Australian High Commission Second Secretary Monika Betts speaking to Brendan, along with Bobby and Clifford
LAST week the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade’s Labour Mobility Unit (LMU) commenced its first screening of potential Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) workers for 2024.
The screening was held at the South Sea Evangelical Church (SSEC) Hall. Counsellor Emily Flahive and Second Secretary Monika Betts from the Australian High Commission in Solomon Islands attended to meet candidates and to hear about their hopes and goals for the future.
Agnes Leslie, a mother of two who comes from Central Kwara’ae, told Counsellor Emily Flahive, ‘I hope to be recruited for work in Australia so I can save up money for my family’. Twenty-three-year-old Billy Lebewa said he wanted to work in Australia to save money to buy a house. Second Secretary Monika Betts met Brendan, who said ‘the PALM Scheme would be an opportunity for me to go and work in Australia to support my family and community here in Solomon Islands’.
The LMU screens candidates to ensure they meet all requirements under the PALM Scheme. If successful, candidates will then join the ‘Work Ready Pool’ to await mobilisation to Australia for work. Due to the high number of applications for the PALM Scheme this year, additional casual staff were onsite to assist the LMU with the screening process.
This week’s screening set a record, with the LMU processing around 400 candidates over two days. The LMU is working very hard to be able to provide as many opportunities to PALM Scheme candidates as possible this year.
Part of the screening process involves a short interview. When asked what advice she would give to hopeful PALM Scheme candidates, Labour Mobility Director, Christina Maoma, from the LMU said, ‘I would encourage the candidates to tell their story as it is – be honest about why they applied for the PALM Scheme and what they look forward to or what they plan to do when they mobilise to work in Australia’.
The Australian Government has made changes to the PALM Scheme Deed and Guidelines to include a guarantee of at least 30 hours of work per week, and a minimum amount of pay to be received. This will provide certainty to workers about their earnings and support the welfare of all PALM Scheme workers. These changes will be gradually introduced over the next 12 months.
Australia is committed to its partnership with Solomon Islands to provide Solomon Islanders more job opportunities in Australia.
The PALM Scheme creates jobs and increases incomes.
AHC PRESS
