AUSTRALIA wants to hire more Filipinos for jobs in critical sectors like health care.
Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Marc Innes-Brown highlighted job openings for Filipinos during his courtesy call on the Senate Committee on Migrant Workers and Committee on Public Services Chairman Raffy Tulfo on Feb. 18 at the Senate.
The meeting focused on the welfare of an estimated 400,000 Filipinos living and employed in Australia, many of whom are nurses, skilled workers and health care professionals.
Innes-Brown and Tulfo highlighted the vital role the Filipino workers play in strengthening people-to-people links between the two countries.
The ambassador commended the performance and professionalism of Filipino workers in Australia, describing them as a significant contributor to the Australian economy.
He said Australia continues to face demand for skilled labor and expressed a preference for hiring more Filipinos, particularly health care workers.
Tulfo thanked the Australian government for the “excellent treatment” of overseas Filipino workers in Australia. He noted that his office has not received reports of abuse or mistreatment by Australian employers against Filipino workers, indicating a positive and protective working environment.
The ambassador also reported an increase in the number of Filipinos enrolling in master’s and doctoral programs at Australian universities. Under existing arrangements, Filipino scholars are allowed to work while studying and may bring their families with them, an initiative welcomed by Tulfo as supportive of both professional growth and family welfare.
Innes-Brown also discussed Australian government initiatives aimed at ensuring that Filipino scholars can immediately apply their specialized training upon returning to the Philippines. These include targeted programs such as advanced agricultural courses designed to support local industries and strengthen food security.
Turning to defense and maritime cooperation, the ambassador emphasized that the Philippines remains a priority partner for Australia in the Indo-Pacific region.
Canberra intends to expand military training exercises with the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) to enhance interoperability and maritime security capabilities.
Tulfo also welcomed Australia’s donation of drones to the PCG, saying the equipment would boost maritime patrol operations and territorial monitoring in the West Philippine Sea, while contributing to regional stability and the de-escalation of tensions.
Beyond labor and defense, Innes-Brown cited the expansion of Australian investments in the Philippines in infrastructure, education, trade, renewable energy and agriculture. These investments are expected to generate approximately 45,000 jobs nationwide, further deepening economic ties between the two countries.
