Palm scheme workers can now apply to bring family to Australia

This week the Albanese Government launched the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme family accompaniment pilot.

This will offer 200 PALM scheme workers the opportunity to bring their family members to Australia, starting with long-term workers from Kiribati and Timor-Leste.

The Albanese Government is listening to the Pacific and Timor-Leste and taking steps to address the impacts of family separation on workers coming to Australia for extended periods.

This initiative will reunite PALM scheme families and deepen connections between Australia and the region.

It recognises the important contribution PALM scheme workers make to essential sectors and regional communities across Australia.

The Albanese Government is delivering on its election commitment to expand and improve the PALM scheme.

The number of PALM scheme workers in Australia has nearly doubled since the government was elected in 2022.

The scheme is providing benefits to Australian employers facing labour shortages, particularly in regional communities, and in Pacific countries who benefit from the remittances and the opportunity for PALM workers to learn new skills.

The first selection process will be open from 26 January to 23 February 2024.

A second selection process for the pilot will be run later this year.

More information is available on the PALM scheme website.