandemic Event (subclass 408) visa will be closed out - in a staged manner. From 2 September 2023, the Pandemic Event visa will only be open to applications from existing Pandemic Event visa holders (with an A$405 visa application charge). The visa will close to all applicants on 1 February 2024.
What changes to the PALM scheme were announced in the 2023-24 Federal Budget?
- The 2023-24 Budget further improves and expands the PALM scheme in line with Australian, Pacific and Timor-Leste aspirations.
- The government will:
- strengthen oversight of domestic operations as part of improved support for PALM scheme workers
- responsibly grow the PALM scheme and better support employers and participating countries
- support more than 1,000 PALM scheme workers to attain formal qualifications over 4 years
- increase support to make it easier for PALM scheme workers to access their superannuation savings when they retur
Lodging a tax return
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Health insurance
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Getting a driver’s licence
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Former tourism workers fill aged care labour gaps during COVID-19
When Australia’s COVID-19 travel restrictions kicked in, Pacific Labour Scheme (PLS) workers Teremita Loeru, Tiein Taite and Maatai Tamaiti were stood down from their roles in the tourism industry.
Video - 'We can build our country's economy too!'
Joe, James and Junior started working at Queensland Berries in Australia through the Pacific Labour Scheme in early 2021. After only 2 months, they already had clear goals for how they plan to use the money they earn and the skills they learn in Australia when they return home to Solomon Islands.
Learning new skills in Australia – and starting businesses back home
At Mossmont Nurseries in Griffith, New South Wales, seasonal workers from Timor-Leste are not only learning valuable tree-growing skills, they are also cultivating the future health and wealth of their families back home.
Video - Postcard from Brisbane, Queensland to Kiribati
The COVID-19 pandemic forced I-Kiribati tourism workers Retati 'Rita' Tekaai, Maatai Tamaiti and Tereimita Ioeru into new industries that had labour shortages. In a message home to family and friends, Retati says they are staying positive in true I-Kiribati style, being happy, confident and laughing all the time.