Empty Promises – Migrating to Australia by Alfred de Aureus

The Philippine Health Care Association of Australia (PHCAA) through its Executive Director Ella Magallanes Martirez warned “kababayans” to be suspicious of recruiters and agents promising to provide jobs by processing student and working visa (applications) for Australia. Ms Martirez noted that there are employment recruiters in the Philippines who are collaborating with Registered Australian Migration Agents in conducting migration modules and seminars. They are targeting unsuspecting applicants who are asked to pay huge fees on installment. “We are very much concerned about these recruitment procedures and doubt the process as a pathway to (obtaining) an immigrant visa. We do not want our Filipino nurses tricked into parting with huge sums of money for nothing,” Ms Martirez said.

PHCAA President Veron Alcantara is now in the Philippines to observe the process. Ms Alcantara said that Filipino nurses and health care workers need to seek validation of credentials and job offers. Applicants need to be cautious in dealing with recruiters and migration agents. “In as much as we want Filipino nurses to join us here in the Australia, we do not want them to be victims of fraud by such recruiters under the guise of a business entity,” Ms Alcantara said.

The PHCAA Committee has developed the following basic guidelines to help the applicant:

1. Make a Google Search for further the details of the recruiter, migration agent and the employer using names, telephone numbers, addresses, company names, etc. Take note of complaints in chat rooms.
2. If you have friends, colleagues or relatives in the place or country where the employer is (located), ask them to check the details for you or even ask your friend to have a friendly chat with the employer.
3. Check the details of the employer, the migration agent and the recruiter and validate their connection with each other. Do not forget to check with the Philippine Consulate Office in Sydney.
4. Make a phone call to the business establishment to verify their legitimacy by using telephone numbers found in the internet, websites or if they are listed in the telephone directory. Generally, contact numbers found in their email and business cards are unlisted numbers.
5. Validate the job offer by calling the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency (POEA).
6. Avoid sending personal and private information about yourself (i.e. bank and credit card details, passport details, national insurance numbers, social security, etc.)
7. If suspicious, terminate all communications and report to the local authorities in Australia and Philippines.

Official Australian Websites that can be useful:

1. Medical Practitioners: http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/medical-practitioners/
2. Visa Options – Nurses : http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/medical-practitioners/visa-options-nurses.htm
3. PHCAA: http://www.phcaa.org.au
4. Philippine Consulate Sydney: http://www.philippineconsulate.com.au/

PHCAA is an not-for-profit organisation of Health Care Professionals and Workers. We can provide free advice to prospective applicants who feel that they are eligible to study and migrate to Australia. You can email your query to committee@phcaa.org.au