Vacancy Title: Country Liaison Officer.
Reporting to: Program Manager; SI Support Services.
Location: Preferably Australia.
Duration: November 2023 – December 2024
Project Overview:
The Pacific Labour Facility (PLF) facilitates seasonal and longer-term work opportunities for Pacific workers in Australia. It connects Australian employers with Pacific workers under the newly introduced Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme which combines the existing Pacific Labour Scheme (PLS) and Seasonal Worker Programme (SWP).
Pasifiki HR manages the Solomon Islands Support Services (SISS) program to partner with the Solomon Islands Labour Mobility Unit to implement the Solomon Islands labour mobility program. This includes support to mobilized workers and approved employers in Australia. Pasifiki HR is a Solomon Islands company specializing in linking employers and employees to ultimately realize their potential.
Purpose of the Position: Country Liaison Officers (CLO) are based in Australia and must be entitled to work in Australia as representatives of countries participating in the PALM (Pacific Australia Labour Mobility) Scheme. CLOs are the key focal point between PALM workers, approved employers (AEs), and the governments of their sending countries. Their role is to provide on-the-ground support to workers and employers and to facilitate greater participation in labour mobility by their respective governments. The roles and responsibilities of CLOs may differ based on the sending countries’ priorities, worker numbers and ongoing issues. However, a generic outline of the tasks expected under the PALM Scheme is below:
Under the direction of SISS Program Manager, the SI Country Liaison Officer:
1. In collaboration with LMU, AEs and the Pacific Labour Facility (PLF), provide pastoral care support to Solomon Islands workers participating in PALM scheme. This can include:
- Basic language translations and cultural support for AEs/ workers.
- Supporting on-arrival worker briefings as needed by AEs.
- Facilitating AE connections with local diaspora, churches and community groups where appropriate.
- Support to connect with local basic services, such as medical allied and emergency services providers.
- Support to understand pay, deductions and living expenses.
- Support to understand workplace requirements and expectations, including from a cultural perspective.
- Partner in cultural competency activities as requested by the PLF.
- Assist to coordinate responses to critical incidents.
2. In alignment with the PALM Scheme’s escalation and response procedures, liaise with AEs on key issues raised by workers from their sending country, to address ongoing concerns and avoid future risks to participation. Among others, these issues can include:
- Accommodation.
- Transport to place of work.
- Medical issues and health insurance requirements.
- Culturally appropriate methods of communicating information.
3. In collaboration with the PLF and LMU and SI High Commission in Australia, liaise with AEs to collect information and feedback on any issues or concerns employers have regarding the performance of their workforce, and how to constructively address this.
4. Be available to workers from their sending country to address concerns or questions relating to their participation in the scheme (including employment rights, immigration laws and criminal offences) aligned to approved escalation procedures.
- Maintain transparent and positive relationships with AEs to minimise risk to all participants, engaging with clear strategic objectives to each visit or engagement.
- Report, investigate and monitor any issues identified as an ongoing concern by the SI Labour Mobility Unit, ensuring detailed documentation is kept.
- Provide regular detailed, and ad hoc situational and incident, reports as required.
- Maintain a strong connection and good relationship with SI Labour Mobility Unit, partner Ministry stakeholders, Solomon Islands High Commission and Consulate-General Office in Australia.
Collect data relating to worker numbers, critical/non-critical incidents, frequently asked questions from workers and AEs, ongoing concerns, and positive feedback. Facilitate and participate in labour mobility research as required. - Facilitate visits between government representatives and relevant stakeholders, including AEs, SI High Commission teams, PLF and DFAT.
- Liaise with SI Labour Mobility Unit and PLF to coordinate visits, develop detailed travel plans in conjunction with employers to guide pastoral care/ welfare visits with transparency, value for money and efficiency in mind.
- Participate in CLO forums, induction and training activities, welfare meetings and activities as required.
Where required facilitate the arrival and departure of workers upon the commencement of contracts and end of employment.
5. For submission to the SI Support Services Program Manager
Monthly timesheets and activity reports for approval.
Qualifications and experience:
- Excellent oral and written communication skills, and ability to engage/build relationships with a wide range of stakeholders (Australian/sending country governments, Australian industry, PALM Scheme workers and their families etc.)
- Fluent in English and SI Pijin with experience working effectively across stakeholders from different cultures including Indigenous communities.
- Demonstrated ability to work autonomously with limited supervision, to work to deadlines, and to balance competing priorities.
- Driver’s licence and flexibility to undertake frequent travel, including after hours and weekends, interstate and internationally.
- Proficiency in Word, Excel, PowerPoint and web browsers.
- Degree level qualification in relevant subject, or similar, is helpful but not a prerequisite. Practical and demonstrable experience in this area is highly desirable.
To apply:
- Your application will comprise: Cover Letter with response to selection criteria (no more than three pages). Your current CV (no more than three pages).
- Applications must demonstrate applicants’ entitlement to live and work in Australia.Incomplete applications will not be considered.
- Send your application to Jessica Kuve : [email protected]
- Applications close on 16th October 2023.
- Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
- Applications will be assessed on a rolling basis.
Women candidates are encouraged to apply.
