Most lists of Australian outsourcing companies mix very different things: contact centres, IT firms, payroll providers and offshore staffing companies. If you run a small or mid-size business, the real question is usually simpler: how do you get one to five dedicated people for admin, bookkeeping, customer support, marketing or property work without paying Australian wages, super and on-costs for every role?
This guide compares the outsourcing companies Australian businesses actually choose between, with prices taken from each provider’s own website where they publish them (checked October 2026). We convert US dollars at A$1.437 per US$1 (about A$1.44; ECB reference rate, 16 October 2026) and say so where a provider doesn’t publish prices.
Quick Answer
Most Australian outsourcing companies place dedicated offshore staff in the Philippines, where a standard working day overlaps 6–8 hours with Australian business hours. For one or a few dedicated people, VA MASTERS recruits Filipino VAs from US$6.50/hr (about A$9.34), about A$1,490 a month full-time, with first candidates in about 2 business days. Offshore staffing companies such as Cloudstaff, Outsourced, Beepo and Emapta quote a monthly rate per staff member (prices not published); Kinetic Innovative Staffing publishes A$25,300–A$34,600 a year for a virtual assistant, and Wishup sells VA plans from US$1,299 a month (4 hours a day).
What Australian Outsourcing Companies Do
Australian outsourcing companies fall into four groups. Decide which one you need before you compare names, because they are not interchangeable.
| Type | What you get | Typical buyer | How it’s priced |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dedicated VA recruitment agency | A dedicated remote professional, recruited for your role, who works in your tools under your direction | Small and mid-size businesses hiring 1–5 people | Hourly or monthly per person |
| Offshore staffing company | Dedicated staff employed by the provider, often in its own Philippine office | Businesses building teams of 5 to 100+ | Monthly rate per staff member, usually quote-based |
| BPO and contact-centre company | A whole process run by the provider’s team and supervisors | High-volume customer service, sales or back-office work | Per agent, per hour or per transaction, custom contracts |
| IT outsourcing company | Software development, IT support or infrastructure, by project or dedicated team | Product companies and larger IT programs | Per project or per developer |
Freelance marketplaces are a fifth option: you post the job and do the recruiting, testing and management yourself. This guide focuses on the first two groups, because they are what most Australian SMEs mean when they look for an outsourcing company. Running a business in the United States? See our guide to the best outsourcing companies in the US.
Traditional BPOs were built for repetitive tasks managed through middle management layers that separate the client from the worker. Modern business leaders don’t want an isolated call center. They want dedicated team members who understand their brand, work directly in their company tools, and help them accomplish high-level work.— Alon Pearl, Founder & CEO, VA MASTERS
Australian Outsourcing Companies Compared (2026)
The table puts each published price next to a full-time monthly cost, so you can compare like with like. Prices are from each provider’s own website in October 2026; “not published” means the provider quotes per client. A$ figures use A$1.437 per US$1 (about A$1.44).
| Company | Model | Published price | Full-time per month | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VA MASTERS | Dedicated Filipino VA, custom-recruited for your role | US$6.50–$15/hr depending on the role (A$9.34–A$21.56) | A$1,490–A$3,450 (US$1,040–$2,400) | SMBs hiring one to five dedicated people |
| Cloudstaff | Offshore staffing, Australian founded and led | Not published; one monthly rate per staff member, no setup fees per its website | Quote | Growing teams that want office-based staff |
| Outsourced | Offshore staffing in the Philippines | Not published; fixed monthly rate covering salary, benefits, HR and facilities | Quote | Teams that want home, hybrid or office-based staff |
| Beepo | Offshore staffing, a Probe Group company | Not published | Quote | Businesses that want Australian-based account management |
| Emapta | Offshore staffing in the Philippines | Not published | Quote | Companies building larger offshore teams |
| Kinetic Innovative Staffing | Offshore staffing in the Philippines | Virtual assistant A$25,300–A$34,600 a year (average A$30,000) | About A$2,110–A$2,880 | Businesses that want a published annual benchmark |
| Wishup | VA subscription, cancel anytime | Prime VA US$1,299 per month (4 hours a day) or US$1,999 (8 hours), billed quarterly | About A$2,870 (8 hours a day) | Fast matching on a monthly subscription |
| MyOutDesk | US-based managed VA provider | From US$1,988/month (Managed) or US$2,500 (Specialized), full-time | From about A$2,860 | US-focused teams that want a managed VA on a monthly plan |
| Probe CX, Concentrix, Teleperformance | Contact-centre and process outsourcing | Custom contracts, not published | Quote | High-volume customer service and back-office programs |
Compare the full cost, not the headline. Some offshore staffing quotes are salary plus a service fee, some add GST, and office-based seats cost more than work-from-home staff. Ask every provider what its monthly figure includes.
The 9 Best Outsourcing Companies for Australian Businesses in 2026
We grouped these by what each does best. Read the “best for” line first: choosing the wrong type of provider is the most common outsourcing mistake.
1. VA MASTERS: Best for Dedicated Filipino VA Recruitment
VA MASTERS is a global virtual assistant recruitment agency that places Filipino VAs with businesses in Australia, the US, the UK, Canada and Europe. Every search is custom-built for the role, powered by a database of 400,000+ pre-assessed Filipino applicants, AI-assisted screening and human recruiters. A role typically attracts 1,000+ applicants, and you meet the 2–3 best candidates.
Where the role needs it, candidates take a custom skills test built on the real work, such as reconciling a sample Xero file for a bookkeeping role. Your VA works only for you, in your tools and on the hours agreed in the role brief, while VA MASTERS handles HR and payroll and stays involved with check-ins.
| Founded | 2021 |
| Model | Dedicated VA who works only for you |
| Recruitment | 6-stage process; 2–3 candidates presented |
| Time to first candidates | About 2 business days |
| Price | US$6.50–$15/hr depending on the role (A$9.34–A$21.56); A$1,490–A$3,450 a month full-time; part-time available |
| Upfront fees | None: it costs nothing to start |
| If the fit isn’t right | Free replacement guarantee |
| Reviews | Average 5/5 on Trustpilot, Indeed and Glassdoor |
Trade-off: VA MASTERS recruits a person for you rather than running a department for you. If you want a provider to run a whole contact centre with its own supervisors, a BPO fits better.
2. Cloudstaff: Best for Growing Teams That Want Office-Based Staff
Cloudstaff describes itself as Australian founded and led, with hubs in the Philippines, India, Colombia and Kenya. It recruits, onboards and manages staff and provides office space, IT and compliance.
| Price | Not published; one monthly rate per staff member |
| Fees | No setup fees, per its website |
Trade-off: pricing is quote-based, so you can only compare it after a sales call.
3. Outsourced: Best for Home, Hybrid or Office-Based Offshore Staff
Outsourced is an offshore staffing company in the Philippines. Its fixed monthly rate covers the staff member’s salary and benefits, government fees, health insurance, recruitment, HR and facilities, with home-based, hybrid or office-based options.
| Price | Not published; fixed monthly rate per staff member |
| Work setup | Home-based, hybrid or office-based |
Trade-off: no published price, and the cost depends on the work setup you choose.
4. Beepo: Best for Australian-Based Account Management
Beepo is a Probe Group company based in the Philippines, with Australian-based senior leadership and account management and an office in Melbourne.
| Price | Not published |
| Group | Probe Group, an Australian customer experience provider |
Trade-off: quote-based pricing; it suits businesses that value a local account manager.
5. Emapta: Best for Building a Larger Offshore Team
Emapta builds offshore teams in the Philippines and handles HR, IT, office space and compliance. It advertises no minimum hires, no salary mark-ups and no long-term contracts.
| Price | Not published |
| Terms | No minimum hires or long-term contracts, according to its website |
Trade-off: quote-based; the model is built for companies planning several hires.
6. Kinetic Innovative Staffing: Best for a Published Annual Benchmark
Kinetic Innovative Staffing places offshore staff in the Philippines and publishes indicative annual prices by role, which makes budgeting easier.
| Price | Virtual assistant A$25,300–A$34,600 a year (average A$30,000); customer service representative A$24,300–A$29,000 |
| Shortlist | Usually within a week, according to its website |
Trade-off: its figures are average offshore annual rates, so the final price depends on seniority and requirements.
7. Wishup: Best for Fast Matching on a Subscription
Wishup sells virtual assistants on a monthly subscription, 4 or 8 hours a day, and has a page for Australian businesses.
| Price | Prime VA US$1,299 per month (4 hours a day) or US$1,999 (8 hours), billed quarterly |
| Commitment | Cancel anytime |
Trade-off: plans are priced per VA and per day length rather than by role, so check how candidates are tested for your work.
8. MyOutDesk: Best for US-Focused Teams Wanting a Managed VA
MyOutDesk is a US-based provider (California) of full-time managed virtual assistants (8 hours a day, 5 days a week), best known in real estate. Its website does not mention Australian clients.
| Price | From US$1,988/month (Managed Outsourcing) or US$2,500/month (Specialized Outsourcing) |
| Hours | Full-time |
Trade-off: US-focused, and prices are in US dollars, so the Australian cost moves with the exchange rate.
9. Probe CX, Concentrix and Teleperformance: Best for High-Volume Contact Centres
These are the large BPO and contact-centre companies that appear on many lists of Australian outsourcing companies. They run customer service, sales and back-office programs with their own teams and supervisors.
| Price | Custom contracts, not published |
| Typical client | Larger companies with high, steady volumes |
Trade-off: built for scale and processes, not for a small business that needs one or two dedicated people.
Why Australian Businesses Outsource to the Philippines
Three things make the Philippines the usual destination for Australian businesses: the working day overlaps with Australian business hours, English is widely spoken at a high level, and a full-time Filipino VA costs a fraction of a local hire once wages, super and on-costs are added up.
- Time zone: Philippine time (UTC+8) is the same as Perth, two hours behind Brisbane and two to three hours behind Sydney and Melbourne, so most of the day is shared. Details in the time zone section.
- English: the Philippines ranks 28th of 123 countries and 2nd in Asia, after Malaysia, in the EF English Proficiency Index 2025.
- Cost: a full-time administrative VA through VA MASTERS costs A$1,490–A$2,300 a month, against a national minimum wage of A$26.44 an hour (A$1,004.90 a week) before super for any local employee.
- Tools: Filipino VAs commonly work in Xero, MYOB, Microsoft 365, Google Workspace and the major property and e-commerce platforms. Where the role needs it, VA MASTERS tests the exact tools you use.
Australian Outsourcing by the Numbers
These are the figures that drive the outsourcing decision for an Australian SME, each with its source and period.
| Figure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| National minimum wage from 1 July 2026 | A$26.44 an hour, A$1,004.90 a week (38 hours) | Fair Work Commission, Annual Wage Review 2026 |
| Superannuation guarantee | 12% of qualifying earnings; from 1 July 2026 it must reach the fund within 7 business days of payday (Payday Super) | ATO, Fair Work Ombudsman |
| Median full-time earnings, general clerks | A$1,438 a week (about A$74,780 a year) | Jobs and Skills Australia, ABS data for May 2025 |
| Australian businesses with fewer than 20 employees | About 97% of 2.81 million actively trading businesses (June 2026) | ABS, Counts of Australian Businesses |
| VA MASTERS clients in Australia and New Zealand | 9% of active clients (as of July 2026) | VA MASTERS statistics report |
| VA MASTERS clients with fewer than 50 employees | 87% (as of July 2026) | VA MASTERS statistics report |
From Our Research
Australia and New Zealand account for 9% of VA MASTERS’ active clients, after the US (69%) and the UK (11%). 87% of all VA MASTERS clients have fewer than 50 employees, and 57% have 10 or fewer (as of July 2026).
Source: Filipino Virtual Assistant Statistics 2026, VA MASTERS.
Data as of July 2026. See the full report for the latest figures.
Time Zones: How Much Overlap You Get
The Philippines uses UTC+8 all year and has no daylight saving. Against a 9am–5pm Australian day, a VA working 8am–5pm Philippine time gives you this much real-time overlap:
| Your city | Your time zone | VA’s 8am–5pm in your time | Overlap with 9am–5pm |
|---|---|---|---|
| Perth | AWST (UTC+8) | 8am–5pm | 8 hours, the full day |
| Brisbane | AEST (UTC+10), no daylight saving | 10am–7pm | 7 hours |
| Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, Hobart | AEST (UTC+10); AEDT (UTC+11) from the first Sunday in October to the first Sunday in April | 10am–7pm (11am–8pm in daylight saving) | 7 hours (6 in daylight saving) |
| Darwin | ACST (UTC+9:30) | 9:30am–6:30pm | 7.5 hours |
| Adelaide | ACST (UTC+9:30); ACDT (UTC+10:30) in daylight saving | 9:30am–6:30pm (10:30am–7:30pm) | 7.5 hours (6.5 in daylight saving) |
Work hours are part of the role brief, so you can also agree an earlier start: a VA who starts at 7am Philippine time begins at 9am in Brisbane. The hours after your day ends work well for tasks you brief before you log off, such as research, data entry, reconciliations and content drafts. More practical tips in our guide to managing time-zone differences with a Filipino VA.
What Australian SMEs Outsource First
General Administration and Executive Support
Email and calendar management, document preparation, data entry, travel booking and expense tracking. It’s the most common first role, because it gives the owner or director their time back fastest. See administrative VA services.
Bookkeeping and Financial Administration
Data entry in Xero or MYOB, accounts payable and receivable, bank reconciliations, payroll support and BAS preparation support for your BAS agent or accountant to review and lodge. See bookkeeping and Xero VAs, advanced Xero specialists and our accounting VA page.
Customer Service and Support
Email and chat support, order management, returns and follow-ups in helpdesk tools such as Zendesk, Freshdesk and Gorgias. See customer service VAs.
Digital Marketing and Social Media
Content scheduling, social media management, email campaigns, SEO support and ad reporting in Meta Business Suite, Google Ads, Mailchimp or HubSpot. See digital marketing VAs.
E-Commerce Operations
Shopify and WooCommerce store management, product listings, inventory, customer service and supplier coordination for businesses selling on their own store, Amazon or eBay. See e-commerce operations VAs and Shopify VAs.
Real Estate Administration
Listing management, tenant communication, maintenance coordination, lease administration and inspection scheduling in property management software such as PropertyMe. See real estate VAs.
How VA MASTERS Delivers for Business Owners
Australian coaching founders who were sceptical about offshore quality describe how their VA was working two days after the first call, sorting out their CRM and funnels and proactively filling knowledge gaps.
A real estate investor managing 70 properties explains how one Filipino VA runs his day-to-day operations, so he can spend his time on deals.
Philippines vs India for Australian Companies: Which Is the Better Outsourcing Destination?
Many Australian companies outsource to India, mostly for software development, IT support and, in accounting firms, offshore tax and bookkeeping work. The Philippines is the more common choice for dedicated admin, customer-facing, marketing and property roles. The practical differences are time-zone overlap and English level:
| Factor | Philippines | India |
|---|---|---|
| Time zone | UTC+8: same as Perth, 2 hours behind Brisbane | UTC+5:30: 2.5 hours behind Perth, 4.5 hours behind Brisbane |
| Overlap with a 9am–5pm Sydney day (each working 8am–5pm local time) | About 6–7 hours | About 3.5–4.5 hours |
| EF English Proficiency Index 2025 | 28th of 123 (score 569), 2nd in Asia | 74th of 123 (score 484) |
| Typical outsourced work | Admin, executive support, customer service, bookkeeping, marketing, e-commerce, real estate | Software development, IT services, accounting and tax preparation, large-scale BPO |
When to Choose the Philippines
For roles that talk to your customers or your team during the day, such as admin, executive support, customer service, property management and marketing coordination, the Philippines usually fits better: more shared hours and stronger average English.
When to Consider India
For software engineering or large IT programs where real-time overlap matters less, India’s large IT services sector is a strong option. Many companies use both: IT in India, operations and customer-facing roles in the Philippines.
The Bottom Line
Decide by the role, not the country. If the person needs to be online with you during Australian business hours, start with the Philippines. For more detail, see our full Philippines vs India outsourcing comparison and why some companies move work from India to the Philippines.
Pricing in AUD: Common VA Roles vs Local Hires
A full-time Filipino VA through VA MASTERS costs US$6.50–$15/hr depending on the role, about A$1,490–A$3,450 a month or A$17,930–A$41,390 a year at A$1.437 per US$1 (about A$1.44). The table sets that against the median full-time earnings for similar Australian roles, plus 12% super.
| Local role | Median full-time earnings (May 2025) | With 12% super | VA MASTERS equivalent | VA MASTERS full-time per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General clerk | A$1,438/week, A$74,780/year | A$83,750 | Administrative VA: US$6.50–$10/hr | A$17,930–A$27,590 |
| Receptionist | A$1,229/week, A$63,910/year | A$71,580 | Customer support VA: US$6.50–$10/hr | A$17,930–A$27,590 |
| Bookkeeper | A$1,400/week, A$72,800/year | A$81,540 | Bookkeeping VA (Xero, MYOB): US$7.50–$14/hr | A$20,690–A$38,630 |
| Personal assistant | A$1,832/week, A$95,260/year | A$106,700 | Executive / personal assistant VA: US$6.50–$10/hr | A$17,930–A$27,590 |
Local figures are Jobs and Skills Australia medians (ABS Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025) and leave out payroll tax, workers’ compensation insurance, leave loading, recruitment, equipment and office costs, so the real gap is wider. Other VA MASTERS role ranges: marketing US$8.50–$15/hr, social media US$7.50–$9/hr, real estate US$7–$12/hr, e-commerce US$6.50–$10/hr. VA MASTERS clients save up to 80% compared with local hiring. For a role-by-role view, see our virtual assistant cost guide for Australia and the VA cost savings calculator.
These are fair market rates for skilled professionals in the Philippines. The savings come from the cost-of-living gap, not from cutting corners.
Hiring Lawrence as a QuickBooks Expert and Lery as a Real Estate Administrative VA has completely transformed how I run my real estate business. … It was incredibly convenient to have VA Masters find the right talent and manage all the HR aspects. The cost savings compared to local hires are substantial, and the efficiency they bring is unmatched.
Hiring Locally
- A$74,780 a year median earnings for a full-time general clerk, plus 12% super
- Payroll, super, leave and workers’ compensation to manage
- Weeks of job ads and interviews
- Re-hiring every time someone leaves
With VA MASTERS
- A$17,930–A$27,590 a year for a full-time administrative VA
- HR and payroll handled by VA MASTERS
- First candidates in about 2 business days
- Free replacement guarantee
Australian Tax and Legal Questions About Outsourcing to the Philippines
Before outsourcing, most Australian businesses ask two things: is it allowed, and what are the tax obligations? Short answers below. This is general information, not legal or tax advice; confirm your own situation with your accountant.
Is Outsourcing to the Philippines Legal in Australia?
Yes. Australian businesses commonly engage offshore service providers. With VA MASTERS, your agreement is a service agreement with VA MASTERS, which handles your VA’s HR and payroll; the VA works from the Philippines and is not your employee. If you hire someone directly instead, how you set up and run that relationship is your responsibility, so get advice first.
Do You Pay Superannuation for a Filipino VA?
The super guarantee (12% of qualifying earnings) applies to your employees. A VA engaged through an offshore agency is not your employee, and the ATO says you don’t have to pay super for non-resident employees who work outside Australia. In practice, you pay the agreed rate and no super on top.
GST on Offshore Services
Services bought from an overseas provider can fall under the GST reverse charge, but the ATO says it applies only when your business would not be entitled to a full GST credit if GST had been charged. A GST-registered business buying the service fully for its business is usually not affected. Check with your accountant if you make input-taxed supplies.
PAYG Withholding
Foreign-resident withholding applies to specific kinds of payments listed by the ATO, such as entertainment and sports, construction, and casino junket arrangements. Administrative and support services paid to an overseas provider are generally not on that list.
Is the Cost Deductible?
Fees for a VA who works on your business are generally deductible business expenses, in the same way as other outsourced services. Your accountant will confirm the treatment for your structure.
Always Confirm With Your Accountant
Tax treatment depends on your business structure, industry and how the arrangement is documented. If you outsource for the first time, or engage someone directly rather than through an agency, ask your accountant or a commercial lawyer.
EOFY Considerations for Australian Businesses
Australia’s financial year ends on 30 June, and outsourcing touches EOFY planning in three ways.
Expenses Fall in the Year You Incur Them
VA fees are generally deductible in the year they’re incurred, like other business operating expenses. If you plan to add support anyway, timing the start around 30 June is a planning question for your accountant.
No Leave Liability for Offshore Staff
Local employees build up annual and long service leave that sits on your balance sheet. A VA engaged through VA MASTERS is not your employee, so you don’t accrue leave entitlements for them; you pay for the hours in the agreement.
Simpler Year-End Payroll
Employees need Single Touch Payroll finalisation and super reporting at year end. Offshore VAs engaged through an agency don’t go through your payroll, because the agency invoices you for the service.
When to Start
Two windows work well: April–June, so the VA is trained and running from 1 July, or July–September, with a fresh budget for the new financial year. With first candidates in about 2 business days, a start before 30 June is realistic even when you decide late.
The VA MASTERS 6-Stage Recruitment Process
Our process is built so you only spend time on the best candidates. It costs nothing to start: you sign the agreement and we run the search. More in how our recruitment process works.
Detailed Job Posting
A short consultation maps the role: daily tasks, tools such as Xero or MYOB, your work hours in AEST, AWST or ACST, and the skills that matter. We write a custom job description from it.
Candidate Collection
We post the role, headhunt where needed and use referrals, drawing on a database of 400,000+ pre-assessed Filipino applicants. A role typically attracts 1,000+ applicants.
Initial Screening
Applicants are screened on internet reliability, English communication and relevant experience, with AI-assisted screening and human recruiters.
Custom Skills Test
Where the role needs it, candidates complete real tasks from the job, such as a Xero reconciliation or a lease-renewal workflow, not a generic assessment.
In-Depth Interview
Our recruiters interview for skills, communication, culture fit and long-term motivation.
Client Interview
You meet the 2–3 best candidates and choose. If none is right, we keep searching at no extra cost.
About 1 in 508 applicants is placed (166,350 applications, January 2025 to July 2026, VA MASTERS statistics report).
Paying Australian Wages for Work That Could Be Done Remotely?
Book a free discovery call. We’ll identify the role that would make the biggest difference first, show you what it costs in AUD, and explain how the hours would work for your city.
Book a Free Discovery Call →Comparing Outsourcing Options for Australian Businesses
| Feature | VA MASTERS | Offshore staffing companies | Local hire | Freelance marketplaces |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dedicated person who works only for you | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Depends on the freelancer |
| Published price | ✓ US$6.50–$15/hr by role | Usually quote-based | Award or market salary | Varies |
| Role-specific skills testing | ✓ Where the role needs it | Varies | You do it | You do it |
| Super, payroll and HR | Handled by VA MASTERS | Handled by the provider | Yours | Yours to manage |
| Time to first candidates | About 2 business days | Varies | Weeks | Depends on you |
| Minimum team size | 1 VA, full-time or part-time | Varies | 1 | None |
| Replacement if the fit isn’t right | Free replacement guarantee | Varies | Re-hire yourself | ✗ |
What Our Clients Say
Real Messages from Real Clients
Hear From Our VAs: Happy VAs Deliver Better Results for Your Business
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best Australian outsourcing companies?
It depends on what you need. For one or a few dedicated people, VA MASTERS recruits Filipino VAs from US$6.50/hr (about A$9.34). Offshore staffing companies such as Cloudstaff, Outsourced, Beepo and Emapta quote a monthly rate per staff member; Kinetic Innovative Staffing publishes A$25,300–A$34,600 a year for a virtual assistant; MyOutDesk and Wishup sell monthly VA plans. For high-volume contact centres, large BPOs such as Probe CX, Concentrix and Teleperformance.
What does an outsourcing company in Australia do?
It provides people or a service from outside your business: dedicated offshore staff who work under your direction, a whole process run by a BPO or contact centre, or IT work by project or dedicated team. Most Australian SMEs use dedicated offshore staff in the Philippines for admin, bookkeeping, customer service, marketing and property work.
How much does outsourcing cost for an Australian business in AUD?
A dedicated Filipino VA through VA MASTERS costs US$6.50–$15/hr depending on the role, about A$9.34–A$21.56 at A$1.437 per US$1 (about A$1.44), or A$1,490–A$3,450 a month full-time. A full-time administrative VA costs about A$17,930–A$27,590 a year, against median earnings of A$74,780 a year for a full-time general clerk before 12% super (Jobs and Skills Australia, May 2025).
Do Australian businesses pay superannuation for Filipino VAs?
Super guarantee applies to your employees. A VA engaged through an offshore agency such as VA MASTERS is not your employee, and the ATO says you don’t have to pay super for non-resident employees who work outside Australia. You pay the agreed rate. Confirm your own situation with your accountant.
Is GST charged on outsourced services from the Philippines?
Services from an overseas provider can fall under the GST reverse charge, but only when your business would not be entitled to a full GST credit. A GST-registered business that uses the service fully for its business is usually not affected. Check with your accountant.
Does the Philippines time zone work for Australian businesses?
Yes. The Philippines is UTC+8, the same as Perth and 2 hours behind Brisbane. A VA working 8am–5pm Philippine time overlaps 7 hours with a 9am–5pm day in Brisbane, 6–7 hours in Sydney and Melbourne depending on daylight saving, and the full day in Perth. Hours can also be agreed to start earlier.
Why do Australian companies outsource to India?
Mostly for software development, IT services and accounting or tax preparation work, where India has a large established sector. For roles that need to be online during Australian business hours, such as admin, customer service and marketing, the Philippines offers more overlap (UTC+8 vs UTC+5:30) and ranks higher on the EF English Proficiency Index 2025 (28th vs 74th of 123).
Is the Philippines better than India for Australian outsourcing?
For customer-facing, admin, marketing and property roles, usually yes: more shared working hours with Australia and stronger average English. For software engineering and large IT programs, India is a strong option. Many companies use both.
Can a Filipino VA use Xero and MYOB?
Yes. Xero and MYOB are common tools for Filipino bookkeeping VAs. Where the role needs it, VA MASTERS tests candidates on your accounting software before you meet them, for example with a sample reconciliation. BAS lodgement itself stays with your registered BAS agent or accountant.
How quickly can I get a VA for my Australian business?
VA MASTERS presents first candidates in about 2 business days after the role is defined. You interview the 2–3 best candidates and choose.
Are there any upfront fees?
No. There are no upfront fees, no setup fees and no recruitment fees: it costs nothing to start. You sign the agreement and we run the search.
What happens if the VA doesn’t work out?
VA MASTERS has a free replacement guarantee: if you’re not satisfied with your VA, you get a replacement free of charge.
Ready to Build Your Offshore Team?
If you need a dedicated, fully vetted VA who works Australian-friendly hours, let’s talk. Join 500+ businesses that work with VA MASTERS.
- Dedicated Filipino VA from US$6.50/hr (about A$9.34)
- Up to 80% savings compared with local hiring
- First candidates in about 2 business days
- No upfront fees: it costs nothing to start
- Free replacement guarantee
Anne is the Operations Manager at VA MASTERS, a recruitment agency specializing in Filipino virtual assistants for global businesses. She leads the end-to-end recruitment process — from custom job briefs and skills testing to candidate delivery and ongoing VA management — and has personally overseen the placement of 1,000+ virtual assistants across industries including e-commerce, real estate, healthcare, fintech, digital marketing, and legal services.
With deep expertise in Philippine work culture, remote team integration, and business process optimization, Anne helps clients achieve up to 80% cost savings compared to local hiring while maintaining top-tier quality and performance.
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: +13127660301
