PALM scheme

The Australian Government operates the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme, which focuses on labour mobility opportunities for the Pacific and Timor-Leste in Australia.

The PALM scheme is central to the Government’s commitment to build a stronger Pacific family.

It delivers jobs for Pacific and Timor-Leste workers, enabling them to develop skills, earn income and support their families back home. Pacific labour mobility also helps create strong links between people, businesses, and communities, fostering deeper connections between Australia and our neighbours.

The PALM scheme

The Australian Government is committed to improving and expanding the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme. The PALM scheme helps fill labour gaps in rural and regional Australia and agriculture nationally by offering employers access to a pool of reliable, productive workers. It also allows Pacific and Timor-Leste workers to take up jobs in Australia, develop their skills and send income home.

See more information about Pacific Labour Mobility

Vietnam Labour Mobility Arrangement

The Australian Agriculture Visa is no longer an available visa product. The Government will honour the Memorandum of Understanding with Vietnam and signed implementation arrangements with Vietnam on 1 March 2024. 

See more information about the Vietnam Labour Mobility Arrangement

Indonesia-Australia Skills Development Exchange Pilot Project

To support people-to-people links and skills development, eligible Australians and Indonesians can undertake work placements for up to six months in the other country. The Indonesia-Australia Skills Development Exchange Pilot Project is a key part of the skills package agreed under the Indonesia-Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement.

Australia-United Kingdom Innovation and Early Careers Skills Exchange Pilot (IECSEP)

Innovation and skilled mobility is important to Australia and the UK. Established under the Australia-United Kingdom Free Trade Agreement (A-UKFTA), the Australia-United Kingdom Innovation and Early Careers Skills Exchange Pilot will give early career graduates and highly experienced and skilled innovators from the UK the opportunity to live and work in Australia. The IECSEP will launch within one year of the entry-into-force of the A-UKFTA.