- The employer (that’s NOT YOU) drives the application. An Australian specialised “training visa” is needed. Staff Leasers all know the drill. Sometimes they process internally, some outsource to a local Visa service. Training visa’s, with your support, are not that difficult to get.
- There’s a heap of paper work that must be exact. The Worker also needs to be exact. Being turned down because not every box is ticked is NOT unusual.
- Typically it only takes a week or so to get a Visa. If there are any delays, it’s usually due to the requirement for “original” documents etc.
- You must play it with a straight bat – The Worker is employed by your Staff Leaser (or other third party) – a Philippine Company (will need evidence)
– the customer is you an Australian Company (you need to provide a support and guarantee letter) – the purpose is for you to train the Worker in Australia.
We always have them do the same work in Australia as they do in the Philippines – with a training oversight.
- You may need to get the Worker a passport. It’s a cheap and fairly easy process in the Philippines – most delays occur because the Worker may have changed names or has no Birth Certificate (believe it or not).
- Get an Employment contract guaranteeing they cannot leave you for 1-2 years – if they do, they have to repay the costs.
- Fly them on the ONE airline – check bags through to the Australian destination. This is important. Do NOT change airlines in Singapore or Hong Kong.
- Make sure you take out Accident and Sickness Insurance.
- Give them $50/$100 a week CASH so they can purchase incidentals. UNDERSTAND they do NOT have ANY disposable income. They cannot afford $5 for a coffee.
- On arrival provide an Australian prepaid mobile in case they get lost. Philippine Pre-paid Cell phones do NOT work in other countries.
- House them in your (or staff) home – NOT a motel. Obviously provide all food. You do need to consider the diet – rice to a Filipino is like spinach to Popeye.
- Make sure they clearly understand staying at the Bosses house does NOT make them special (important).
- Allow access to a computer online at your home (they need to talk to family – an after hour’s thing).
- Make it worth the air tickets – unless female with small children – keep them in Aussie 4-6 weeks. But don’t keep them too long, they can become too familiar with AU customers / life style and this will spoil a good worker.
- They are NOT your “Employee” so none of the Fairwork BS counts. The employer is a Filipino Company. None of the 457 stuff is applicable – they are training NOT working for you (you are not directly paying them).
- Remember you want to Australianise them as much as teach your processes – so go to our local zoos, wildlife places etc. We take our trainees to the Footy etc.
Deviate from the above at your peril