Application and Recruitment 

  1. What do Palms volunteers do?
  2. What skills/professions are you looking for?
  3. Eligibility
  4. How long are Palms assignments abroad?
  5. What is Palms’ recruitment process?

1. What do Palms volunteers do?

In a nutshell – professional skill development. Palms Australia recruits skilled Australians to fulfil specific requests from our overseas partner organisations. Volunteers mentor and collaborate with local staff, sharing their expertise to build capacity and support sustainable development. Read more about our  development philosophy here.

2. What skills/professions are you looking for?

We recruit based on the specific requests of our overseas partners. We do not have our own priority areas. Our volunteers include educators, accountants, managers, nurses and other health workers, tradespeople, agriculturalists, IT specialists, community and social workers, and lawyers, among others. If you don’t see your skills requested in our current opportunities, submit an enquiry using the form to the right and we’ll see where your skills can fit.

Remember, your skills are more than your current job title so share with us any talents you have that you feel confident that you can share with others.

3. Eligibility

  • Australian citizens or holders of a Permanent Residency Visa for Australia, or New Zealand citizens holding a Special Category Visa (SCV) for Australia.
  • Volunteers must be over the age of 18. There is no upper age limit.
  • People with relevant experience. Program participants need to have sufficient experience and/or qualifications in their specific field to be of real value to overseas communities.

4. How long are Palms assignments abroad?

All candidates for an assignment abroad must complete Palms Australia’s pre-departure training in Sydney. Due to current Australian visa regulations, only candidates with Australian/New Zealand residency or citizenship are eligible to apply. Palms Australia’s assignments are a minimum of one year long, with many partner organisations requesting two-year assignments. Two years may seem like a long time, but most of our participants reflect that the first year passes quickly, and it’s often not until the second year that they see the most impact. Palms generally advises that the first 6 months of a placement is a significant period of adjustment and learning, which means that a volunteer is effectively only starting to make a significant difference for the second 6 months of a one year placement, and it is in their second year that more profound impact becomes possible.

How is the program funded?

Palms Australia is funded by generous individual donors (many of whom have been program participants) community partnerships and grants from affiliated organisations.

5. What is Palms’ recruitment process?

We want to ensure we are providing the best possible candidate for our partners. We also want to ensure program participants are prepared and committed for the challenges of living and working away from home for up to two years. For these reasons, our recruitment process can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months. Successful applicants must complete:

  1. An enquiry form, briefly outlining skills and expertise through our ‘Enquire about an Assignment Abroad’ form (available right and on all current opportunity posts)
  2. An application form exploring personal competencies and suitability for an assignment abroad (sent to you after we receive your enquiry)
  3. An in-depth interview with Palms’ staff
  4. Reference checks, Police Clearance and Working with Children Check
  5. Medical clearance and vaccinations appropriate for the country of placement
  6. Attainment of work permit and visa for the location of placement (with support from the Palms team and the partner organisation).
  7. Attendance at a Palms pre-departure course, typically held in January and July each year.

Your assignment is not confirmed until you have completed these steps. Applicants who will be working in a school may be required to wait until the commencement of the next school year to begin their assignment.

On Assignment

  1. In which countries does Palms work?
  2. Support for volunteers
  3. Can I take my family/partner on assignment?
  4. Is an assignment abroad safe and secure?
  5. Do participants get holidays?
  6. How do participants stay healthy on assignment?

In which countries does Palms work?

Palms Australia has supported volunteers in various countries in Africa, Asia, Central America and the Pacific. The countries we in which we work vary from year to year, depending on the requests from our partner communities. To find out where our current program participants are working, visit our Projects page.

Support for Volunteers

Volunteering is a significant commitment, and we offer support at every stage. The specific support available will depend on the details of your assignment

All program participants will receive a basic living allowance. It is generally equivalent to a local wage and provides sufficient funds to cover food and personal items but will not cover expenses back home (e.g. mortgage payments). The exact amount of this allowance varies in each assignment location and is occasionally reviewed to reflect the cost-of-living changes in your assignment location. In addition, assistance is provided with the cost of travel insurance, visas and introductory language learning where necessary.  Return flight costs are only reimbursed for those who undertake 2-year placements.  For more information about expenses that are eligible for reimbursement, contact the Palms team.  

Our partner organisations also provide a level of support for you throughout the duration of your placement. In some locations, participants will have their own accommodation, in other locations they may share with a local family (with their own room) or community where meals can be shared or provided.

Palms keeps in regular contact with all our program participants. We are always on hand to provide support and guidance via email and phone when needed. All participants will have access to internet and be within mobile service range. We encourage participants to keep regular contact with us so we can discuss how they are transitioning on a professional and personal level. Members of the Palms team will visit you at least once during your placement.

Can I take my family/partner on assignment?

Yes. However, Palms Australia does not provide additional support for family members. Where possible, we may be able to secure an assignment for a suitably qualified family member in the same location. We are available to share insights on whether a particular assignment location is suitable for your family (with consideration for schooling, healthcare facilities, etc.).

Is an assignment abroad safe and secure?

Palms has a comprehensive scoping process that we conduct as part of our risk management strategy to ensure there is an understanding of the security risks. Palms completes a locality risk assessment for every placement. We also connect with the Australian High Commission or Embassy to make sure they are aware of Palms program participants and their placement objectives.  Within the first few weeks of arrival, participants and their host organisation will complete and a personal security plan.

While we cannot eliminate every risk, we are committed to preparing and supporting you as thoroughly as possible.

Do participants get holidays?

Yes. The amount depends on the organisation you are working with. Teachers usually have school holidays similar to those in Australia. Most other positions receive around four to five weeks of annual leave per year.

How do participants stay healthy on assignment?

Palms provides a comprehensive health workshop during our orientation course. Program participants are required to undergo a medical health check prior to accepting any placement. You are advised to discuss specific health concerns with a travel doctor or your general practitioner. Additionally, participants receive guidance on health issues relevant to their placement location and the measures needed to stay healthy.

Returning Home

  1. What support does Palms provide when participants return home?
  2. I’m not ready for an assignment right now. How else can I be involved?

What sort of support does Palms provide when participants return home?

Palms provides participants with post-placement resources about three months prior to their return home. These resources are designed to help participants reflect on their experience while they are still working. It also gives them the opportunity to discuss this preparation with Palms, and have any questions answered.

Once a participant returns home, Palms will provide an initial placement debrief and connect newly returned participants with other returnees from the same area.  In addition, a Re-Entry Workshop is scheduled each year for former participants. It provides an opportunity to hear the stories of other returnees and to process their experience within a reflective framework.  We often invite our returnees to engage with the preparation of new participants. Former participants are also invited to be involved in our wider network.

I’m not ready for an assignment right now. How else can I be involved?

Palms Australia relies strongly on community support and would welcome your assistance in many ways.

You can help by providing one-off or recurring donations to help us fund assignments, starting a community fundraising group in your area, or volunteer part-time in our Sydney office. If you’re interested in visiting some of our program and participants in the field and finding out more about capacity building for development, you can join us on a short, small group trip with one of our Encounters. Contact Palms Australia for more information.