DIMIA Annual Report 2004-05
Outcome 2-Administered items
ADULT MIGRANT ENGLISH PROGRAM (AMEP)-TUITION, ACCOMMODATION AND RELATED EXPENSES
Figure 74: Performance information-AMEP tuition, accommodation and related expenses
Objective
To maximise the participation of migrants and humanitarian entrants in the Australian community through the provision and management of a quality national English language program that meets the needs of its clients.
Description
The Government funds the delivery of the Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP) to provide basic English language training to newly arrived migrants and humanitarian entrants to help them settle in Australia. The client-driven program, with administered expenses of some $118.3 million in 2004-05, is administered through 18 tuition contracts.
Program management is supported through a number of additional contracts, principally to provide research, professional development and publications, program data management and reporting and accreditation of service providers.
The Immigration Education Act 1971 provides all newly arrived migrants and humanitarian entrants who do not have functional English with an entitlement of up to 510 hours of English language tuition, or the number of hours it takes to achieve a functional level of English, whichever comes first.
Functional English is defined as level two on all four macro skills on the International Second Language Proficiency Rating scale (ISLPR), or completion of Level Three of the Certificates in Spoken and Written English (CSWE).
Analysis of performance
AMEP clients are diverse in their cultural and linguistic backgrounds, prior experience of formal education, migration experience and age.
Tuition is provided flexibly and sensitively to meet the needs of different client groups. The client diversity is a reflection of previous and current years' migration and humanitarian programs and therefore impacts on the program's performance annually.
Reach
Reach measures the extent to which eligible migrants and humanitarian entrants take up their AMEP entitlement. In the 2004 calendar year, AMEP clients totalled 34 147 compared with 33 009 in 2003.
The registration rate at 20 May 2005, for adult settlers who arrived in 2004 and who self-determined as in need of English tuition, was 72 per cent, the same as for 2003. The registration rate for each key migration category was:
- refugee and humanitarian-87 per cent in 2004 (85 per cent in 2003)
- family-67 per cent in 2004 (66 per cent in 2003)
- skill-66 per cent in 2004 (63 per cent in 2003).
Retention
Retention rates in the 2004 calendar year increased slightly compared to the previous year. In 2004 AMEP clients stayed in the program, on average, for the following hours:
- refugee and humanitarian-428 hours (398 hours in 2003)
- family-364 hours (344 hours in 2003)
- skill-378 hours (360 hours in 2003).
Results
The CSWE is a competency-based national curriculum and assessment framework. It consists of three levels-Level 1 (beginners), Level 2 (post-beginners) and Level 3 (intermediate) and recognises three stages of learning based on the client's previous learning experience.
On completion of a level clients receive the appropriate certificate (if they have achieved a sufficient number of the stated competencies), or a Statement of Attainment (if they have completed an entire module within a certificate), or a Record of Achievement setting out which competencies they have achieved.
The increase in the number of clients entering at CSWE Level 1 and variation in CSWE award levels is a reflection of migration and humanitarian program changes impacting on the client profile.
Under the CSWE curriculum framework of 14 506 clients (compared with 14 245 clients in 2003) exiting the AMEP in 2004:
- 58.3 per cent entered at CSWE Level 1 (compared with 56.4 per cent in 2003) and on average achieved 13 competencies (same in 2003)
- 24.3 per cent (25.2 per cent in 2003) entered at CSWE Level 2 and on average achieved 14 competencies (same in 2003)
- 17.2 per cent (17.4 per cent in 2003) entered at CSWE Level 3 and on average achieved 9 competencies (same in 2003).
Certificates/statements of attainment were awarded to exiting AMEP clients as follows:
- level 1-37.0 per cent (36.8 per cent in 2003)
- level 2-24.9 per cent (26.1 per cent in 2003)
- level 3-19.1 per cent (22 per cent in 2003)
- Record of Achievement-19.0 per cent (15.1 per cent in 2003).
The CSWE Curriculum
The current version of the AMEP's curriculum framework, the CSWE, was implemented in July 2003. The re-accredited CSWE sees the inclusion of some new competencies at the most basic level (such as familiarity with the letters of the alphabet), in recognition that some clients enter the program with no literacy skills.
Special Preparatory Program
Humanitarian entrants with special needs as a result of their pre-migration experiences, for example torture and trauma, are offered up to 100 hours of English tuition in the Special Preparatory Program (SPP) prior to entering mainstream AMEP classes.
From 1 July 2004 humanitarian clients aged between 16 and 24 years with low levels of schooling (0-7 years) have had access to up to 400 hours tuition under the SPP. The hours of tuition available each week for SPP participants was increased from 15 to 20 hours for 16-24 year old clients assessed as having the capacity for more intensive delivery.
In 2004, there were 5145 humanitarian entrants who participated in the SPP compared with 4283 clients in 2003.
Home Tutor Scheme
The Home Tutor Scheme provides volunteer English language assistance to clients either individually in their own home or in small groups. In 2004, there were 4475 clients who participated compared with 3606 clients in 2003.
Home Tutor Scheme Enhancement Program
The Home Tutor Scheme Enhancement Program supports community agencies offering language assistance to people not eligible for the AMEP. Support includes training tutors and help with curriculum advice and teaching materials.
In 2004-05, the Home Tutor Scheme Enhancement Program assisted with training volunteers and assisted 413 organisations nationwide engaged in providing community English language classes.
Rural and regional delivery of the AMEP
Under contractual arrangements with AMEP service providers, clients living in rural and regional Australia must have the equivalent access to AMEP tuition to clients in metropolitan areas through any combination of classroom tuition, distance learning and home tutor scheme support.
Intensive tuition is available where classroom tuition is not available and where the client has low literacy skills or other issues so that distance learning is not appropriate. Intensive tuition may be provided to clients in groups of one to three people by a qualified teacher in a client's home or other suitable venue.
There has been a significant increase in expenditure on rural and regional intensive tuition in 2004-05. This is due to the change in focus of the current Refugee and Special Humanitarian Program (RSHP) towards Africa with clients who generally have higher needs, and because more humanitarian entrants are being settled in regional areas.
AMEP Citizenship Course
'Let's Participate: A Course in Australian Citizenship' has been a feature of the AMEP since July 2001. Since then 19 480 AMEP clients have successfully completed the course. The number of clients who successfully completed the course in 2004-05 was 5884, compared with 5318 clients in 2003-04.
Research
The AMEP Research Centre based at Macquarie and LaTrobe Universities provides the AMEP's research, professional development, materials development and publications needs.
The research program is determined through a consultative process involving the AMEP Research Centre, AMEP service providers and the department. This process identifies priority areas for research, then recommends to the department which projects should proceed. All stakeholders participate in this process to ensure that the projects focus on meeting the needs of AMEP clients and teachers. Teachers and program managers incorporate practical and theoretical outcomes of research projects into the AMEP.
The AMEP Research Centre launched its Special Projects Research Program for 2005-06, focusing on meeting the needs of the large numbers of refugee and humanitarian entrants arriving from Africa and the Middle East. The overarching theme was 'Accommodating low/pre-literacy and interrupted education'.
A number of research projects were undertaken to maximise language and learning outcomes for AMEP clients. Research into teaching methods was completed and the material has been published for use by the profession. Research into the Home Tutor Scheme is at the final report stage and a revised language course focusing on Australian citizenship and the revision of materials for distance learning progressed significantly (with final results expected in 2005-06).
Major themes of other projects on which research papers were presented at the Annual AMEP Conference held in Darwin in July 2004 included:
- developing generic language skills for the workplace
- meeting the needs of youth and male learners
- teaching learners from the Horn of Africa
- strategies and tasks for teaching spoken language
- teaching characteristics of web pages that will support learning.
The fifth annual AMEP conference, held in Darwin in July 2004, was based around the theme of Teaching for Learning. The attendance by more than 160 delegates exceeded expectations. The conference provided a good opportunity for AMEP teachers and service providers to be informed of research findings concerning various aspects of second language teaching.
On 1 January 2005 the AMEP Research Centre and the department agreed under the terms of the initial contract to a further five-year option and extended the term of the agreement to the end of 2009. Previous objectives, services, and processes were revised to make them responsive to the government's needs.
Outcome 2-Administered items
GRANTS FOR LIVING IN HARMONY
Figure 75: Performance information-Grants for living in harmony
Objective
To provide funding to eligible community organisations to address local issues affecting community harmony.
Description
The department managed 115 grants whose objectives were to foster community harmony by addressing local issues at the local level. At the end of the financial year there were 67 grants on hand, many of which were in the final stages of grant administration.
Analysis of performance
On 13 August 2004, the then Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs, the Hon. Gary Hardgrave MP, awarded 42 Living in Harmony community grants from a field of 529 applications. These grants reflected the priority areas for the 2004 grants round: Indigenous Australians; Australian women; older Australians; and Australians in rural and regional areas.
The 2005 Living in Harmony community grants round was opened for applications on 7 May 2005 by the then Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs, the Hon. Peter McGauran MP. The number of applications received for this round increased from 529 to 642, representing a 21 per cent rise from the previous year.
Of the 42 grants awarded in 2004-05, one was closed at the request of the grant recipient without substantial action. The remaining grants are achieving high-quality outcomes with several close to completion.
Of the 44 grants awarded in 2003-04, 26 have been completed with the remainder being finalised and acquitted. The department expects to acquit the six remaining grants from earlier funding years by the end of 2005-06 financial year.
Outcome 2-Administered items
GRANTS FOR MIGRANT COMMUNITY SERVICES
Figure 76: Performance information-Grants for migrant community services
Objective
To ensure Service Agreements and Work Programs are satisfactorily delivered for all Migrant Resource Centre (MRC)/Migrant Service Agency (MSA) and Community Settlement Services Scheme (CSSS) grants.
Description
The Australian Government provides funding for grants to community-based organisations under the CSSS and core funding to the national network of MRCs and MSAs to deliver settlement services.
The settlement services target group is defined as:
- permanent residents who have arrived in the previous five years as humanitarian entrants and family stream migrants with low English proficiency
- communities that require assistance to develop their capacity to organise, plan and advocate for services to meet their own needs and which are receiving significant numbers of new arrivals who are in the settlement services target group.
The CSSS aims to provide settlement services to individuals and communities which:
- deliver settlement information and referral services to individuals and groups
- build community capacity by helping communities to be self-reliant in planning, organising and working together to advocate for their needs to be met
- promote/represent individual client needs to service providers and build strong relationships with local settlement and mainstream agencies.
The CSSS also gives priority within the settlement services target group to projects providing assistance to refugee and special humanitarian program entrants, small and emerging communities and to migrants in regional areas.
CSSS funding priorities seek to identify areas of most pressing settlement need and to ensure that projects selected for funding complement other available services. Through the CSSS annual funding cycle, the department is able to respond to changes in high priority needs that emerge due to the changing composition of the migrant intake and settlement patterns.
In 2004-05, a total of 364 CSSS grants were funded, including 229 new and 135 ongoing multi-year grants.
One function of CSSS funded organisations is to establish linkages with mainstream services to facilitate direct and independent access to these services for their clients. To the extent that organisations succeed in drawing mainstream attention to specific needs, the grants contribute to achieving the access and equity principles of Output 2.4 Promoting the Benefits of Cultural Diversity.
Core funding to MRC/MSAs provides for administration and costs of the organisations and supports a range of services to clients. The 28 MRC/MSAs vary in terms of their potential client base, their position in the broader community and the breadth of their service delivery activities. They generally provide similar services to CSSS funded organisations such as direct client services, developing community capacity-building skills and undertaking service planning and development. As established organisations, MRC/MSAs may also provide a mentoring role and help smaller organisations to manage CSSS grants.
Most MRC/MSAs also manage a number of their own CSSS grants. In 2004-05, MRC/MSAs managed 93 of 364 CSSS grants, accounting for 29 per cent of funds provided in the CSSS round. Most MRC/MSAs have a diverse funding base, managing grants from other Australian Government agencies, state and territory governments and local governments. They actively participate in settlement planning and networking and develop and enhance volunteer work.
Payment of funding to CSSS and MRC/MSA organisations is dependent on meeting required performance measures. Organisations are required to report quarterly, providing information on the progress of the Work Program, financial details and statistical data on client contacts. The service delivery and reporting obligations are detailed in the Service Agreement.
Departmental staff responsible for managing MRC/MSA and CSSS funding hold regular consultations with funded organisations to assist them in meeting their performance requirements.
Analysis of Performance
A total of $27.44 million was provided for migrant community services grants in 2004-05 to support the settlement needs of migrants. $19.42 million was directed to CSSS, $8.02 million to core funding to 28 MRC/MSAs, and an additional $150 000 was allocated for training of funded organisations.
In 2004-05, the department managed a total of 392 Service Agreements with organisations funded to provide settlement services under CSSS and MRC/MSA funding. Of these, 28 grants were in the form of core funding to MRC/MSAs and 364 were for CSSS projects, including 229 grants awarded in the 2004-05 funding round.
During 2004-05, seven payments to organisations were delayed due to lack of progress in completing performance reports or failure to provide financial information relating to their grant. This is a slight improvement on 2003-04 when 10 payments were delayed.
The 28 MRC/MSAs that received core funding in 2004-05 satisfactorily delivered Work Programs and met reporting requirements. A standard Work Program for MRCs/MSAs was developed in consultation with funded agencies in 2003-04. It was included in the online application and formed part of their Service Agreement for 2004-05.
In the 2004-05 Budget it was announced that $4.9 million had been allocated over four years to provide additional funding for CSSS grants in rural and regional areas; $688 525 was allocated to 2004-05. The additional funding supplemented the implementation of recommendations of the Report of the Review of Settlement Services of Migrants and Humanitarian Entrants (2003) (the Review), to assist humanitarian entrants to settle in rural and regional Australia, where community support can be enhanced and developed through the provision of new or increased grants funding.
The Review also recommended the development of a new grants program that combines CSSS funding and MRC/MSA core funding. This new program, to be called the Settlement Grants Program (SGP), will commence on 1 July 2006 and replace the current CSSS and MRC/MSA programs.
A discussion paper on the CGP was released for community comment on 6 April 2005. Over 400 stakeholders attended community consultations that were held in every capital city in April and May 2005, and more than 100 written submissions were received. Input from the community consultations and written submissions will inform further development of the SGP.
Outcome 2-Administered items
MULTICULTURAL AFFAIRS (GRANT TO FEDERATION OF ETHNIC COMMUNITIES' COUNCILS OF AUSTRALIA (FECCA))
Figure 77: Performance information-Grants to FECCA
Objective
To enable FECCA to provide advice to the Government on the views and needs of ethnic communities in Australia.
Description
The Government provided a grant of $360 000 to FECCA in 2004-05 to help meet this objective.
Analysis of performance
FECCA is continuing to work positively towards achieving tangible outcomes in line with its work plan. It has substantially met the priority objectives under the plan; for example, significant efforts to promote the benefits of cultural diversity to the broader community; an advocacy role on behalf of its constituency; provision of leadership and support to communities; and a range of partnerships that allow the organisation to work more closely with lead agencies to progress mutual objectives.
FECCA's achievements during 2004-05 included:
- publishing three editions of the magazine Australian Mosaic and issuing 28 media releases
- working closely with many organisations to promote multiculturalism and to deliver better outcomes for communities
- preparing 14 major submissions and participating on a range of advisory committees
- working with Special Broadcasting Service Corporation to conduct a national competition for student journalists, designed to promote cultural diversity values among the new generation of journalists
- delivering the international conference Transformations: Culture and the Environment in Human Development, in February 2005, in partnership with The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, the Australian National University, the Planning Institute of Australia and the Australian Local Government Association
- holding a national congress hosted by the Illawarra Ethnic Communities' Council that focused on the needs of diverse communities in rural and regional Australia.
Outcome 2-Administered items
NATIONAL ACCREDITATION AUTHORITY FOR TRANSLATORS AND INTERPRETERS LTD (NAATI)-CONTRIBUTION
Figure 78: Performance information-NAATI Contribution
Objective
To set and maintain high national standards in translating and interpreting to enable the existence of a pool of accredited translators and interpreters responsive to the changing needs of the Australian society.
Description
The Australian Government contributes towards the operational costs of NAATI, a company limited by guarantee, together with state and territory governments, to ensure the continued existence of a pool of accredited translators and interpreters, and to set national professional standards in the delivery of translating and interpreting services for Australia's culturally and linguistically diverse society.
In 2004-05, the contribution was $483 000 in accordance with the Funding Agreement 2003-06.
Payment to NAATI is based on a funding agreement that specifies NAATI outputs that contribute to the achievement of the Australian Government and state and territory governments' objectives in relation to the provision of translating and interpreting services.
Analysis of performance
NAATI continued to deliver services in accordance with their objectives and responded to the changing needs and demography of Australian society. Results achieved against outputs set out in the Funding Agreement for 2003-04 and 2004-05 were positive and contribute significantly to maintaining high national standards in the translating and interpreting field:
- Number of tests required to be delivered in 2003-05: 4600
- NAATI conducted a total of 7840 language tests, which included translating and interpreting tests within the annual program, special on-demand, language aide, and overseas tests. This resulted in an additional 2864 accredited translators and interpreters joining the existing pool. Tests were conducted in 8 metropolitan cities and 12 regional locations
- Number of languages required to be tested: 30
- NAATI conducted tests in 60 languages
- Increase in translating and interpreting courses approved by NAATI
- NAATI approved 37 courses.
Outcome 2-Administered items
ASSISTANCE FOR FORMER CHILD MIGRANTS
Figure 79: Performance information-Assistance for former child migrants
Objective
To provide practical support and assistance to those former child migrants who arrived in Australia post World War II to:
- undertake reunion visits to Britain and Malta
- trace family members and receive counselling for reunion visits
- commemorate former child migrants in the Australian community through the establishment of memorials in each state.
Description
This output component began in 2002-03 and provides three years of funding assistance for former child migrants. Funding of $1 million per year was provided for the operation of a Travel Fund to assist former child migrants who wish to undertake reunion visits to family in Britain or Malta. Funding of $125 000 per year was provided for tracing and counselling services to former child migrants. An amount of $100 000 was provided to help state governments erect memorials to former child migrants who settled in their state. The memorial funds are distributed equitability across all participating states.
Analysis of performance
International Social Services (ISS) administers the Travel Fund, liaises with former child migrants to assess eligibility and makes all travel arrangements. In 2004-05 ISS approved 195 applications and 12 applications are pending. Since 2002-03, a total of 759 applications have been approved and 603 former child migrants have undertaken a reunion visit. The Travel Fund allows for approved applicants to complete their travel by 31 August 2005. It is expected a further 91 travellers will undertake a reunion visit by this date.
Due to the high level of demand on the Travel Fund in 2004-05, an additional $2.5 million was made available (amounting to a total of $3.5 million in 2004-05). Total expenditure at 30 June 2005 for the Travel Fund was approximately $3 million. This consisted of travel expenses and allowances for the Travel Fund and for ISS administration fees.
During 2004-05, the Child Migrants Trust provided tracing and counselling services to 851 clients. Ninety-one were new clients in 2004-05 and 70 undertook post-family reunion counselling. Total expenditure at 30 June 2005 was $125 000.
The total expenditure for memorials in 2004-05 was $68 115. Plans are progressing for dedication ceremonies of state memorials for New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania.
Outcome 2-Administered items
WELFARE OF HUMANITARIAN MINORS WITHOUT PARENTS IN AUSTRALIA
Figure 80: Performance information-Welfare of humanitarian minors without parents in Australia
Objective
To provide and monitor welfare supervision, support and settlement assistance to Unaccompanied Humanitarian Minors (UHMs) under Australian and state government cost-share agreements.
Description
The UHM program is available to unaccompanied minors (under the age of 18 years) who have been granted visas under the Refugee and Humanitarian Program and who do not have a parent to care for them in Australia.
Some UHMs have a relative over the age of 21 to provide care for them in Australia. Those who do not, become wards of the Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs under the Immigration (Guardianship of Children) Act 1946 (IGOC Act).
The Minister's functions as guardian under the IGOC Act are delegated to officers of the child welfare authority in each state and territory. State welfare authorities provide welfare supervision and support to each UHM through the UHM program. The UHM program is funded through cost share agreements between the Australian and state governments.
Analysis of performance
In 2004-05, 756 UHMs were assisted under the program. During this period 417 minors entered the UHM program and 164 minors left the program.
In 2004-05, the total cost of the UHM program was $1.2 million, which includes funding to state authorities through cost-share agreements as well as maintenance allowance payments to wards of the Minister.
As at 30 June 2005, there were 592 UHMs in the UHM program, 566 of whom arrived under the offshore component of the Refugee and Humanitarian Program and another 26 who were granted temporary or permanent protection Visas onshore. This represents an increase of 253 UHMs (or 75 per cent) over the same period in the previous year, mainly due to the inclusion of UHMs in extended families arriving from Africa. This increase has offset the declining numbers of UHMs on Protection Visas commensurate with the decline in TPV grants and the departure of each UHM from the program as they reach 18 years of age.