Australia and Solomon Islands highlight PALM Scheme jobs, worker skills, remittances and business opportunities for returnees
You might have seen the news – this has been a big week for the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) program in Honiara.
This week, the governments of Solomon Islands and Australia convened the first-ever PALM Expo involving over 25 Australian employer organisations who employ Pacific workers to fill job opportunities in Australia.
The atmosphere of enthusiasm and the strong participation of Australian employers at this year’s Expo reflects the growth in labour mobility opportunities and the importance of ongoing partnership between employers, workers, and government agencies.
Prime Minister Wale addressed the Expo’s opening ceremony and highlighted that PALM will remain a key contributor to Solomon Islands’ economic prosperity – but that the ultimate goal is for PALM workers to return home and use their skills here, for the long-term benefit of local communities.
Of course, Australian businesses benefit too from the skills, dedication, and commitment that Solomon Islands workers bring to their workplaces. It’s a true two-way partnership.
The PALM scheme is a powerful economic engine. It has enabled more than 13,000 Solomon Islanders to gain valuable skills, earn income, support their families and contribute to their communities.
In 2025, PALM workers sent home a record SBD507 million from PALM workers to support their loved ones.
But the ultimate long-term impact of the PALM scheme lies in the opportunities it unlocks for returned workers here in Solomon Islands.
To double-down on this impact, Australia has established a new PALM – Strongim Bisnis entrepreneurship initiative. This will support returned PALM workers by offering matching investment of up to SBD60,000 on business proposals with the option for wraparound support services such as business mentoring.
The High Commission’s skills program is similarly linking up. Recently, I met Robert, a returned PALM worker who spent four years in the meat industry in Victoria, Australia. Through his passion to help the next generation, Robert is now a full-time trainer in Honiara under the Pacific Australia Skills program, where he trains newly recruited workers in the meat industry.
We take our responsibility as Solomon Islands’ number one economic partner seriously. Through initiatives such as PALM, Strongim Bisnis, Pacific Australia Skills, and with the backing of a SBD 1 billion development program, Australia has created more than 36000 jobs for Solomon Islanders. This includes more than 700 infrastructure projects which range from classrooms under our Community Partnerships Program to landmark major investments like the Naha Birthing and Urban Health Centre. On the national accounts, Solomon Islands exported over SBD1.8 billion to Australia in 2025 (almost 30 cent of its total goods exports) and over 30% of tourist arrivals are from Australia – Solo’s largest source country.
Ultimately, of course, the success of PALM belongs to Solomon Islands workers. Their hard work and dedication to providing for their families is at the very core of the PALM scheme. When they return home with skills and drive, they help ensure that the PALM scheme delivers benefits for everyone, not just those that have participated.
Australia remains committed to listening and learning from Solomon Islanders. We recognise that labour mobility works best when it responds to the priorities of Solomon Islanders and delivers lasting benefits to workers, families, communities, and employers alike.
Lukim iu neks taem!!
