If you want to work in Australian agriculture or horticulture, there are two main visa pathways used by labour hire companies like Orchard Tech: the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) Scheme and the Working Holiday Visa (subclass 417 or 462).

They sound similar — both let you work legally on Australian farms — but they’re built for different people with different goals. Here’s the full comparison so you know which one applies to you.

Quick Comparison

Feature	PALM Scheme	Working Holiday Visa (417/462)

|—|—|—|

Who it’s for	Citizens of 9 Pacific Island countries and Timor-Leste	Citizens of 40+ eligible countries (mostly Europe, UK, Canada, Japan, etc.)
Age limit	Generally 21–45	18–30 (some countries up to 35)
Work duration	1 to 4 years	1 year per visa, extendable to 3
Employer	Tied to an approved PALM employer	Any legal employer, 6-month max per employer
Primary purpose	Structured employment	Holiday and travel, with work permitted
Regional work required	Yes, in specific sectors	Only if extending past 1 year (88 days)

Both pathways are legitimate, legal, and used extensively across Australian agriculture — Orchard Tech places workers under both schemes.

The PALM Scheme Explained

The Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) Scheme is an Australian Government program that allows workers from nine Pacific Island countries and Timor-Leste to work in Australian sectors with labour shortages — primarily agriculture, horticulture, meat processing, and aged care.

Who’s eligible

Citizens of:

• Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu

How it works

• You apply through an Approved Employer (like Orchard Tech, under our PALM arrangements)
• The employer sponsors your visa and coordinates your travel
• You’re tied to that employer for the duration of your placement
• Placements range from 9 months up to 4 years
• Employers are legally required to provide welfare support, compliant accommodation, and pastoral care

What you earn

PALM workers earn the same award rates as every other Australian worker in the role. Piece rates, overtime, and penalty rates all apply identically. The difference isn’t pay — it’s the support structure around the worker.

What’s included

• Coordinated travel to Australia
• Compliant accommodation (arranged, often on or near site)
• Welfare support from dedicated coordinators
• Mandatory pastoral care (e.g. cultural support, health check-ins)
• Return travel at end of placement

Best suited to

Workers who want a longer, stable placement with more formal support. Workers who send a significant portion of earnings home to family. Workers from Pacific Island nations and Timor-Leste specifically.

The Working Holiday Visa Explained

The Working Holiday Visa (subclass 417 for most countries, subclass 462 for Work and Holiday countries) is a cultural exchange visa that also grants work rights for up to 3 years if you qualify for extensions.

Who’s eligible

Citizens aged 18–30 (some countries 18–35) from over 40 eligible countries. Common ones:

• 417: UK, Ireland, Germany, France, Italy, Belgium, Netherlands, Canada, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, and more
• 462: USA, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, China, Spain, Portugal, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Poland, Turkey, Greece, and more

How it works

• You apply directly to the Australian Government (not through an employer)
• You arrive in Australia and can work for any legal employer
• Maximum 6 months with any one employer (unless exceptions apply)
• First-year visa is 12 months
• To extend to a second year, you must complete 88 days of specified work in regional Australia
• To extend to a third year, you must complete 6 months of specified work in the second year

What you earn

Same award rates as every other Australian worker. Working holiday makers pay a flat 15% tax on the first $45,000 of earnings, then standard marginal rates above that.

What’s included

Nothing automatic. You’re responsible for your own flights, visa, accommodation, transport, and employment. That said, licensed labour hire companies like Orchard Tech can help you arrange accommodation and transport when you take a placement.

Best suited to

Younger travellers (18–30) who want flexibility to travel, switch jobs, and move between regions. Workers who want short-term earnings alongside travel. Anyone qualifying for the 88-day visa extension.

Which Pay Is Actually Better?

Identical. The award rate is the award rate, regardless of visa. A cherry picker on a PALM visa earns the same per hour and per bucket as a cherry picker on a 417.

Where take-home differs:

• PALM workers have accommodation deducted from pay (pre-arranged), but the net amount sent home is often substantial because costs are managed.
• Working Holiday makers have more flexibility and lower structured deductions, but also face higher living costs if they travel between jobs and regions.

Net-net, both pathways result in strong earnings for a legitimate agricultural season. What differs is the structure, duration, and support — not the hourly wage.

Common Myths Worth Clearing Up

“PALM workers are paid less than Australians.” — False. Award rates apply equally. If anyone suggests otherwise, they’re describing an illegal arrangement.

“Working holiday visa 88 days only counts on farms.” — Not quite. Specified work includes farm work, mining, construction in certain postcodes, plant and animal cultivation, and fishing/pearling. Farm work is simply the most accessible route.

“You can combine PALM and a Working Holiday Visa.” — No. You hold one visa at a time, and PALM participants must exit Australia at the end of their approved stay.

“Third-year extension is automatic.” — No. It requires 6 months of specified work during your second year, on top of the 88 days in your first year.

How Orchard Tech Supports Both Pathways

We operate across four Australian states — Victoria, New South Wales, Northern Territory, and Tasmania — and regularly place workers under both visa pathways:

• As a PALM Approved Employer, we manage placements, welfare, accommodation, and compliance from arrival to departure
• For Working Holiday Visa holders, we provide documented placements that count toward the 88-day extension, along with accommodation and transport support where available

Either way, your paperwork is handled, your pay is compliant, and your work is recognised by the Department of Home Affairs.

Which Should You Choose?

If you’re from a Pacific Island nation or Timor-Leste, want a longer-term placement (9 months+), and need structured accommodation and support — PALM Scheme.

If you’re 18–30 from an eligible country, want to travel while working, and are happy to manage your own accommodation and transport — Working Holiday Visa.

If you’re unsure or need advice for your specific situation, get in touch with our team — we’ll walk you through the pathway that fits best.

Call us on 0439 32 32 32 or 03 93 32 32 32.

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Orchard Tech operates under current Australian Government approvals for both the PALM Scheme and as an employer of Working Holiday Visa workers. Visa policies and eligibility requirements are set by the Australian Government and can change. Always check current Home Affairs guidance before making a visa decision.