Dear Hasbeen,

It is not a matter of ethnicity - Australian citizens of all races expect a level of work-standards. They would not be willing for example to be on duty 144 hours a week. No nursing-home employees are expected to attend that many hours, but if you care for a person at their home, that's what needed. Even if Australians were willing to work (or at least to be on call at 10-second notice) 144 hours/week, imagine how much they will charge, even at minimum-wages. Philippines do not expect the same and are more than happy to work in such conditions in order to send the money back home to support their families.

In other countries, foreign employees have certain legal rights for working conditions and minimum-pay, but these are not the same as those of residents/citizens.