Help Me Save My Family From Being Forced to Leave Australia

Hi all, My name is Candice and I’m reaching out on behalf of a fellow Filipino here in Australia, Serafin, who is currently facing an incredibly difficult situation. His visa was unexpectedly cancelled, and he has been given only a limited time to lodge an appeal before he may be forced to leave the country.

He is a good person, working hard to build a better future—not just for himself but for his family back home. Unfortunately, legal processes here come with significant costs, and the appeal alone requires thousands of dollars in professional fees, documentation, and application charges.

With very little time left, we are humbly asking for your help. All funds raised will go directly toward his appeal expenses to give him a fair chance to fight for his right to stay in the country and continue building the life he has worked so hard for. Please see Serafin's story below:

Exploited by a Fake School. Ignored by the System. Now My Family Is at Risk

Please Help Me Save My Family From Being Forced to Leave Our Home in Australia

My name is Serafin, and I’m writing this with a heavy heart, not as a worker or a student, but as a father who is trying everything to protect his children’s future.

I came to Australia with hope in my heart to build a better life for my wife and our three young children (aged 7, 5, and 2 years old). I’ve worked hard and honestly as an aged care and disability support worker, giving back to the community with compassion and care. I never thought I’d be the one asking for help.

However, everything changed when I discovered the harsh reality of the school I was initially enrolled in. It was a dodgy, non-genuine school or what many called a “ghost college.” There were no proper classes, no real learning. They only cared about collecting attendance and fees. Students would show up, sit for a few minutes, and leave. Some assessments were skipped entirely. There was no genuine education, just a system set up to exploit international students like me. You didn’t need to learn or pass any proper assessments, answers are given and as long as you paid, you passed. It was never about education; it was about profit. And like many others, I was misled and used.

I wasn’t alone, after the complaint filed to the ombudsman, I found out that since 2017 many students had already filed complaints for the same reason. I acted, did the right thing, and reported the school to Australian authorities. Thank God, I was able to transfer to a legitimate and trustworthy college where I’ve never missed a class, they conduct proper teaching, never failed a subject, and never had a problem.

Despite this, I recently found out completely by surprise that my visa had been canceled on June 6, 2025. I never received a letter or email. My school only discovered it when they tried to update my records for the submission of school assessments. Now, I have less than 5 days left to appeal.

The most painful part? Even after I presented all the evidence, explained my situation, and showed that I transferred because I wasn’t learning anything in that dodgy school, the Department of Home Affairs still sided with them. I left because I genuinely wanted to comply with the Australian education system and receive a proper, honest education.

I even have a recording from one of our meetings with the school, where it’s clear that what they promised was completely different from what they delivered to students. I also submitted emails and formal communications that prove how deceptive and inconsistent their practices were. Everything was documented. But despite all of this, the decision still was not in my favor. It feels as though the voices and experiences of students like me were completely dismissed.

Now, my whole family is at risk of being deported. My children started their 1st school here and the youngest was born here. This is the only home they know. When I told them what was happening, they broke down crying, begging not to be sent back to the Philippines. We have nothing left there. Our life is here.

We’ve done everything right since we arrived. We’ve lived honestly. We’ve followed every rule. We work hard and ask for nothing more than the chance to stay and build a decent future for our kids.

But time is running out. I need to file an appeal immediately and get legal support but the costs are too high, and I can’t raise the funds in time on my income alone. I work 24 hours a week supporting people in aged care, and every cent goes toward keeping our family afloat.

I would never ask if I wasn’t truly desperate. But right now, I need help. We are humbly asking please, if you can, help us stay. Help me protect my children’s home, their future, and everything we’ve worked so hard for.

Even a small donation or a share could make a world of difference. Your kindness, compassion, and support will never be forgotten.

Thank you for reading, for caring, and for standing with us.

With all my heart,

Serafin