Thirty-seven Fijians have graduated with their Certificate III qualifications at Opal HealthCare today, the first graduates for the provider of the Federal Government’s Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) Aged Care Expansion (ACE) program.
The Fijians spent nine months undergoing training and work experience at three NSW regional locations - the Orange Grove Care Community (in the NSW Central West), Denhams Beach Care Community (on the NSW South Coast), and Kanwal Gardens Care Community (NSW Central Coast).
Opal HealthCare's Graduation event.
The ACE program is part of the Federal Government's $168 million Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme, and is expected to train more than 1,000 people in various industries in regional communities in the coming years.
Under the PALM program, workers are provided with accommodation, furniture and other supplies, to ensure their transition to working in Australia is smooth.
“The PALM scheme is a wonderful way to introduce the passion, care and humility of the Fijian culture into our Care Communities,” Opal HealthCare’s Regional General Manager NSW North, Michael Britt said.
“Recruiting team members into any rural and regional aged care community can be challenging, and these Fijians bring so much warmth, professionalism and care to our residents.”
Opal HealthCare is Australia’s largest aged care providers, with 133 Care Communities across NSW, VIC, QLD, SA and WA since its acquisition of Bluecross took effect from 1 July 2024.
