IMPACT spearheads initiative to improve lives of PALM workers 

IMPACT Community Services, leader of the new Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) Health program (PHP), is engaging with the community to improve health and wellbeing outcomes for Bundaberg’s PALM scheme workers.  

Under the PALM scheme, Australian businesses employ temporary workers from ten countries; Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu. In January 2026, Queensland had the greatest number of PALM workers of all the states and territories at 11,080, highlighting the importance of this initiative. 

 Country to Coast Primary Health Network commissioned the PHN program, with IMPACT Community Services working alongside a three-strong project team consisting of research, cultural engagement and systems change experts to explore the experiences of PALM participants, their employers and their support networks. 

Project Coordinator Jen Campbell said the first stage of the program, already well underway, involves engaging with individuals and organisations that engage with PALM workers locally. In Bundaberg, this includes service providers and agricultural companies, which are the main employers of PALM workers. 

“We’re speaking to stakeholders about their experience working with PALM workers and the gaps and barriers they see for PALM workers to access primary health care and disaster resilience,” Jen said. “It’s a complex space having people from other countries working in Australia. It’s culturally different to access support here.”  

The program is also examining PALM workers’ disaster resilience, including the risks they face and how their ability to cope intertwines with their health and wellbeing.  

Over the next few weeks, Jen said Cultural Engagement Lead Sarai Amataga from Nekawa Ltd will host culturally grounded sessions with PALM workers.  

“They have bilingual facilitators, and they're using an approach called Pacific Talanoa, which is an open-hearted conversation.  

“We're hoping to have people come together over food to discuss their experiences. 

On April the 15th, the team will run a co-design with stakeholders to create solutions that work on the ground.  

“There’s funding attached to the co-design for organisations to continue to improve access to healthcare, resilience initiatives and connection to community,” Jen said. 

 “We're all on the same page in terms of improving lives for PALM workers.” 

Talanoa sessions run from the 17 to 21 March, and the Co-design session is on the 15^th of April.  Jen encourages PALM stakeholders interested in participating in the consultations to book their ticket.

Those who contribute will be informed of the findings and outcomes of the project, which ends in August 2026.