For Agnes working at The Migration Agency is more than achieving career goals – it means reuniting with family and aligning her work with her ethics. Hear from our Manila-based Manager of Immigration Support Services, about how working with The Migration Agency has opened her to a world of opportunity.
Agnes is one of the Agency’s long-serving team members who has seen the company grow from three people to an international network of high-performing experts. She was awarded the 2022 ‘Employee of the Year’ Award, which entitled her and her partner to a TMA-sponsored trip to Sydney.
Greater work life balance
Prior to joining The Migration Agency, Agnes worked as a HR generalist in the Middle East for 15 years, most recently for a financial services firm.
“In 2018, my husband and I felt it was time to return home to the Philippines and bring our family, who did not join us to live abroad, closer,” said Agnes.
Agnes was asked to join The Migration Agency’s small but ambitious team at the new Manila office. Having been promoted within six months and now managing a team of five people, Agnes has become a specialist in Australian immigration processes.
Her hard-working team is responsible for supporting migration lawyers in the Sydney office. Outside of her demanding role, Agnes spends quality time with her family.
“No company I have worked for before has provided me with as great a work life balance as The Migration Agency. I am trusted to work remotely which means I can be with my family,” said Agnes.
“Sarah [Managing Director] is always encouraging us all to grow. I have learnt so many things and feel incredibly supported. This is where I want to be for the rest of my life.”
Connecting with Australian colleagues
After being awarded the Agency’s ‘Employee of the Year’ Award in June, Agnes was flown to Australia with her husband to work alongside the Sydney team for three weeks.
“We visited the Blue Mountains and enjoyed an incredible Hunter Valley experience. I feel blessed, incredibly grateful and trusted,” said Agnes.
“While in Sydney I got to spend time working with the lovely and amazing TMA team whom I had only been able to see online for such a long time. I also got to spend quality time with my mentor Marianne who supported me during my early days with TMA. Additionally, I had the privileged to work with Amit at Global Talent Agency office in Balmain and meet the GTA team.”
A culture of mutual trust
Like any fast-growing business, The Migration Agency has seen its fair share of pressure and long days, Agnes said. However, Sarah’s unwavering support and genuine commitment to always having her employees’ backs makes it worthwhile.
“Even during the pandemic, when we saw many businesses let some of their employees go, Sarah stood by us. Everything at TMA is based around trust and wanting to learn. It’s a mutual relationship. We are trusted to do our work and take on responsibilities,” said Agnes.
“The work is extremely time-sensitive. There is little room for error as our clients’ needs are held to a very high standard. However, we are supported by Sarah’s leadership and our colleagues. We have a big part to play in each other’s lives and the wider community.”
A people-centric approach
Care for people is a core to the Agency’s operations. Agnes received a bonus which she will use to support an education initiative in the Philippines. And next year, Agnes is developing a larger community program around clean water provision.
“It is very important that this is not a one-off outreach, where we deliver something for a day and take photos for social media. We are committed to a long term genuine involvement with local communities who need our help,” said Agnes.
This bringing together of values in employees’ personal and professional lives is key to nurturing the team’s longevity and growth.
Agnes’s team is the backbone of the business. Immigration Support provides the migration documentation the Visa Coordinators and Business Partners need resulting in a seamless customer experience. If The Migration Agency was an emergency room, Immigration Support would be the nurses, the Visa Coordinators the doctors, and the Lawyers the surgeons, collectively ensuring the highest levels of client care, Agnes said.
