The Market Development Facility (MDF) is a multi-country Australian Government funded initiative, with locations in Fiji, Sri Lanka, Timor-Leste, Samoa, Tonga, and Vanuatu. MDF aims to stimulate economic growth – and hence employment and income earning opportunities for the poor and underprivileged – by making selected sectors of the economy more competitive and stimulating business innovation. MDF is implemented by Palladium Group and Swisscontact and started operations in Fiji in July 2011.

Fiji’s Outsourcing Services (OS) sector employs over 8,000 people, two-thirds of whom are women. While the sector provides strong employment opportunities for Fiji, staff retention, attendance and productivity has become a growing challenge due to inadequate childcare services. A 2019 International Finance Corporation (IFC) report estimated that employers in Fiji lose up to 12.7 workdays per employee annually due to childcare responsibilities.
MDF has partnered with Smiles for Miles (Fiji) Pte Ltd (SFM) to help develop reliable and affordable childcare services for OS workers and test the feasibility of offering childcare services as a staff incentive to improve productivity and attendance.
SFM is a privately owned and operated daycare and learning centre that offers early childhood care and learning services, based in Laucala Beach Suva. SFM is looking to expand its services and establish a 24-hour childcare service to better meet the needs of shift-based workers from Fiji’s growing outsourcing services (OS) sector.
MDF & SFM are seeking to engage a suitable Business Development Consultant (”Consultant”) on a short-term basis to conduct a business feasibility study and develop a financial model, for a 24-hour childcare service operation.

Job Brief
This position is open to both International and National

Join a DFAT-commissioned study as a consultant to examine superannuation portability between Australia and Pacific/Timor Leste retirement funds. You’ll design and implement research, conduct fieldwork, and deliver evidence-based recommendations to improve access for PALM workers. Ideal candidates have a degree in economics, public policy, finance, or law, strong analytical and communication skills, and experience with Australian and Pacific regulatory environments.

Abt Global is seeking a highly qualified individual for the short-term adviser role, Climate Disaster Risk Integration Specialist on the Australia PNG Economic Partnership (APEP) Program. This role will support the Government of Papua New Guinea’s (GoPNG’s) efforts to mainstream climate and disaster risk considerations into public investment planning and budgeting.

Tetra Tech International Development, as the managing contractor for the Australia Assists Program, is seeking Expressions of Interest from qualified organisations and individuals to support the design and development of foundation-level e-learning content and training packages for Australia Assists deployees. The primary goal is to equip deployees with the knowledge and skills needed to effectively represent Australia’s humanitarian and development priorities while collaborating with international and regional partners, in alignment with DFAT’s International Development Policy and Humanitarian Strategy.

This engagement will involve partnering with subject matter experts to develop interactive, SCORM-compliant e-learning modules that facilitate improved learning outcomes through multimedia content and sound pedagogical practices. Among these, is a flagship module focusing on representing Australia while on deployment, and will be developed alongside other key training modules supporting safety, communication, deployment processes, reporting, and regional support activities.

Content Coordinator

About Pacific Labour Mobility Support Program     

The Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme is a signature initiative for the Australian Government that enables workers from 9 Pacific Island Countries (PICs) and Timor- Leste to work in priority sectors in Australia. The Pacific Labour Mobility Support Program’s (PLMSP) role is to provide the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and governments in 9 PICs and Timor-Leste with support to enable workers to access PALM scheme in inclusive ways that maximise the benefits for the workers and national economies while minimising risks from labour mobility participation. Palladium is contracted to deliver PLMSP on behalf of DFAT.  

This Opportunity  

The Content Coordinator will support the PLMSP media, stakeholder engagement and communications activities to facilitate the sustainable expansion of Pacific labour mobility, manage the reputation of the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme and provide important information to labour mobility stakeholders in Australia, the Pacific and Timor-Leste. The position will work closely with colleagues across the PLMSP to coordinate engaging materials for audiences in Australia, the Pacific and Timor-Leste to inform and build understanding, influence perceptions, and enhance worker wellbeing. 

This is a fixed term opportunity required to September 2028 and based in Brisbane.

About Pacific Labour Mobility Support Program     

The Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme is a signature initiative for the Australian Government that enables workers from 9 Pacific Island Countries (PICs) and Timor- Leste to work in priority sectors in Australia. The Pacific Labour Mobility Support Program’s (PLMSP) role is to provide the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and governments in 9 PICs and Timor-Leste with support to enable workers to access PALM scheme in inclusive ways that maximise the benefits for the workers and national economies while minimising risks from labour mobility participation. Palladium is contracted to deliver PLMSP on behalf of DFAT.  

This Opportunity  

The Driver will be responsible for the safe and efficient transportation of PLMSP and SEFOPE staff, visitors and guests, goods, parcels, and documents within Timor-Leste. This role ensures vehicles are maintained in optimal condition, journeys are planned effectively, and safety standards are always upheld.

This position is based in Dili Timor-Leste and is a fixed term opportunity required to September 2028.

Events Coordinator

About Pacific Labour Mobility Support Program     

The Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme is a signature initiative for the Australian Government that enables workers from 9 Pacific Island Countries (PICs) and Timor- Leste to work in priority sectors in Australia. The Pacific Labour Mobility Support Program’s (PLMSP) role is to provide the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and governments in 9 PICs and Timor-Leste with support to enable workers to access PALM scheme in inclusive ways that maximise the benefits for the workers and national economies while minimising risks from labour mobility participation. Palladium is contracted to deliver PLMSP on behalf of DFAT.  

Timor Leste Scale Up

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Timor-Leste Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão released a joint statement on 21 December 2024 announcing bilateral funding of nearly A$50m (A$48.6m) for the Timor-Leste-Australia Labour Mobility and Skills Partnership, to equip Timorese workers with job-ready skills and provide them with more employment opportunities. The Partnership will help contribute to long term economic growth for Timor Leste and will assist the country to achieve its target of 10,000 workers in the PALM scheme by 2027-28.

This Opportunity  

The Events Coordinator will work with the Communications Manager to coordinate PLMSP events in Timor-Leste and support engagement activities with a range of stakeholders and audiences (the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), industry stakeholders and partners).  

This position is based in Dili Timor-Leste and is a fixed term opportunity required to September 2028.

About Palladium

​Palladium is a global company working to design, develop and deliver positive impact on the lives and livelihoods of people around the globe; broaden access to health, water, power, and infrastructure; build enduring, sustainable, and transformative institutions and market systems to address global challenges; and conserve the natural world. We operate in over 90 countries and have a workforce of 4,000 talented, motivated, and diverse staff of all religions, races, languages, and gender identities.  ​

​About the Program

​The New Colombo Plan (NCP) is an initiative of the Australian Government which aims to lift knowledge of the Indo-Pacific in Australia by supporting Australian undergraduates to study and undertake internships in the region. Students undertake scholarship programs, participate in Mobility projects, and on completion become alumni. About the New Colombo Plan | Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade 

Palladium is contracted by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) to manage the NCP Managed Administrative and Support Services (MASS) program which underpins the effective operation of the Scholarship, Semester and Mobility programs as well as alumni engagement, and provides the cross-cutting functions of funds management, communications, stakeholder engagement, risk management, and monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL).  

Palladium provides the risk management cross cutting support function to the NCP, ensuring that appropriate risk assurance, risk and incident management, as well as safety, security and safeguarding systems and processes are implemented across the NCP program areas in line with the head contract requirements and relevant DFAT, NCP and Palladium policies and operational procedures.  

About Pacific Labour Mobility Support Program     

The Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme is a signature initiative for the Australian Government that enables workers from 9 Pacific Island Countries (PICs) and Timor-Leste to work in priority sectors in Australia. The Pacific Labour Mobility Support Program’s (PLMSP) role is to provide the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and governments in 9 PICs and Timor-Leste with support to enable workers to access PALM scheme in inclusive ways that maximise the benefits for the workers and national economies while minimising risks from labour mobility participation. Palladium is contracted to deliver PLMSP on behalf of DFAT.  

Timor Leste Scale Up

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Timor-Leste Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão released a joint statement on 21 December 2024 announcing bilateral funding of nearly A$50m (A$48.6m) for the Timor-Leste-Australia Labour Mobility and Skills Partnership, to equip Timorese workers with job-ready skills and provide them with more employment opportunities. The Partnership will help contribute to long term economic growth for Timor Leste and will assist the country to achieve its target of 10,000 workers in the PALM scheme by 2027-28.

This Opportunity  

Acting as PLMSP Timor Leste Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) specialist, the Skills and Training Manager, Timor Leste will support the procurement, design and delivery of accredited and non-accredited training aligned to the needs of PALM workers as part of PLMSP activities. Liaising closely with industry, they will support the design, tender processes and accompanying stakeholder engagement to maximise the scalability and efficacy of training models under PLMSP.   

This position is based in Dili Timor-Leste until September 2028.