Why Australian Businesses Are Building Remote Teams in the Philippines
The hiring landscape has changed. Here's what the data shows—and how smart Australian companies are adapting.
The Australian Hiring Challenge in 2026
If you're running a business in Australia, you already know: hiring is harder and more expensive than ever.
According to Jobs and Skills Australia, nearly 1 in 3 small businesses struggle to fill key roles. It's not just about finding people. It's about finding qualified people who fit your budget.
Wage pressure is the #1 concern for 34% of Australian business owners. And larger companies with bigger budgets make it nearly impossible for small businesses to compete.
Here's the reality: an in-house admin assistant now costs $65,000 to $85,000 per year. That includes salary, superannuation, benefits, office space, and equipment. For many businesses, that's simply not sustainable.
But something else has changed. 78% of Australian employees now want hybrid work. And 96% of knowledge workers are already working hybrid or fully remote.
So here's the question: If hiring locally is too expensive, and remote work is now normal, where should you build your remote team?
Why the Philippines Has Become Australia's Go-To for Remote Talent
The Philippines isn't new to outsourcing. But what's happened over the past five years has changed how Australian businesses think about building teams there.
The Numbers Tell the Story
Filipinos working as virtual assistants for international clients
Of the world's VAs are in the Philippines—it's the #1 global hub
Literacy rate, with 70%+ holding college diplomas
Of the global BPO market is held by the Philippines
But beyond statistics, there are three practical reasons why Australian businesses choose Filipino VAs:
1. Time Zone Alignment
Manila is only 2-3 hours behind Sydney. That means your VA can work during your business hours. They can answer customer questions in real time, schedule meetings while you're awake, and collaborate on projects without a 12-hour delay.
2. Cultural and Communication Compatibility
The Philippines is the world's third-largest English-speaking country. Filipino VAs are trained in Western business communication. They understand Australian customer service expectations, email etiquette, and how to handle client interactions professionally.
3. Real Cost Savings
According to ExecuHub's 2025 analysis, Australian businesses save $40,000 to $50,000 per year by hiring Filipino VAs. That's not a small saving. That's money you can reinvest in growth, marketing, or product development.
"Australian companies can reduce expenses by up to 78% when they hire virtual assistants. No hidden costs for benefits or office space." — 24x7Direct, 2026
But Does Remote Work Actually Work?
This is the question every business owner asks. And the research is clear.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, productivity actually increased with remote work. This held true across 61 industries from 2019-2022.
A two-year study by Great Place To Work looked at over 800,000 employees. They found stable or improved productivity after going remote.
And 62% of workers say they're more productive working remotely. Only 11% feel less productive.
The key? Give people autonomy and the right tools.
When workers have flexible schedules, clear expectations, and the software they need, remote work doesn't just maintain productivity—it often increases it. Filipino VAs are already used to remote work. They've done it for years with international clients. So they onboard faster and need less hand-holding.
What Roles Australian Businesses Fill with Filipino VAs
Not every role fits remote work. But many tasks that drain your time or require specialized skills are perfect for VAs.
Here's what Australian businesses delegate most:
Administrative Support
- Email management and inbox organization
- Calendar scheduling and appointments
- Document prep and data entry
- Travel booking and expense tracking
- CRM management (HubSpot, Salesforce, Zoho)
Customer Service
- Email and chat support (Intercom, Zendesk, Freshdesk)
- Order tracking and returns
- FAQ responses and knowledge base updates
- Social media community management
- Refund and billing questions
Bookkeeping and Finance
- Invoice processing and accounts payable/receivable
- Xero or QuickBooks data entry
- Expense categorization and reports
- Payroll support (time tracking, leave calculations)
Marketing and Content
- Social media posting (Buffer, Hootsuite, Later)
- Blog formatting and WordPress management
- Email newsletters (Mailchimp, Klaviyo)
- Basic graphic design (Canva, Adobe Express)
- SEO research and keyword tracking
E-commerce Operations
- Product listings and inventory updates (Shopify, WooCommerce)
- Order fulfillment coordination
- Supplier communication and purchase orders
- Review monitoring and reputation management
How We Help Australian Businesses Build Remote Teams
You could hire a VA directly through freelance platforms. But it's time-consuming, risky, and often frustrating. You're responsible for vetting dozens of candidates, managing contracts, handling payroll, and replacing anyone who doesn't work out.
That's where Armasourcing comes in. We remove the guesswork, risk, and admin burden from hiring Filipino VAs.
Here's How It Works:
Step 1: We Learn Your Needs
We start with a detailed call to understand:
- What tasks you want to delegate
- What skills and software experience you need
- Your preferred working hours and communication style
- Your budget and timeline
Step 2: We Find and Vet Candidates
We shortlist 2-3 candidates from our network of pre-screened VAs. Each one goes through:
- Skills assessment (software, English, task expertise)
- Background verification
- Reference checks from previous clients
- Cultural fit evaluation (work style, reliability, communication)
Step 3: You Interview and Choose
You meet the candidates via video call and pick the best fit. No obligation. No pressure. You make the final decision.
Step 4: We Handle Onboarding and Payroll
We manage contracts, payroll, compliance, and admin setup. You don't deal with Filipino labor laws, tax withholding, or currency conversion. We handle it all.
Step 5: Ongoing Support
Unlike hiring a freelancer and hoping for the best, you get ongoing support:
- Monthly check-ins to ensure good performance
- Help if communication or task issues come up
- Free replacement if the VA isn't the right fit (110-Day Guarantee)
- Access to training resources for upskilling your VA
Our Guarantees: Why Armasourcing Is Different
We've designed our service to remove risk from your side. Here's what protects you:
110-Day Perfect Hire
If your VA isn't the right fit in the first 110 days, we'll find a replacement at no extra cost. No questions asked.
90-Day Impact or Refund
If you don't see real time savings within 90 days, we'll refund your service fees.
Zero Deposit
Unlike other agencies, you can start with a VA immediately. No deposit required. Pay as you go.
No Lock-In Contracts
Scale up, scale down, or pause anytime. We earn your business every month.
Real Results from Australian Businesses
E-Commerce: Melbourne-Based Online Retailer
Challenge:The founder spent 25+ hours per week on product uploads, customer emails, and order tracking. No time left for marketing or growth.
Solution:Hired a Filipino VA for 30 hours/week to handle product listings, customer questions, and inventory updates.
Professional Services: Sydney-Based Consulting Firm
Challenge:Client response times were slow. The team was juggling admin tasks, proposals, and client delivery all at once.
Solution:Brought on a Filipino VA to manage scheduling, email triage, and CRM data entry.
Marketing Agency: Brisbane-Based Digital Agency
Challenge:The agency was turning away clients. They didn't have capacity for more social media accounts.
Solution:Hired 3 Filipino VAs for social media scheduling, content formatting, and community management.
Common Questions Australian Businesses Ask
Will the VA understand Australian business culture?
The Philippines has worked with Australian clients for decades. Especially in customer service and BPO industries. Filipino VAs are trained in Western business communication. They know Australian slang, spelling (colour vs. color), and workplace expectations. We specifically check for cultural fit during vetting.
What about data security?
All VAs sign NDAs and confidentiality agreements. For sensitive data (financials, customer info), use role-based access controls in your software. For example, limited permissions in Xero or view-only access in Google Drive. Use two-factor authentication on all accounts. Many clients use password managers like 1Password or LastPass to share credentials securely.
How do I manage someone remotely?
The same way thousands of Australian businesses manage hybrid teams. Use Slack or Microsoft Teams for daily communication. Asana or Monday.com for task management. Loom for video walkthroughs. We provide onboarding templates and management tips to help you set clear expectations from day one.
What if I only need 10-15 hours per week?
That's fine. Many clients start with part-time VAs (10-20 hours/week) and scale up later. No minimum hours required.
What's the hourly rate?
Most Filipino VAs charge $8-$35 per hour. General admin tasks are $8-$15/hour. Specialized roles (bookkeeping, marketing, tech support) are $15-$35/hour. That's much lower than the $50-$80/hour for local contractors. And way more affordable than $65,000+ per year for in-house staff.
How fast can I get started?
We can show you shortlisted candidates within 5-7 business days. Once you pick a VA, they can start within 1-2 weeks.
Ready to Build Your Remote Team?
Hiring in Australia isn't getting easier. And it's not getting cheaper. But you have options.
If you're spending too much time on tasks that don't grow your business, Filipino VAs might be the smartest move you can make right now.
Here's What Happens Next:
- Book a 30-minute discovery call (no obligation, no sales pitch)
- We'll assess your needs and recommend the right VA profile
- Within a week, you'll interview 2-3 pre-vetted candidates
- Your VA can start within 1-2 weeks
Or explore on your own first:
- Cost savings calculator — see how much you'd save
- Task delegation checklist — free download
- More Australian client success stories
Research Sources
- Jobs and Skills Australia - Small Business Challenges
- Cosca - Top Business Challenges 2026
- Standout Resume - Remote Work Stats Australia
- HireTalent.ph - Filipino VA Market Stats
- TrueList - Virtual Assistant Statistics 2026
- ExecuHub - Offshore VA Cost Comparison
- 24x7Direct - VA Rates Australia
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics - Remote Work Productivity
- Great Place To Work - Productivity Study
- Apollo Technical - WFH Productivity Stats
