Update as of 30 May 2020, registrations for all states have closed, except for Victoria and Tasmania.
If you are a Filipino international student in Victoria or Tasmania and interested in receiving a supermarket voucher, click here to register. Mention Philippine Times in the referral question.
For individuals and businesses wishing to make a tax deductible cash donation, find details here: APBC Boosts Support for Filipino Students.
The Australia Philippines Business Council (APBC) and Gawad Kalinga Australia have joined forces to give assistance to Filipino International Students who have lost their jobs and needing urgent help. A Memorandum of Agreement between the two organisations was signed last Thursday, 7 May at the APBC Offices in Sydney according to Marisa Vedar, GK Australia Company Secretary.
APBC President Eduard Alcordo stated that as a business council, APBC is looking at the economic consequences of the pandemic, and help protect Australia’s fourth-largest export sector. International education contributed $37.6 billion to the economy in the last financial year and supported 240,000 jobs. APBC is looking to raise $25,000 – $30,000 from its member business organisations and friends. Funds raised will be turned over to Gawad Kalinga Australia, a Filipino-Australian Charitable Foundation with DGR status for tax deductibility.
GK Australia will then distribute supermarket cash vouchers of $50 or $100 to each beneficiary International student in NSW, ACT, VIC, SA, WA and QLD. Tasmania will be handled by VIC. A joint Committee will decide who will be the chosen beneficiaries.
This initiative is also in partnership with the Filipino Student Council of NSW, FASTCO in Melbourne and the Student Councils in South Australia and Queensland.
