Filipino Jane Gicale is no stranger to working internationally and has worked in Bahrain and Singapore, but she says the four months with Fletcher International Exports have been life changing.

The 31-year-old started out packaging the meat export products, but within a month was promoted to start a year-long pathway toward becoming a Quality Assurance Trainer.

“I was surprised because they’d just hired me and a quality assurance trainer is responsible for so many people, and I had to ask, why did you choose me, and they said I had potential, and when I asked what kind, they said, we don’t know, but if we see that you’re good at your current role, then perhaps you can do more.”

Looking at a long-term future with the company, Fletchers offers Jane job security and a steady wage, which gives her the peace of mind that the choice to come to Dubbo was the right one.

“I was a waitress in Bahrain for three years and Singapore for one-and-a-half, so my work is not stable, and I think a big difference here is that I’m happy and I feel normal, I’m not being judged, and that’s very nice to me because I don’t get bullied here because of how I speak English,” Jane explained to Dubbo Photo News.

Like almost 2 million of her Filipino compatriots who leave their south Asian homeland to work internationally, her Fletchers job means she can support her family back home.

“The money at Fletchers is good and this was the dream I’ve been looking for. Working here means I can give all that my sister needs and what I want for my family, so it’s very helpful and a relief actually.

“In the Philippines my salary would just go toward paying the bills, but I must pay for my house and my sister is still studying and I pay for that, my brother in unemployed so I support his daughter. My mother also works abroad, but it’s not enough,” Jane explained.

Moving to Dubbo was also an opportunity for Jane to join her fiancé here, and he’s worked at Fletchers on the harvest floor for the past year, so life all round is pretty good, and living in Dubbo reminds Jane of the rural province she’s from in the Philippines.

“My fiancé had already told me Fletchers would help us because they’re a very supportive company and when we were looking for a house, Fletchers helped with a reference.

“I also meet Roger Fletcher every day, he’s always checking on everyone, I really like him, he doesn’t act like the kind of boss I’m used to; he treats us with respect.”

If Jane was to sum up her experience so far, she says you work hard but your pay check helps to complete the needs of your family, and Fletchers staff are very supportive and you just have to ask for help anytime for anything, their door is always open.