The Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme delivers jobs for Pacific and Timor-Leste workers, enabling them to develop skills, earn income and support their families back home. It also helps to address critical labour shortages in Australia, particularly in rural and regional areas. For PALM scheme workers, the program represents a vital opportunity to support their families through employment abroad. Yet, the separation from loved ones can be challenging, driving the need for initiatives that bring families closer together.
Separation from family is one of the most difficult aspects of working overseas. The Family Accompaniment Pilot was introduced to allow up to 200 long-term PALM workers to reunite with their families in Australia, fostering emotional well-being and strengthening community ties.
The MyAus App has become a vital tool in supporting families transitioning to life in Australia under the PALM scheme. Originally designed to assist new arrivals settling in Australia, the app was recently updated in partnership with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) to meet the specific needs of the PALM scheme’s Family Accompaniment Pilot. These updates introduced a dedicated pathway featuring culturally relevant, in-language resources to help families navigate their new environment with confidence.
Available in English and translated into Gilbertese, Tetum, French and Bislama, the app’s new content addresses essential topics such as pre-departure preparation, cultural adjustment, and access to support services. These resources were also utilised in pre-departure briefings, ensuring families were well-prepared even before their journey began. By providing tailored support, the MyAus App has helped to ease the transition for families, making it an important part of the settlement process.
The SPG, in collaboration with DFAT, has created a pathway for families to thrive. For workers and their loved ones, the app is more than a resource—it is a bridge to reconnection, social cohesion, and positive settlement outcomes.
We also extend our respect to emerging leaders and to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, acknowledging their enduring connection to the lands, waters, skies, and communities across this nation.
We honour the resilience, strength, and diversity of First Nations cultures and celebrate their ongoing contributions to society. Through our work, we strive to support equity, inclusion, and respect for the world’s oldest continuing cultures, understanding that this is fundamental to achieving social justice and a better future for all Australians. We acknowledge that sovereignty has never been ceded, and we affirm that the lands on which we operate always were, and always will be, Aboriginal land.