Solomon Islanders reach 13,000 deployment milestone in Australia

More than 13,000 Solomon Islanders have been deployed to Australia under the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme. This milestone highlights the increasing demand for Solomon Island workers among Australian employers.

Christina Maoma, Director of the Labour Mobility Unit (LMU), stated that the achievement is the result of long-term efforts to strengthen recruitment, training, and preparation processes to ensure workers are ready for life in Australia. The LMU and the Australian Government have introduced additional training in high-demand sectors, including hospitality, aged care, meat processing, and car and forklift driving, to better align worker skills with employer needs.

While recruitment continues to grow, the number of workers deployed each year remains primarily driven by demand from approved Australian employers, who decide on recruitment numbers and selection.