‘Nothing is impossible’: Returned PALM worker eyes village business
Rusiate Tulevukana says training has given him the skills and confidence to pursue opportunities in Namara
Thursday 13 August 2026 | 10:30
Updated 13 August 2026 | 11:33 FJT
Rusiate Tulevukana displays his certificate after completing a three-day small business training programme on August 12, 2026.
Photo: Milika Rabulu
After four years working under Australia’s Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme, 36-year-old Rusiate Tulevukana has returned home with a new ambition — to establish and manage a small business in his village.
Mr Tulevukana, a farmer from Namara, Tailevu, shared this after completing a three-day Start and Improve Your Business (SIYB) training facilitated by the Ministry of Commerce and Business Development.
He said the programme had given him knowledge and skills he previously lacked to turn opportunities in his community into a viable business.
Mr Tulevukana said returning home made him realise there were numerous opportunities for small businesses in village communities, but many people lacked the knowledge and skills needed to develop and manage them successfully.
It was very challenging for me regarding how to run and develop a small business back at home. Especially staying in the village, there are a lot of opportunities, but we didn't have the skills and knowledge of how to run and develop a business.
PALM worker returnee, Rusiate Tulevukana
The training had changed his understanding of business management, particularly the importance of budgeting, cash-flow management and saving.
One of his biggest lessons was that financial discipline must begin at home before a person attempts to grow a business.
Mr Tulevukana also stressed the importance of keeping household finances separate from business finances, saying mixing the two could undermine the success of a small enterprise.
“If you want to run a business, you run a business. Home will stay as a home, but business will run as a business,” he said.
His experience under the PALM scheme has also strengthened his motivation to pursue business opportunities at home and use the knowledge gained from the training to work towards his goals.
Mr Tulevukana believes aspiring entrepreneurs should not allow fear or limited resources to stop them from starting.
His message to young people is simple: begin with what they have, develop their skills, save and remain committed to their goals.
“Nothing is impossible. Everything is possible. All you have to do is just go for it.”
He said passion and determination were essential for anyone wanting to enter business, whether starting small or aiming to build a larger enterprise.
“As soon as you have the ability and the passion to run a business, you can do it.”
For Mr Tulevukana, he said the training gave him a practical foundation and confidence to return to his community and explore the business opportunities available there.
