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<p class="MsoNormal">Dear Members of Pacific Institute <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">You are invited to a special conference hosted by the Tongan High Commission in Australia co-hosted by the ANU Pacific Institute
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="xmsonormal"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:red">Title: The Empowering Impact of the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) Scheme on Tonga and Australia</span><span style="color:red"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="xmsonormal"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Date: Thursday, May 22, 2025</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="xmsonormal"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Time 9.00am-3.00pm</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="xmsonormal"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Venue: <a href="https://www.bing.com/maps?&mepi=127~~Unknown~Address_Link&ty=18&q=ANU%20Research%20School%20of%20Physics&ss=ypid.YN3724x4646311512346551398&ppois=-35.28395462036133_149.1129913330078_ANU%20Research%20School%20of%20Physics_YN3724x4646311512346551398~&cp=-35.283955~149.112991&v=2&sV=1&FORM=MPSRPL">
Physics Auditorium, ANU Research School of Physics</a></span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="xmsonormal"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt">60 Mills Rd Acton, Australia</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="xmsonormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"> <img border="0" width="436" height="291" style="width:4.5416in;height:3.0312in" id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image003.png@01DBC8D5.F46BB410"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="xmsonormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">The Seasonal Worker Programme (SWP) and the Pacific Labour Scheme(PLS), currently referred to as the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM Scheme), was introduced by the Australian Government in December
2011 and officially commenced in 2012. Tonga has been engaged in bilateral labour agreements with Australia and New Zealand since 2007, fostering a strong collaboration in this area. In September 2021, the Australian Government announced the rebranding of
the SWP and the PLS to the PALM scheme. The SWP and the PLS were consolidated into the single PALM scheme in July 2023 under a single program PALM deed and Guidelines. This initiative provides unskilled, low-skilled and semi-skilled work opportunities for
short-term placements of up to 9 months or long-term placements between one and four years in rural and regional areas, encompassing vital sectors such as agriculture, agriculture-related food product manufacturing, tourism, hospitality, and aged care. By
December 2024, Australia through the PALM scheme had employed up to five thousand Tongan workers in these essential industries.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="xmsonormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">A commitment to mutual economic development underscores the objectives of the bilateral agreement between Tonga and Australia. The PALM scheme aims to create valuable employment opportunities, facilitate
remittances, and offer upskilling pathways, that has and will continue to benefit Australia and Tonga’s economies. Moreover, the PALM scheme represents a significant development opportunity for Tonga, providing financial support directly to local communities.
This assistance addresses the everyday needs of families and fosters contributions to local villages, families, and churches, thereby strengthening community ties and enhancing overall well-being.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="xmsonormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="xmsonormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">The objective of the conference for recognition of the positive impacts of the PALM scheme is to showcase success stories from Tongan workers throughout Australia.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="xmsonormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">- Exchange and sharing of success stories.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="xmsonormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">- Exchange and share the benefits of the PALM scheme between Tonga and Australia.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="xmsonormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">- Identify success stories that contributes to the positive demand for Tongan workers.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="xmsonormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">- Identifying potential challenges from Tonga perspectives that may affect the PALM scheme.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="xmsonormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">- Outlining actionable next steps to maximize benefits for Tongan workers and ensure the continuity of the PALM scheme.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="xmsonormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">- What can Tonga contribute to further improve the existing arrangements to assist with other sectors that Tongan workers can contribute to?</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="xmsonormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="xmsonormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Thank you and regards.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="xmsonormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="xmsonormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">George Carter<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#525252;mso-ligatures:none;mso-fareast-language:EN-AU">---------------------------</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-ligatures:none;mso-fareast-language:EN-AU"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Public Sans";color:#525252;mso-ligatures:none;mso-fareast-language:EN-AU">Salā <b>Dr. George Carter</b></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-ligatures:none;mso-fareast-language:EN-AU"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Public Sans";color:black;mso-ligatures:none;mso-fareast-language:EN-AU">Email: <a href="mailto:george.carter@anu.edu.au"><span style="color:#0563C1">george.carter@anu.edu.au</span></a></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-ligatures:none;mso-fareast-language:EN-AU"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Public Sans";color:#525252;mso-ligatures:none;mso-fareast-language:EN-AU">Deputy Head of Department / Senior Fellow</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-ligatures:none;mso-fareast-language:EN-AU"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Public Sans";color:#525252;mso-ligatures:none;mso-fareast-language:EN-AU">Department of Pacific Affairs I Coral Bell School of Asia Pacific Affairs</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-ligatures:none;mso-fareast-language:EN-AU"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Public Sans";color:#525252;mso-ligatures:none;mso-fareast-language:EN-AU">ANU Pacific Institute </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-ligatures:none;mso-fareast-language:EN-AU"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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