Seasonal workers donate wheelchairs to National Referral Hospital

A group of Solomon Islands workers under the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme have generously donated wheelchairs to the National Referral Hospital (NRH) and Kilu’ufi Hospital in Malaita.

The workers, employed at a farm in North Queensland, Australia, raised funds through Sunday fellowships and volunteer work, enabling them to purchase a total of 15 wheelchairs.

Nine were officially handed over to the NRH yesterday, while the remaining six will be shipped to Kilu’ufi Hospital, a statement by Foreign Affairs (MFAET) yesterday said.

The workers are part of Top of the Crop Labour Hire and are employed at Pirrone Brothers Zucchini Farm in North Queensland, the statement said.

Team leader Vincent Isa described the donation as a gesture of gratitude to the Solomon Islands Government for the opportunity to work in Australia under the PALM scheme.

“Our team consists of 95 workers, including Solomon Islanders, as well as colleagues from Vanuatu and Timor-Leste.

“I would like to acknowledge and thank the workers from Vanuatu and Timor-Leste for also contributing to this initiative,” Mr Isa said.

He expressed hope that their contribution would inspire other seasonal workers to give back to their communities, the statement said.

The wheelchairs were presented to NRH Acting Director of Nursing, Hellen Orihao.

Director of the Labour Mobility Unit (LMU) within MFAET, Christina Marau commended the workers’ efforts, stating that their generosity highlights the positive impact of the Labour Mobility Programme.

“The LMU is proud of these workers’ initiative, and we hope their actions will inspire others to contribute to their communities,” Mrs Marau said.

In 2024 alone, Solomon Islands workers participating in labour mobility schemes in Australia and New Zealand have contributed an estimated SBD $431 million in remittances to the local economy.