What begins as a job opportunity often becomes much bigger. For thousands of Fijians working in Australia, the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme is not only improving livelihoods but is strengthening the relationship between Fiji and Australia.
One of those workers is Ilikana Seru, a father of six from Nanukuloa village in Ra Province, who has spent the past three years working in Australia under the PALM scheme.
Before leaving home, Ilikana and his wife sat down together and wrote out clear goals for what they hoped to achieve, and within six months, that plan began to take shape.
“After six months we managed to buy a car,” he said. “In the second year, we extended and renovated our house in the village adding a bathroom, three bedrooms, a kitchen, and a washroom.”
Recently, the family reached another milestone. “We bought a quarter of an acre of land in Suva,” Ilikana said. “I told my wife, imagine, in four years we were able to achieve all these.”
More than employment
While Ilikana works to secure a better future for his family back home, he and other Fijian workers have also built strong connections in Ararat, the regional Australian town where many PALM workers are based.
Their presence has added a distinctive warmth to the local community. Ilikana and his colleagues have formed close relationships with residents and local leaders, including the town mayor, and they regularly volunteer their time together.
They help paint community spaces, take part in clean-up activities, and share Fijian culture through performances at local events, strengthening understanding and friendship far beyond the workplace.
Skills that last
For Ilikana, the PALM scheme is also about personal growth, particularly for younger workers.
“This is where they learn how to be independent, how to look after themselves, and how to manage their finances,” he said. “I believe it’s a training ground for them and a challenge as well.”
Those skills, he believes, will continue to benefit Fiji long after workers return home, contributing to a more confident and capable workforce.
People-focused partnership
Ilikana is one of more than 5,000 Fijians currently working in Australia under the PALM scheme, supporting their families while helping address labour needs across Australian industries.
The scheme reflects the mutually beneficial relationship between Fiji and Australia, built on shared values and a long history of cooperation. While workers gain stable incomes, skills, and new perspectives, Australian communities in return benefit from a reliable workforce and rich cultural exchange.
As part of the Fiji – Australia Vuvale Partnership, the PALM scheme continues to demonstrate the power of people-to-people connections, where opportunity, trust, and shared effort remain a core foundation of the longstanding partnership between Australia and Fiji.
For Ilikana, the impact is simple and deeply personal.
“It’s not just about working,” he said. “It’s about building something better for your family and for the future.”
As part of the Fiji – Australia Vuvale Partnership, the PALM scheme continues to demonstrate the power of people-to-people connections. Fijian PALM scheme workers with the Ararat community in Australia. Picture: SUPPLIED
