Every country celebrates its national day in its own way. For Australia, at this time of year, it is summer and a time for holidays. So Australia Day celebrations tend to be relaxed and fun. Australians enjoy celebrating all the things we love about the country – the unique land, the lifestyle, the freedom and the people.
Australia Day for us is about recognising the contribution that every person makes to our modern and dynamic country. From our Indigenous People – who represent the world’s oldest continuing culture – to all those who have come to make Australia their new home.
Filipinos are among the largest groups of new Australian citizens. It won’t be surprising to see that many of them have a family member or friend who calls Australia their second home. They will know modern Australia as a nation that isn’t defined by race, religion or a particular culture, but by shared values. It is a country that celebrates democracy and freedom, promotes mutual respect and equality between men and women, and has steadfast respect for the rule of law.
Iam proud to say that thanks to the efforts of generations past and of my fellow citizens, we have created a harmonious, peaceful and prosperous society. In a world that’s going through conflict and tension I know that many people still see Australia as a land of hope and opportunity; and a land of rare natural beauty.
This remains the case despite the devastating images you have seen of bushfires raging across several states in Australia. The scale of these fires is unprecedented and tragically, 28 people have lost their lives. Several thousand homes have been destroyed and the loss of animal life is hard to comprehend.
But we are a resilient and practical people. So you will have seen communities rallying together, volunteer fire fighters risking it all, and people from all across the country – and indeed, the world, coming to help.
I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to the Philippine government, the provinces and their cities, and the extraordinary number of Filipino people who have offered their support, prayers and well-wishes. Considering the many natural emergencies this country faces, including most recently the Taal Volcano eruption, it shows again to me the seemingly bottomless well of empathy and goodwill that the Filipino people have for Australia.
Rebuilding will take time but the Australian Government’s response is comprehensive and it is undaunted by the task ahead. This has already included deploying thousands of Australian Defence Force personnel and reservists on the ground, releasing millions of dollars in emergency payments to families and communities, and millions in new funds to preserve wildlife habitat.
Many Filipinos have asked what can they do directly to help. The answer is simply – please consider Australia as your next vacation destination: come to Australia! We are open for business and there is a vast continent to explore, most of it unaffected by the recent bushfires.
Despite the bushfire-affected regions, many coastal towns, parks and beaches remain open for more tourists. Indeed, one of the most powerful things that our overseas friends can do is to visit and support the recovery of our beautiful towns.
There are also vast parts of Australia completely unaffected by fires which want to see visitors enjoying the best experiences that Australia can offer. And with more direct flights to Australia, it’s no wonder that of all tourists from Southeast Asia, the fastest growth was from Filipino visitors in 2018-19.
As we celebrate Australia Day and all the stories that have contributed to our nation, I invite you to see my country for yourself so that you can tell your own story of Australia.
Steven J. Robinson AO is the Australian Ambassador to the Philippines. Follow him on Twitter @AusAmbPH.
Trade Ties
The trade and investment partnership between Australia and the Philippines is on the way up. With a 300,000 strong Filipino community in Australia and 34 direct flights per week, Australia is a prime destination for tourism, education and training. More Filipinos studying overseas choose Australia as their study destination more than any other country, with over 20,000 Filipinos currently studying at universities and technical colleges down under.
Philippine companies are also taking advantage of investment opportunities, with a number of major Philippine conglomerates investing in Australia to secure their supply chain and access advanced products and technology.
The ASEAN Australia NZ Free Trade Free Trade Agreement (AANZFTA) has opened the doors to exporters from both countries, with two-way trade in goods and services between Australia and the Philippines reaching A$4.8 billion – a 70 percent increase since 2010.
The complementary nature of the Philippine and Australian economies and geographic proximity have supported the growth across priority such as food and beverage, infrastructure, and services.
Australia and the Philippines are collaborating to drive the Philippines’ digital transformation agenda and to boost the competitiveness of its private sector. This includes knowledge and technology transfer as well as institutional partnerships in science and disruptive technologies.
There are more than 300 Australian companies in the Philippines significantly contributing to the country’s socio-economic growth. Together, they directly employ over 40,000 Filipinos, contribute to local taxes, purchase local materials, goods, and services. Embracing local talent, these companies are continuing to invest in specialised training and to develop globally competitive technology and services solutions.
A number of these global Australian companies are showing their support for this year’s Australia Day celebration, and are helping to make the event a success. These include ANZ Bank, Austal, Crone, GHD, Greenstone, Leighton Asia, Macquarie, Oceanagold, Orica, Prime Metro BMD, Qantas, QBE, Site Skills, Telstra, TWPS, and Wine Brothers.
Study in Australia
Australia continues to be a preferred study destination for Philippine students and is the third most popular international student destination in the world. According to the Australian Department of Education and Training, nearly 750,000 international students are currently studying in Australia, 20,000 of which are from the Philippines. Australia is home to over 300,000 Filipinos, and trade and people to people links constitute a highly favourable platform to deepen our bilateral cooperation.
Australia is a global education powerhouse boasting top-notch facilities and educators and providing students with over 22,000 courses across 1,100 institutions. Australian education has a distinct focus on meeting global industry needs, providing quality training, connecting skills with job outcomes and teaching practical skills and theoretical knowledge to help students succeed in a fast-changing employment climate.
Australian universities have a proven track record globally, ranking consistently high for their quality of education, research and student experience satisfaction. Six Australian institutions are in the top 100 world rankings across a range of study fields, including Arts and Humanities; Clinical, Pre-clinical and Health; Engineering and Technology; Life Sciences; Physical Sciences and Social Sciences. (Times Higher Education 2019)
In addition to strong academic credentials, Australia has seven of the best cities in the world based on student mix, affordability, quality of life, and employer activity.
Many of the international students who have studied in Australia have returned to their own countries, and elsewhere in the world, to become government ministers, business leaders, researchers, scientists, medical practitioners and community leaders. The Australian education system has produced scientists, designers, educators, entrepreneurs, artists and humanitarians who have changed the world and won awards from Nobel Prize to the Oscars.
As the Philippines continues to be one of the fastest growing economies, it is critical to equip the population with skills that befit contemporary times and support the nation through its digital transformation. Australia is seeking to expand on its present partnership with the Philippines and foster knowledge and technology transfer and support access to quality and industry-led training and education, including right here in the Philippines. There is no better way to explain the positive impact that studying with Australia can have on your life and career than through the wonderful stories Filipino alumni are sharing on @Study in Australia and @Australia in the Philippines Facebook pages.