Reproductive justice and the PALM scheme
The aim of the study was to investigate the experiences of PALM scheme participants in Australia (and service providers and approved employers) relating to reproductive justice.
Reproductive justice is the human right to maintain personal bodily autonomy, have children, not have children, and parent children in safe and healthy environments.
The study began in November 2023 and a research report was published in May 2025.
Related to this, on 13 May 2025 the Australian Women’s Health Alliance released a statement on Reproductive Health and Rights for PALM Scheme Workers at the Access & Quality: Tasmanian Reproductive Health Conference. The statement has been endorsed by dozens of individuals and organisations.
Media
2025
The ABC featured an article on 2 June 2025, Home abortions and hiding pregnancy, research reveals hard realities for migrant workers, which was republished on RNZ and MSN.
Lindy spoke with Lucy Barbour on ABC radio, The shame of unwanted pregnancies for Pacific workers, and a story was featured on ABC Pacific Beat, together with Ms Fagaua Etuati Katea, Executive Director for Tuvalu Family Health Association: Seasonal workers going to great lengths to hide pregnancies.
The Devpol Blog on 3 June 2025, Pregnancy, parenting and the PALM scheme, was republished by the Fiji Times, Fiji Sun and Solomons Business Magazine.
Lindy presented at the Pacific Update 2025 in Suva, Fiji, together with Ms Sera Ratu of the Reproductive and Family Health Association of Fiji and Ms Dolores Devesi and Ms Kate Learmonth of the International Planned Parenthood Federation. The presentation is available here, some photos on LinkedIn here and an article in the Fiji Times here.
2024
A blog was published on 2 September 2024, Pacific labour mobility: Let’s talk about sex, which was reprinted in The National (PNG), Fiji Times, Samoa Observer and Radio New Zealand.
Some preliminary findings were shared at the Pacific Migration Workshop on 4 September 2024. View the recording or download the slides.
Lindy was interviewed on ABC Pacific Beat on 5 September 2024, along with blog co-author Sera Ratu of the Reproductive and Family Health Association of Fiji. Listen here.
