Fifteen childcare workers from Papua New Guinea (PNG) will soon travel to Australia as part of a pilot program designed to address staff shortages in the early childhood education and care sector. This new initiative is part of the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme and was announced during the Pacific Labour Mobility Annual Meeting in Brisbane. The workers will be based in Katherine and Alice Springs in the Northern Territory, regions that have struggled to find enough local childcare educators. Their arrival early next year will mark a significant milestone, as this is the first time the PALM scheme is being tested in Australia’s early childhood education sector. The program is a win-win for both Australia and PNG. The Australian government will fund the training of these workers, equipping them with valuable skills while helping local families gain better access to childcare services. This will enable more parents in Katherine and Alice Springs to participate in the workforce, contributing to their local economies. For PNG, the program provides workers with a chance to earn significantly higher incomes compared to what they would typically make at home. On average, PALM workers save or send home $1,500 per month, which is 9 to 10 times what they might earn in their own countries. The money they send back helps support their families and communities, creating a ripple effect of economic growth in PNG. The PALM scheme is already highly regarded, with surveys showing that 98% of participants would recommend it to others, and 92% would like to return for future work. The pilot program will assess whether the scheme can be expanded to include more early childhood education employees in the future. Australian Minister for International Development and the Pacific and Minister for Defence Industry, Pat Conroy praised the program and says they look forward to welcoming the first childcare workers from PNG. "Their efforts will strengthen our communities and deepen the bonds between Australia and Pacific nations,” the minister said. Minister Murray Watt also highlighted the importance of addressing childcare shortages while providing opportunities for Pacific neighbors to work and train in Australia. If successful, this pilot could pave the way for more childcare educators from PNG and other Pacific countries to participate in similar programs.