‘Flying a Little Blind’: The Hidden Crisis of Pregnant Pacific Islander Women in Australia

Overview

Pacific Islander women who become pregnant while living and working in Australia without valid visas face a cascade of risks: no access to Medicare, financial hardship, and the constant fear of deportation. Many of these women were initially part of the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme but later disengaged, leaving them in a legal and medical limbo.

Key Stories

Women described in the report include Priscilla, Rosie, and Julie — all from Vanuatu — who worked in agriculture in rural Victoria. None had Medicare or health insurance. Some delayed or avoided medical care due to cost and fear.

Rosie attempted to self-induce abortion using alcohol because she could not afford the procedure. She did not want the pregnancy, but the cost — at least $700 — was insurmountable.

Healthcare workers report seeing pregnant women without Medicare who present late in pregnancy, often without prior scans or blood tests. Midwife Brooke Higgs stated she is left "flying a bit blind" when treating women without medical history.

The Consequences for Children

Some children born to these parents lack birth certificates or recognized immigration status. Others are cared for by informal childminders while mothers work. In cases where mothers cannot pay for care, children are placed into state care.

The Australian government does not collect data on pregnant PALM workers or their children. This lack of official tracking means the true scale of the crisis remains unknown.

The PALM Scheme Context

The PALM scheme allows Pacific Islanders to work in Australia for up to four years. Disengaging from the scheme often results in loss of visa status, leaving workers undocumented and without access to essential services.

The Australian Anti-Slavery Commissioner estimated about 7,000 disengaged Pacific workers in the country in the previous year — a figure that highlights the vulnerability of this population.

What Officials Say

A department spokesperson said the PALM scheme has welfare specialists to assist employers with complex situations, and employers are expected to support workers in accessing maternity leave. However, healthcare workers on the ground say the support rarely reaches those who need it most.

"Women become anxious when told the cost of an abortion," said health practitioner Melanie Jamieson, noting the minimum cost of $700.

By the Numbers

• Over 30,000 Pacific Islanders are employed under the PALM scheme.
• An estimated 7,000 disengaged Pacific workers were in Australia in the previous year.
• In one clinic, healthcare workers report seeing an estimated five pregnant women without Medicare per year.

The Human Toll

For women like Priscilla, Rosie, and Julie, the intersection of pregnancy, precarious immigration status, and poverty creates a situation where basic healthcare becomes a luxury they cannot afford.