Targeting to serve the Aged Care Industry of baby boomers approaching retirement in Australia and New Zealand, Integrative Learning (IL) Institute has just launched a “Study and Work Australia Program” for Filipinos.

IL Institute, an initiative of training and consulting firm IL International Inc. which had been operating in Asia and North America for two decades, last month opened an office in Queensland, Australia. This overseas office is “an integral part of our long-term vision of providing globalized education and student support services,” according to IL Institute Philippines President Jerry Perez de Tagle.

Under the Aged Care Program, students and mid-career people who want to work in Australia and New Zealand, complete 3 months of Australian-accredited training in the Philippines.

IL Institute has offices in Manila, Davao, Cebu, Baguio plus 9 satellite facilities in Pampanga, Batangas, Iloilo, Bacolod, Tagbilaran, Dumaguete, Cagayan de Oro, Ozamis City, and General Santos.

After completing their Aged Care Certificate III locally, they can advance to Diploma level in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra, Adelaide or on the Gold Coast, Australia. The cost, at around P300,000, is half of what students normally spend for a four-year course. Students can bring their families and work 4 hours a day or 20 hours a week, while studying in Australia or New Zealand. A partner of IL Institute, Lifetime International Training College (LITC), one of Australia’s leading education and placement service providers, assists in job placements.

“We provide Filipinos with an opportunity to obtain an Australian qualification after three months and gain world-class quality training besides,” stressed Executive Director Stirling Donaldson. He ensures that graduates become acculturated and job-ready to meet specific industry needs in Australia. “There’s a shortage of workers here.”

Since IL Institute started operations in 2008, more than 900 students have enrolled in its Study and Work Australia program. Of these, 138 graduates have received visas to continue their studies in Australia. To date, 30 Filipinos are studying and working in Australia under the program.