PALM success: Naitasiri dad turns sacrifice into security for his family

Four years of hard work under the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) Scheme has helped one Naitasiri father turn sacrifice into security, building a better life for his young family.

Akariva Tawake, 33, from Naganivatu in Naitasiri, with maternal ties to Navutu, returned home last July after working in Australia since 2022.

When he left Fiji, he had only one clear goal.

“That’s my only goal when I went abroad, just to support my wife and my children,” Mr Tawake said.

In Australia, he worked as a warehouse assistant. The job was not easy. The work was physically demanding, and being away from his family for years was emotionally painful. He missed birthdays, school events and simple family moments.

“It wasn’t easy working abroad,” he said. “There were many challenges in the field, but I always thought about my children and their future.”

While his wife and children remained in Fiji, Mr Tawake focused on saving as much as he could. He lived simply and avoided unnecessary spending.

Akariva Tawake with his wife, Ulamila Gatu.

Photo - Ronald Kumar

After four years, he managed to save more than $20,000.

That money helped him renovate their family home, making it safer and more comfortable. He also purchased a car, something the family did not have before.

For Mr Tawake, the house and the car are more than just property. They are proof that his sacrifice was worth it.

“The only reason I went abroad was because of my children’s future,” he said.

Now back home with his family, Mr Tawake says the greatest reward is being present again, watching his children grow and being there for them every day.

His journey under the PALM Scheme shows how overseas work, though difficult, can bring real change for families back home, one house, one car, and one fulfilled promise at a time.

Feedback: rariqi.turner@fijisun.com.fj