Did you know over 320,000 Filipinos now call Australia home? From 2012 to 2022, that’s a 55% increase in just 10 years, according to the Australian Department of Home Affairs.
Filipinos are now the fifth largest migrant community in the country, making up around 4% of all people born overseas, and 1% of the total population.
Filipino migration to Australia grew in the 1980s, and today, prosperous communities can be found in nearly every major city. Two cities in particular stand out: Sydney and Melbourne.
Sydney: a cultural hub
Sydney is home to the largest and oldest Filipino-Australian population, with communities prospering across suburbs like Blacktown, Rooty Hill, and Mount Druitt. In Blacktown alone, nearly 6% of the population identifies as Filipino — one of the highest concentrations in the country.
Sydney offers a wealth of resources for Filipinos, from the Philippine Consulate General to organizations like:
- Pinoy Australia Information Forum – hosting live talks on Filipino business and immigration.
- Bayanihan Community News – delivering Filipino-focussed news and cultural updates.
- Filipino Student Society of USYD – supports students and promotes pride, nurturing cultural identity among university students.
- Fiesta Kultura and Pasko Festival – annual events celebrating Filipino music, food, and faith.
Melbourne: a growing family
About one in five Filipinos who move to Australia settle in Melbourne, where communities are expanding in areas like Wyndham, Brimbank, and Casey.
Over the decades, organizations have worked hard to create services and cultural events that celebrate and support their communities:
- Filipino Community Council of Victoria (FCCVI) – offers social services, support for elders, community news, and volunteer opportunities.
- Australian-Filipino Community Services (AFCS) – supporting disadvantaged communities in the metro area
- Festivals like the Philippine Grand Fiesta celebrate Filipino culture, music, and food, drawing large crowds.
- Churches such as St. Francis’ and the Filipino-Australian SDA Church serve as community hubs with choirs, social clubs, and charitable programs.
Supporting loved ones back home
One thing that unites Filipino communities, no matter where they live, is a deep commitment to family. Whether it’s sending money for a child’s education, helping cover a relative’s hospital bill, or simply helping out with daily expenses back home, remittances are truly an act of love.
But traditional ways of sending money — like international bank transfers or money orders — can be slow, expensive, and difficult to track. It’s maybe why Filipinos in Australia choose the Remitly app to send money.
Why Filipinos in Australia use Remitly to send money home
Remitly was created to make sending money to the Philippines (and many other countries) fast, affordable, and worry-free, with reliable speeds every time you send.
Founded in 2011, Remitly is trusted by millions of people worldwide to send money back home safely. So here’s why Filipino-Australians choose and trust Remitly:
1. Your security comes first
Protecting your personal data is Remitly’s priority — because your peace of mind matters. That’s why Remitly uses multiple levels of security to keep your data safe, so that you can send money to your loved ones in the Philippines with confidence.
2. More of your money reaches home
Remitly offers competitive exchange rates and low transfer fees — with no fees for your recipients. Which means more of the hard-earned money that you send goes directly to your loved ones in the Philippines.
3. Trackable transfers with real-time updates
Stay in the loop with real-time updates using the Remitly app. Your family knows when to expect the money — and you know it got there safely, with notifications for you at every step.
4. 24/7 customer support in Tagalog (and more languages)
Need help with sending money, or money you’ve sent to your family or friends? Remitly’s customer service is available 24/7 through live chat or phone.
5. Flexible delivery options
When you send money to your family, you want them to receive their money in a way that puts them at ease.
At Remitly, we provide familiar, trusted and convenient delivery options, so you can choose how your family receives their money:
- Transfer to mobile wallets like GCash, Maya, ShopeePay, coins.ph and GrabPay.
- Direct bank deposit to trusted banks such as BDO Unibank, Bank of the Philippine Islands, Metrobank, Land Bank of the Philippines, Philippine National Bank, Union Bank of the Philippines, and more.
- Cash pickup at trusted partners like Cebuana Lhuillier, Palawan, M.Lhuillier, Cebuana Lhullier, LBC, BDO Unibank, The SM Store, USSC and many more.
- You may also choose home delivery, depending on your recipient’s location.
6. Our perfect delivery promise
Our perfect delivery promise gives an exact date and time when you can expect your money to be delivered.
If your money doesn’t arrive on time, Remitly will refund your fees. Our perfect delivery promise is all part of Remitly’s commitment to transparency and trust.
Real-life reasons Filipinos send money home
Here are just a few real-life moments when Remitly helps Filipino-Australians support their families:
- Education: Sending funds for tuition, school books, or internet access.
- Health: Covering hospital bills, check-ups, or medication.
- Celebrations: Sending money for birthday gifts or supporting a Christmas reunion.
- Essentials: Helping parents with utility bills or home repairs.
- Emergencies: Providing fast help and care in times of crisis.
- Investment or retirement: Supporting long-term goals like building a family home, starting a small business, or helping parents in retirement.
Stay close, even from far away
In Filipino culture, sending money home is more than a financial act—it’s a way to stay emotionally and spiritually connected. Every transfer says, “I’m thinking of you.” Every deposit is a reminder: “You’re important to me.”
With Remitly, supporting family is simple, fast, and secure. Whether you’re in Parramatta or Perth, Melbourne or Manila, you’re really never too far to make a difference to the most important people in your life.
Ready to send money to the Philippines?
Download the Remitly app from the App Store or Google Play, or visit remitly.com. It takes a few minutes to set up — and you’ll be ready to give care and support for your loved ones when it matters most.
Stay close and send love home with Remitly.
