Dili, 22 August 2025
The Australian and Timor-Leste governments have today launched the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme Scale Up project. The project will support Timorese PALM scheme candidates with skills development to improve their readiness for work in Australia.
The event marks a major step forward in strengthening Timor-Leste’s participation in the PALM scheme.
Australian Deputy Ambassador to Timor-Leste, Edward Wilkinson, highlighted labour mobility as a key pillar of bilateral cooperation.
“Labour 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.”
The Secretary of State for Vocational Training and Employment (SEFOPE), SEFOPE’s National Directorate of Overseas Employment (DNEE) and the Australian Embassy officially launched the scale-up partnerships with 10 partners in Dili.
The partners include six skills-based training providers and three workers and family support organisations.
Through the scale-up project, CARE, World Vision and The Asia Foundation will deliver programs to support workers and families and address risk of gender-based violence.
International facilitators will provide training in hospitality, housekeeping, digital literacy, English language training, forklift operation, and meat work processing.
Secretary of State for Vocational Training and Employment Mr. Rogério de Araújo Mendonça emphasized the importance of skills-based training and praised the collaboration between the 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 will reach all territories,” said Secretary of State for Vocational Training and Employment Rogerio Mendonca.
“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.”
The launch marks another milestone for the PALM scheme in Timor-Leste. The PALM scheme helps Australian businesses fill workforce shortages while creating jobs, building skills, and supporting economic growth in Pacific Island countries and Timor-Leste—deepening connections between people.
About Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme
The Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme is an Australian Government program that allows workers from Pacific Island countries and Timor-Leste to take up jobs in Australia, mainly in sectors such as agriculture, horticulture, meat processing, tourism, hospitality, and aged care.
For further information or interview requests, please contact:
- PLMSP Communications Manager, Isidoro Correia, 78325889, [email protected]
- PLMSP Communications Coordinator, Rogerio Lopes, 7734 5024
- PLMSP Scale-Up Program Manager, Bernardino da Costa, 7661 1483, [email protected]