The tidal waves generated by the volcanic eruption on 15 January 2022 displaced entire communities, with up to 80% of the population affected. 

In October 2021, 80 I-Kiribati workers departed quarantine in Grantham, to begin work in Queensland. This is the first recruitment of aged care workers for Queensland employers since Australia’s borders closed due to COVID-19.

In early October 2021, 33 aged care workers from Samoa arrived in the Northern Territory and met with their new employers at ARRCS. They introduced themselves and their culture through a traditional performance – and welcomed their employers to the dance floor.

Bulmer Farms in the Lindenow Valley, East Gippsland Victoria is a fourth-generation family business that has grown into one of Australia’s largest producers of fresh salad vegetables.

Simfresh is a family-owned farm that employs around 100 Pacific island workers across 2 sites in Queensland and Victoria. Approximately 60% of these workers are women.

In November 2021, we celebrated the arrival of the 1000th woman on the Pacific Labour Scheme (PLS). Through the PLS and the Seasonal Worker Programme, women are positively impacting businesses throughout Australia. 

Burlington Berries is one of many Australian businesses that have experienced the positive impacts of employing women through the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme.

The Fijian community in Tamworth is supporting Pacific Labour Scheme workers in the region by helping them join church programs and participate in footy training sessions, social events and outings.

Bulmer Farms in Victoria employs workers from Timor-Leste, Kiribati and Vanuatu, with women working across all areas of the company. They are adapting to their work and life in Australia, learning new skills, and building houses in their home countries for themselves and their families.

Maria and Bela from Timor-Leste are seasonal workers in Tasmania, Australia. Their employers at Burlington Berries couldn't be happier with their work.