Papua New Guinea aged care graduates to boost regional services

Twenty-one aged care workers from Papua New Guinea (PNG) graduated in Brisbane today with Australian standard qualifications as part of the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme.

The workers from Western Highlands, New Ireland and Morobe provinces are helping to fill staffing shortages in regional aged care homes. They will continue their four-year work deployment under PALM scheme in facilities in Allora, Chinchilla, Murgon and Taroom in Queensland's Darling Downs.

The workers are participants in the Australian Government's Aged Care Expansion (ACE) program, which supports PALM scheme workers from 9 Pacific countries and Timor-Leste to attain a Certificate III in Individual Support (Ageing) while working in Australia. The ACE program is on track to support a further 770 PALM scheme workers to attain aged care qualifications by the end of 2024.

Today's graduates are employed by Southern Cross Care Queensland and have been trained in areas including supporting independence and wellbeing, dementia care and palliative care.

There were just over 31,000 PALM scheme workers in Australia at the end of July 2024. In addition to aged care, PALM workers are engaged in agriculture, meat processing, hospitality and tourism.

Quotes attributable to Minister for International Development and the Pacific, the Hon Pat Conroy MP:

"I congratulate these workers on graduating today with formal aged care qualifications. This is a great achievement and will ensure Australians receive the high-quality care and attention they need.

"Australian families appreciate the great warmth, professionalism and enthusiasm Pacific aged care workers bring to their jobs.

"I hope to see more PNG workers join the PALM scheme over the coming year, sending home remittances to their families, helping Australian regional communities facing labour shortages and bringing our people closer together."

Quotes attributable to Southern Cross Care Queensland CEO, Jason Eldering:

"The need for skilled, compassionate and dedicated care workers is growing, and this demand will only increase as Australia's population ages.

"Our PNG workers have brought an incredible sense of joy and family into our homes.

"Rooted in strong family values, their compassionate care and heartfelt kindness are a true gift to our community."