PR-19-2025
25 September 2025, MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – The Philippine Consulate General in Melbourne successfully hosted a Post-Arrival Orientation Seminar (PAOS) for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) on 25 September 2025. The event was held in hybrid format, with participants attending in person at the Consulate and online from across Victoria, South Australia, and Tasmania.
The seminar was co-organized by the Migrant Workers Office (MWO) Canberra and the Migrant Workers Centre (MWC). It gathered 27 in-person attendees and 36 online participants, and provided practical guidance to Filipino workers adjusting to life and employment in Australia.
In his keynote message, Consul General Jesus R.S. Domingo welcomed the workers and underscored the importance of understanding their rights, obligations, and the support mechanisms available to them. He highlighted the growing Filipino community in the Consulate’s jurisdiction—over 119,000 Filipinos across Victoria, South Australia, and Tasmania—and their increasing visibility in health care, aged care, hospitality, trades, and regional agriculture. “This PAOS is more than orientation,” he emphasized. “It is about building a strong and supportive community where Filipinos in Australia can be safe, empowered, and respected members of society.”
Consul Jan Sherwin P. Wenceslao presented an overview of the Consulate’s consular and welfare services, including passports, civil registration, assistance-to-nationals (ATN), and emergency assistance.
Labor Attaché Melissa C. Mendizabal of MWO Canberra outlined the office’s mandate and services, including employment contract verification, accreditation of employers, issuance of Overseas Employment Certificates (OECs), and legal and welfare assistance in cases of labor disputes, wage theft, or illegal dismissal.
From the Migrant Workers Centre, Ms. Florence Dato and Mr. Gabriel Dain delivered a session on “Know Your Rights at Work.” They discussed Australia’s national minimum wage, penalty rates, leave entitlements, superannuation, and workplace safety. They also explained new protections for temporary visa holders, such as the Workplace Justice Visa and Strengthening Reporting Protections, which allow workers to pursue claims of exploitation without fear of deportation.
The program concluded with an open Q&A session, where participants raised issues such as the responsibilities of OFWs in reporting, the importance of OECs and contract verification, settlement support, and pathways to skills accreditation. Feedback from participants underscored the value of the hybrid format, which enabled meaningful participation from OFWs in regional South Australia and Tasmania.
This PAOS is part of the Consulate’s sustained initiatives to support the Filipino diaspora within its jurisdiction and to ensure that overseas Filipinos remain well-informed and well-protected. The Consulate General extends its appreciation to MWO Canberra and its community partner, the Migrant Workers Centre, for their strong collaboration in delivering this program.
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