17 July 2026
Our Chief of People and Mission, Michael Hart, and Head of People and Culture, Adam Priest, recently travelled to Papua New Guinea (PNG) to represent Southern Cross Care at the PNG – Australia Approved Employers Expo.
Joining representatives from 23 Australian businesses, the week-long event provided a valuable opportunity to meet with government officials, provincial leaders, and local development partners to better understand the workforce and culture behind the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme.
With 60 PNG staff already part of our Southern Cross Care team, the visit reinforced the strong partnership we have built with Papua New Guinea through the PALM scheme. Southern Cross Care was invited to the Expo to share the success of our program in Australia and was recognised as a leading example of how the scheme can create positive outcomes for both employers and workers.
Through the PALM program, we have been able to address workforce shortages within the Australian aged care sector, particularly in rural and regional communities where local recruitment can be challenging. At the same time, the program provides PNG workers with the opportunity to develop new skills, earn a good wage, and support their families and communities back home, creating meaningful benefits for both countries.
A true highlight for Michael and Adam was traveling beyond the capital of Port Moresby to the regional hub Kokopo to see the worker journey firsthand. Visiting local communities brought to life the profound, far-reaching impact of the program. In fact, research shows that 70% of returning PALM workers use their savings and newfound skills to start their own small-and-medium businesses in Papua New Guinea.
“Seeing the real-world impact in the local villages was incredibly moving,” Michael shared. “We saw how the hard work of our PNG staff translates into better opportunities, schooling, and safer housing for their families and future generations back home. It brings a completely new meaning to the work we do. Our values of Service, Courage, and Compassion are rippling across the ocean into these beautiful towns.”
Currently, there are more than two thousand active PNG workers in Australia. With the PNG government setting an ambitious target of 30,000 workers by 2030, and the rolling out of fully funded healthcare and aged care training pathways, the future of the program is undoubtedly bright.
The experience has further strengthened our appreciation for the contribution PNG staff make to Southern Cross Care and the value of building strong partnerships that support communities in both Australia and Papua New Guinea.
