Melbourne HQ
8 / 3 Westside Ave
Port Melbourne, VIC 3207
10.00am - 5.00pm
Monday to Friday
General Inquiries
Employee Portal
PALM SCHEME
What is the PALM scheme?
The Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme connects Australian businesses with a reliable workforce from Pacific island countries and Timor-Leste. It brings real benefits to your business, and to workers’ families and communities back home.
Run by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR).
BY THE NUMBERS
A growing scheme
PALM keeps growing as more Australian employers turn to it. Whales takes an active part, and we share the scheme’s core values and the good it brings to workers and communities.
32,725
PALM workers in Australia
Up 5%
on the year before
541
approved employers
10
countries: 9 Pacific island nations and Timor-Leste
PALM STREAMS
Two streams: short-term and long-term
Both streams fill unskilled, low-skilled and semi-skilled roles in regional and rural Australia. Agriculture and some agriculture-related food manufacturing can use PALM anywhere. Workers hold a subclass 403 visa in the PALM stream.
Short-term stream
Up to 9 months
For seasonal peaks. Workers can come back each year for up to 4 years on a multi-year visa, with a 3-month break at home after each placement.
– Extra hands when volumes lift
– Tax withheld at a flat 15% rate
– Eligible workers can move to a long-term placement
Long-term stream
1 to 4 years
What most meat processors choose. There is time to train people properly and keep them, so your crew stays steady year round.
– A stable team for year-round production
– Workers pay tax as Australian residents
– Many of our workers return for another placement
IN THE NEWS, SEPTEMBER 2026
Fewer backpackers ahead, and the government points farms to PALM
The federal government plans to cap Working Holiday Maker visas at 45,000 a year, down from 57,000. Asked about farm labour, the Immigration Minister pointed employers to the PALM scheme.
WHY PALM
Four upsides of the scheme
01
Better productivity and engagement
02
A stable and reliable workforce
03
Cost-effective labour solutions
04
More value for communities
A LABOUR HIRE APPROVED EMPLOYER AS YOUR PARTNER
A bigger workforce brings extra overheads
More workers means a bigger HR team, and more time spent following up each person day to day.
Whales takes care of this for you. Our HR and WHS team brings a complete HR and safety framework to your site, so you stay cost efficient and compliant at the same time.
REQUIREMENTS
What the scheme asks, and what we take care of
PALM comes with clear rules to protect workers. As the Approved Employer, Whales meets them for you.
01
Proof of local need
Each recruitment needs labour market testing that shows the jobs could not be filled locally. The evidence stays valid for 12 months.
02
Approved accommodation
Housing must be safe and secure, with enough beds and bathrooms. Our workers live in ordinary houses with a vehicle at every house.
03
Welfare in person
A welfare officer based within 200 km meets every worker in person at least once a fortnight.
04
Visas and travel
The employer pays visa costs upfront and contributes $300 to each worker’s travel. We arrange visas, flights and arrival.
OUR ROLE
Being an Approved Employer under PALM
Our HR approach creates a lasting cycle for your organisation and your workers. We bring both sides’ values together, build a positive work environment and lift productivity.
Expect higher loyalty, productivity and team spirit. Partner with us for an HR approach that benefits your business for the long term.