PALM scheme expands into early learning and care sectors to address workforce shortages

The Australian Government is expanding the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme into new parts of the care economy, with recent pilots underway in early childhood education and care (ECEC) and aged care. The initiative aims to address workforce shortages in critical sectors while creating skills-based employment opportunities for Pacific Island workers.

Traditionally focused on agriculture, manufacturing and hospitality, the PALM scheme now includes roles in ECEC and aged care, with early pilot programs currently operating in the Northern Territory and other trial sites nationally.

Early learning pilot underway in the Northern Territory

In February 2025, a targeted ECEC pilot began in Katherine and Alice Springs. A small group of qualified educators from Papua New Guinea arrived on the PALM scheme’s long-term stream and joined two services experiencing persistent educator shortages.

Each participant holds a Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care, with training delivered in English and recognised by the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA). Further support is being provided through a sector-specific Educator Preparation Program and optional Diploma study.

Participants are also required to complete all standard clearances, including police checks and working with children checks, before beginning work in Australian services.

The pilot will be independently evaluated six months after commencement. Findings will be used to inform decisions about future sector-wide implementation.

Training and skills portability a central focus

Workforce development is a key goal of the expanded PALM scheme. In both child care and aged care, Pacific workers are being supported to complete nationally recognised qualifications while in Australia.

For aged care workers, this includes the Aged Care Expansion (ACE) program, which helps participants obtain the Certificate III in Individual Support (Ageing). In child care, participants are working toward both Certificate III and Diploma-level qualifications, equipping them to contribute to compliant, high-quality care settings under the National Quality Framework.

Senator Penny Wong, Minister for Foreign Affairs, said the approach is designed to provide both workforce support and education.

“Part of the pilot that we are doing for both aged care and child care includes Australian training to get them to what we call a Certificate III level. That is an investment in your people. They carry that education wherever they go.”

Qualification recognition and regulatory compliance

Currently, Fiji is the only Pacific Island country with early childhood education qualifications approved by ACECQA under the National Quality Framework. Recognised programs include the Certificate III, Diploma and Bachelor of Education (ECEC) offered by the University of the South Pacific, as listed by ACECQA.

As the current pilot includes participants from Papua New Guinea, where no ACECQA-approved qualifications exist, all workers must complete an Australian Certificate III before being counted toward educator-to-child ratios. This ensures the pilot is fully compliant with national regulations.

A regional partnership approach

The PALM scheme is open to nine Pacific Island countries and Timor-Leste. As of 2025, thousands of Pacific workers are contributing across Australia’s primary industries and, increasingly, its care sectors. More than 5,000 Fijians are already participating, with numbers expected to grow as the scheme evolves.

The Government has reiterated its intention to build the care workforce responsibly, ensuring Pacific recruitment complements, rather than replaces, local workforce development. This includes targeted support for First Nations employment pathways.

The Department of Employment and Workplace Relations and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade jointly oversee the scheme. Sector-specific pilot input is provided by services, community stakeholders and training providers.

More information

For full details on the PALM scheme, eligibility and pilot developments in the ECEC sector, visit the PALM scheme website or contact [email protected]