Illustrative photograph. Not a specific Orchard Tech workplace or a named PALM worker.
Last reviewed: 29 August 2026. This is a news summary of the official family accompaniment pilot pages. It is not an application form. Questions: PALMfamilies@dfat.gov.au.
The PALM scheme family accompaniment pilot lets up to 200 long-term PALM scheme workers bring their families to Australia. DFAT and DEWR say the aim is to reduce the harm of long family separation and to strengthen ties with the Pacific and Timor-Leste. It is a pilot, not the default rule for every PALM worker. Most PALM workers still cannot bring family as a standard visa condition.
Who is in the pilot
Five countries took part: Fiji, Kiribati, Timor-Leste, Tonga and Vanuatu. Two selection processes in 2024 chose workers, families and employers. A mid-term evaluation was completed in mid-2025. The PALM scheme site says a summary is on the website, and that the Government will keep taking feedback from workers, families, employers and other stakeholders to inform future family accompaniment policy.
What families can access (as published)
- A comprehensive pre-departure briefing before travel.
- A family liaison officer after arrival to help with community, services and supports.
- Partners may work or study; children may attend school.
- Families can apply for Medicare, the Family Tax Benefit and the Child Care Subsidy on arrival.
The 2023–24 Budget materials, still reflected on DFAT’s PALM page, also committed Medicare access for those initial 200 families.
Employer obligations in the pilot
Public workshop materials used by DFAT describe extra employer duties: written support for the worker’s application, lodging subclass 403 secondary applicant visas, reporting family arrivals (and no-shows) to DEWR, giving families the support line on arrival, notifying DEWR within 24 hours of a serious incident involving a family member, helping secure suitable family accommodation, and extending departure briefings to adult family members. Only employers DEWR accepts into the pilot should act on that list. If you are not in the pilot, do not tell workers you can “add family on the side”.
For workers not in the 200
Ask your labour sending unit and your Approved Employer. Do not pay a third party who claims they can sell a family visa attached to PALM. If you are already in Australia and your placement is ending, use official re-engagement or departure pathways — not an unofficial family claim.
Sources checked 29 August 2026: PALM scheme, Family accompaniment pilot; DFAT PALM scheme page (Medicare for up to 200 families); Devpolicy 2024 Pacific Migration Workshop panel materials (employer annexure duties — confirm against your deed annexure if you are a pilot employer).
