On Thursday 8 September 2011, the Australian Government announced an expansion of the Pacific Seasonal Worker Pilot Scheme to include a small scale trial for tourism operators in Broome, W.A., employing seasonal workers from East Timor. A Memorandum of Understanding with East Timor to give effect to labour sending arrangements has been negotiated.

The trial in Broome is an expansion of this low-skilled labour mobility pilot program, which is already open to the Australian horticultural industry. The expansion of the Pilot to Tourism operators in Broome will take place under existing program parameters and employers will have the opportunity to recruit seasonal workers from East Timor to come to Australia to undertake work for between four and six months.

The Australian Government is accepting Expressions of Interest (EOI) from businesses interested in becoming an Approved Employer under the Pilot and recruiting seasonal workers for this small scale trial.

Businesses can either become Approved Employers to:

• recruit seasonal workers for their own tourism business; or
• recruit seasonal workers and place them with other employers in the tourism industry in  Broome.

Seasonal workers are employed in accordance with Australian work standards and are supported throughout their stay in Australia by the Approved Employer who must provide pastoral care assistance and help the workers to engage with local communities.

More information about the expansion will be made available in the coming months.