Solomon Islands celebrates 13,000 PALM scheme deployments

For thousands of Solomon Islanders, the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme has become more than a pathway to work overseas. It has become a story of skills, opportunity, family support and national pride.

That story reached a major new chapter this month, with Solomon Islands marking more than 13,000 deployments to Australia through the PALM scheme.

The milestone reflects the strong reputation Solomon Islanders have built with Australian employers, as well as the systems put in place by the Labour Mobility Unit (LMU) to prepare workers for life and work in Australia.

Director of the LMU, Christina Maoma, said reaching 13,000 deployments was a proud moment and the result of years of steady work to connect employers with well-prepared Solomon Islands workers.

Solomon Islanders work as fruit pickers for Nutrano, an Australian fruit and vegetable producer.

“I am very proud we have reached this milestone. There has been a lot of work put into preparing workers and making sure workers are ready for life in Australia,” Director Maoma said.

“This achievement reflects the commitment of our team, the support of the Solomon Islands Government, and the dedication of Solomon Islanders who continue to represent our country well in Australia.”

Behind the number is a growing trust between Australian employers and Solomon Islands workers. Ms Maoma said continued recruitment growth shows confidence in the LMU’s processes and in the quality of candidates in the work-ready pool.

Employer demand remains the key factor determining how many workers are mobilised each year. Under the PALM scheme, Australian approved employers make the final decision on who is recruited and how many workers they require.

To help meet that demand, the Australian Government, in partnership with the LMU, has supported new training opportunities in recent years. These include car and forklift driving, meat works, hospitality and aged care, among others.

“We are listening to the needs of employers and are trying to make sure they get the workers they need. We do this all in an effort to increase employment opportunities for Solomon Islanders,” Director Maoma said.

The milestone also follows positive feedback from a recent online engagement session involving 45 approved employers from across Australia.

The session brought together current PALM scheme employers and others exploring opportunities to recruit Solomon Islanders for the first time.

Employers praised their working relationship with the LMU and highlighted the quality, attitude and contribution of workers from Solomon Islands.

Australian High Commissioner Jeff Roach said Solomon Islanders should feel proud of the milestone and the reputation their workers have earned in Australia.

"I'm not surprised to hear that Solomon Islanders have a great reputation with Australian employers," said High Commissioner Roach.

“They are a credit to their country and are valued and appreciated by Australians for the important contribution they make to our economy.

“I’m glad Australia is giving back by supporting workers’ families back home through record remittances.”

Director Maoma said the LMU’s centralised process remains an important part of maintaining high standards and supporting employer confidence.

“We use a centralised system which prioritises high standards and employer satisfaction,” Director Maoma said.

“All applications come through the LMU. This helps us keep a high standard of participant quality and attitude,” Director Maoma said.

“It also means that applying is free, so you will never be asked to pay money through any agents. Applicants should only apply through LMU processes.”

Looking ahead, recruitment will continue from the existing work-ready pool. As employer demand grows, the LMU expects more opportunities for Solomon Islanders to take part in the PALM scheme.

The 13,000-deployment milestone is part of Australia’s broader commitment to creating jobs for Solomon Islanders, both at home and abroad. Since 2021, Australia has created and supported more than 36,000 jobs for Solomon Islanders and in Solomon Islands.