Apply to work in Australia or New Zealand
Work abroadAny Papua New Guinean that meets these criteria can apply today
- Must be physically fit and healthy
- No criminal record
- Good character and a positive attitude to work
- Relevant qualifications or work experience
- Between the ages of 21-40
PNG offers a unique opportunity for Australian and New Zealand employers to tap into a large and motivated workforce.
Largest workforce in the Pacific
- There are over 9 million people living in PNG, making it the largest pool of Pacific labour to select from. This means lasting workforce solutions.
Reliable and hard working
PNG workers are physically strong, hard-working and loyal, with lived experience in animal husbandry, horticulture and agriculture.
Easy to access
With direct flights from Australia and New Zealand, access to PNG is quick, easy and cost effective.
Application process for workers
Express interest
- First get your NID or birth certificate, a valid passport, police clearance and vaccine card. Then visit your nearest recruitment hub to express your interest.
Interview and fitness test
During the interview, we check your English skills, attitude and motivation to work. Working in Australia and New Zealand can be hard, so we check your fitness, strength and endurance.
Work ready pool
If you pass steps 1 and 2, you join the work ready pool and your details are listed on the labour mobility database.
Working selection
- We send your profile to employers, who make the final selection.
Medicals and offer of employment
Medical screenings include x-rays and blood tests at an approved clinic. If you pass, you are given an offer of employment. You will also need to pass a police check.
Submit documents and get your visa
You will need to submit all documents at this point. Your employer will then apply for an Australian or New Zealand visa on your behalf.
Pre-departure briefing and departure
Pre-departure briefings are held over 2 days in Port Moresby or the recruitment hub, which prepares you for life and work in Australia or New Zealand. When it’s time to leave, you will need to be at the airport 3 hours before departure.
Work in Australia or New Zealand
Your employer will meet you at the airport in Australia or New Zealand and help you settle into your new role. You can then start earning an income to support your family back home, while gaining valuable work experience and skills.
Please note: To help make your arrival in Australia easier, your employer pays for some items for you in advance, such as your flights. You will be required to pay back these costs to your employer. These costs are usually paid back through deductions from your salary over the first 12-16 weeks. This is spread out over several pay periods, to make sure you still have enough money left to cover your ongoing living expenses.
Returning home
Complete your contract and return to PNG. Share your new skills and experience with your community!
Hear about PNG worker experiences in Australia
Fast tracking PNG worker’s dreams
Farmwork in Australia helped Sylvester achieve financial stability. Working on a Queensland farm put Sylvester on a fast track to achieving his dreams. When he boarded a plane to Australia in 2019, he was a 26-year-old subsistence farmer with no other employment or skills beyond growing food.
Workers return each season to Ironbark Citrus
Ironbark Citrus in Queensland’s North Burnett region has a long history of employing workers from Papua New Guinea through the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility scheme.
Aged care worker finds a home away from home in regional Queensland
In less than two years, 23-year-old Michelle Bart's life has changed in ways she never imagined possible. "It's a dream come true; I have the opportunity to build my own house and secure my future at a much faster rate than I ever thought possible," she said.
PNG meat workers: determined, hardworking and loyal
Papua New Guineans are gaining an excellent reputation in Australia’s meat processing industry as hardworking and loyal workers, especially in areas like Cootamundra, NSW where local staff have been hard to find.
Frequently asked questions
Labor mobility is when workers can move around between different countries. Papua New Guinea has labour mobility arrangements with Australia through the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme and New Zealand through the Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme.
Labour mobility is demand-driven, which means employers recruit workers according to their workforce needs. To participate in the programs, both employers and workers must be approved by their governments and must meet a minimum set of eligibility criteria.
To be eligible to join the PALM and RSE schemes, you must be between the ages of 21-40, fit and healthy, have good conversational English, and be work ready and motivated to succeed. You will need an NID card or a birth certificate to register, and a valid passport. You will also need to show that you do not chew betel or drink alcohol.
PNG workers in Australia and New Zealand receive the same workplace protections as citizens of those countries. This includes protections against exploitation, minimum rates of pay and minimum standards of accommodation. The PALM and RSE schemes contain built-in measures that require employers to look after their workers. On the ground support is also provided by country liaison officers, who are employed by the Government of PNG.
