Small agricultural town sponsors 15 aged care workers from Philippines

When April Laguros contemplated leaving behind her husband and three young kids in the Philippines to come to Australia, it wasn't iconic coastline she saw when she googled her future home — it was canola.

"I searched about Coolamon … What does it look like? And I can see the yellow fields, golden fields".

When April arrived in the small agricultural town, 30 minutes north-west of Wagga Wagga, with 14 other new immigrants, they found themselves in a foreign landscape. The canola fields weren't even in bloom.

"It looked like desert for me," she said. She thought: "What kind of place are we going through?"

Cebu, April's original home, is a bustling coastal city with a population close to a million people. Coolamon in New South Wales has a population closer to 2,000. Fifteen new faces did not go unnoticed.

"Obviously this is a rural community, you know, where the town is predominantly white, Anglo-Saxon, farming," says Melanie Stubbs, the human resources officer at Coolamon Shire Council.

"And so, to have such a big group arrive … it was quite a surprise, and it was a learning curve for the community."

Coolamon's problem and April's sacrifice

April came seeking opportunity for herself and her family, but it came at a price.

"It was lonely, sad, but I just hold on to the reason why I came here. The reason is for my family … because I have to bring my kids here. I have to save and then bring them and then experience a good life here in Australia," she says.

Tony Donoghue, Coolamon Shire Council general manager, was moved when he learnt April had left such young kids at home.

"I thought, 'Oh my God, how did you do that?' But … living in Australia is her goal and that's our goal as well," he says.

For Coolamon Shire Council, April and her new colleagues were a desperately needed life raft for the local residential aged care facility.

Allawah Lodge is council-run, with capacity for 33 residents, but not enough local staff to operate at full capacity.

"The risk was closing and I didn't think that was appropriate," says Tony.

"We believe in our community that we should look after our elderly and we didn't want to have our most respected community members scattered around across the region in various nursing homes."

The solution was to sponsor 15 immigrant workers; no small feat for a regional local council.

"We had to build a home for the Filipino community because there was no accommodation here. So this council invested $750,000 in just that building alone," says Tony.

April says she felt welcome and supported by the community.

"When we came here in Coolamon they knew already that we are the Filipinos that will be working in Allawah Lodge …they welcomed us warmly," says April.

Over breakfast, the Allawah Lodge residents sing the Filipino staff's praises.

Long term Coolamon resident Barb says: "Oh, [we] love them to bits. We get cuddles and hugs and dances and singing and most of all terrific care."

"When they bring the food. I can say 'salamat', which means thank you," says another resident, George.

But around the corner at Coolamon Shire Hall, Melanie from the council acknowledges it hasn't all been smooth sailing.

"There was one day I was helping all of the staff open a bank account and a gentleman who is a very long-standing community member, he's since passed away, but you know, born and bred here.

"And he scooted along on his scooter, and he asked them all if they spoke English and then very quickly told them all that they were not welcome in his home," Melanie recalls.

"That particular gentleman ended up being a resident in our aged care facility. And those staff … cared for him like anyone else, which was really beautiful. Really beautiful."

April says while she hasn't experienced racism in the Coolamon community, she has at Allawah Lodge.

"We have one resident who is racist, but we just think that she has dementia and she doesn't know what she's talking about," says April.

One of her Filipino colleagues at Allawah Lodge, Jeffrey, says this is part and parcel with aged care work.

"It is awful to say that you get used to it, but it comes with the trade".

Another Filipino staff member, Nova, says she tries not to take it personally.

"Sometimes you feel hurt and then you can just move away and then come back again because … they need us," she says.

April's family reunited in Coolamon

More than two years after April arrived in Australia, she yells "who wants ice-cream?" across a Coolamon park. It's her day off and she's watching her kids, aged three, five and 13, climb together on the equipment.

"I was very happy when I brought them here and, on that day, I am very grateful … realising that I can provide a good life for them [in Australia]," she says.

Her husband has come too and has a local job as a welder.

When council general manager Tony Donoghue reflects on April's journey, he tears up.

"It's making me a little bit emotional … We've made a difference to people".

"I think our regions are fantastic places to live," he says.

"I think that's something that I'd love the city folk to understand. It's great to live here".

Just outside town, the Canola fields are in full bloom for spring.