DILI, 22 August 2025 (TATOLI) – The governments of Australia and Timor-Leste today launched the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) Scheme Scale-Up Project. The initiative will support Timorese PALM scheme candidates by enhancing their skills and improving their readiness for employment in Australia.
The event marks a significant step forward in strengthening Timor-Leste’s participation in the PALM scheme.
Australian Deputy Ambassador to Timor-Leste, Edward Wilkinson, emphasized labor mobility as a key pillar of bilateral cooperation. “Labor mobility is a cornerstone of Australia’s partnership with Timor-Leste,” Deputy Ambassador Wilkinson said.
“These new activities reaffirm our enduring commitment to Timor-Leste, and we are proud to support initiatives that create lasting impact and strengthen our shared future,” he emphasized.
The Secretary of State for Vocational Training and Employment, SEFOPE’s National Directorate of Overseas Employment (DNEE), and the Australian Embassy officially launched the scale-up partnerships with 10 organizations in Dili. These include six skills-based training providers and three organizations focused on worker and family support.
Through the scale-up project, CARE, World Vision, and The Asia Foundation will deliver programs to support workers and their families, including efforts to address the risk of gender-based violence. International facilitators will provide training in hospitality, housekeeping, digital literacy, English language, forklift operation, and meat processing.
Secretary of State for Vocational Training and Employment, Rogério de Araújo Mendonça, underscored the importance of skills-based training and praised the collaboration among implementing partners. “The Pacific Labour Mobility Support Program Scale-Up Project aims to increase the skills of Timorese workers to meet Australian employers’ demand,” he said.
“The government is committed to ensuring that this project reaches all territories. Strong collaboration between partners is vital to the success of this initiative. The shared commitment and teamwork will drive meaningful outcomes in both Timor-Leste and Australia,” he stated.
The launch marks another milestone for the PALM scheme in Timor-Leste. The PALM scheme helps Australian businesses address workforce shortages while creating jobs, building skills, and supporting economic growth in Pacific Island countries and Timor-Leste –deepening connections between people.
The Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme is an Australian Government program that enables workers from Pacific Island countries and Timor-Leste to take up jobs in Australia, primarily in sectors such as agriculture, horticulture, meat processing, tourism, hospitality, and aged care.
Journalist: Camílio de Sousa
Editor: Rafael Ximenes de A. Belo
