Outcome 2 Administered Items
Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP) - tuition, accommodation, and related expenses
Objective
The objective is to maximise the participation of migrants and humanitarian entrants in the Australian community through the provision and management of a quality national English language tuition program that meets the needs of its clients.
Table 69: Performance Information - AMEP - tuition, accommodation, and related expenses
| 2005-06 Measures | Results | |||
| 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | |
| Quantity | ||||
| Anticipated demand for tuition by eligible migrants for 2005-06 - 38 800 | 32 074 | 33 009 | 34 147 | 36 414 |
| Quality | ||||
Clients exiting the program are expected to have achieved an accredited award under the Certificates in Spoken and Written English (CSWE) as follows:
|
Note: The measure is based on the financial year while results are reported for the calendar year.
In calendar year 2005, the following results against Certificates in Spoken and Written English (CSWE) were achieved:
|
|||
Description
English language tuition is provided under the AMEP for migrants and humanitarian entrants who do not have functional English, as follows:
- refugee and humanitarian entrants under the age of 25, with low levels of schooling, are eligible for up to 910 hours of English language tuition
- refugee and humanitarian entrants over 25 are eligible for up to 610 hours of tuition
- other migrants are eligible for up to 510 hours of tuition.
Tuition is designed to provide clients with basic language skills to help them settle successfully in Australia. The program, with administered expenses of $16%.9 million, is administered through 20 contracts, including 18 contracts for English language tuition.
The remaining contracts relate to research, professional development, publications, program data management and reporting, and accreditation of service providers.
Analysis of performance
The CSWE is a competency-based national curriculum and assessment framework that provides the mechanism for measuring English language achievement. It consists of three levels - Level 1 (beginners), Level 2 (post-beginners), and Level 3 (intermediate) and recognises three stages of learning based on a client's previous learning experience. A certificate is provided to clients who have achieved the required competencies for a level. Clients with Records of Achievement are working towards completing a certificate.
In the 2005 calendar year, the performance of clients exiting the program was slightly less than the quality measure target with the exception of the Record of Achievement, where a 5.8 per cent increase was recorded. English language outcomes from participating in the AMEP are strongly influenced by factors such as a client's English language skills on entry to the program, the number of hours of tuition received, the client's age, and the level of education the client had before coming to Australia.
Reach
Reach measures the extent to which eligible migrants and humanitarian entrants take up their AMEP entitlement. In the 2005 calendar year, there were 36 414 AMEP clients, compared with 34 147 in 2004. The registration rate (at 11 May 2006) for adult settlers who arrived in 2005 and who self-determined a need for English tuition was 72 per cent, the same as for 2004.
The registration rate for each key migration category was:
- refugee and humanitarian - 87 per cent in 2005 (87 per cent in 2004)
- family - 67 per cent in 2005 (67 per cent in 2004)
- skill (dependents) - 62 per cent in 2005 (66 per cent in 2004).
Retention
Retention measures the number of hours a client remains in the program. The retention rates in 2005 calendar year increased slightly compared to the previous year. The average number of hours clients stayed in the program by key migration category was:
- refugee and humanitarian - 422 hours (428 hours in 2004)
- family - 370 hours (364 hours in 2004)
- skill (dependents) - 380 hours (378 hours in 2004).
Special Preparatory Program
The Special Preparatory Program is for humanitarian clients who are assessed by service providers as having special needs arising from their pre-migration experiences (for example, torture and trauma) or low levels of formal education. The program provides additional assistance to help clients overcome initial learning challenges as well as providing extra time in a less structured AMEP. In 2005 there were 7683 humanitarian entrants who participated in the special program compared with 5145 humanitarian entrants in 2004.
Research
The AMEP Research Centre based at Macquarie and LaTrobe universities provides the AMEP's research, professional development, materials development, and publications needs.
Research in 2005-06 focussed on meeting the needs of the large numbers of refugees and humanitarian entrants arriving from Africa and the Middle East. The overarching theme was 'accommodating learners with low/pre-literacy and/or interrupted education'.
A number of other research projects were also undertaken to maximise language and learning outcomes for AMEP clients. This included publishing reports on the 'AMEP Home Tutor Scheme' and on 'Teacher and learner use of new technologies in the AMEP'. During the year, new and revised resources and language course materials were developed and made available for the Australian citizenship course 'Let's participate' and the distance learning course 'It's over to you'.
The sixth annual AMEP conference was held in Sydney in September 2005 and was based around the theme 'Pathways to the Future'. The attendance by more than 220 delegates exceeded expectations. The conference provided an opportunity for AMEP teachers and service providers to be informed on research findings about various aspects of teaching English as a second language now and in the future.
Grants for living in harmony
Objective
The objective is to provide funding to eligible community organisations to address local issues affecting community harmony.
Table 70: Performance Information - Grants for living in harmony
| 2005-06 Measures | Results | |||
| 2002-03 | 2003-04 | 2004-05 | 2005-06 | |
| Quantity | ||||
| 106 service agreements | 102 | 122 | 115 | 106 |
| Quality | ||||
| 95 per cent of service agreements meet agreed milestones | 95 per cent of service agreements met agreed milestones. | |||
Description
During 2005-06 we managed 106 projects, the objectives of which were to foster community harmony by addressing local issues at the local level. At the end of the financial year there were 60 projects on hand, many of which were in the final stages.
Analysis of performance
On 14 October 2005 the then Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs, the Hon. John Cobb MP, awarded funding to 39 projects
from a field of 642 applications. These projects reflected the priority areas for the 2005 grants round: interfaith issues, new and emerging communities, school and educational communities, and Indigenous Australians.
The projects have achieved quality outcomes that match the programme's objectives. Most were substantially completed by the end of June 2006 and are expected to close early in 2006-07.
Grants for migrant community services
Objective
The objective is to ensure that Service Agreements and Work Programmes are satisfactorily delivered for all Migrant Resource Centre (MRC)/Migrant Service Agency (MSA) and Community Settlement Services Scheme (CSSS) grants.
Table 71: Performance Information - Grants for migrant community services
| Measures | Results |
| Quantity | |
| Core funding to MRCs/MSAs | 28 MRCs/MSAs received core funding. |
| Work programmes funded under CSSS | 307 work programmes funded for CSSS grants. |
| Quality | |
| Service agreements and work programmes fulfilled and/or specific breaches addressed | Service agreements and work programmes satisfactorily delivered for all MRC/MSA and CSSS grants. |
Description
The Australian Government provides funding for grants to community-based organisations under the CSSS and MRC/MSA settlement services plan.
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 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 to:
- 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 network/build strong relationships with local settlement and mainstream agencies.
The CSSS also gave priority within the settlement services target group to projects providing assistance to refugee and Special Humanitarian Program entrants, small and emerging communities, and migrants in regional areas.
In 2005-06 a total of 307 CSSS grants were funded, including 213 new and 94 ongoing grants.
CSSS-funded organisations establish links 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 MRCs/MSAs provides for administration and costs of the organisations and supports a range of services to clients. The 28 MRCs/MSAs vary in terms of their 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, MRCs/MSAs may also provide a mentoring role and help smaller organisations manage CSSS grants.
Most MRCs/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 depends on the organisations meeting required performance measures. They are required to report quarterly, providing information on the progress of the work programme, financial details, and statistical data on client contacts. The service delivery and reporting obligations are detailed in the service agreement.
Our staff responsible for managing MRC/MSA and CSSS funding hold regular consultations with funded organisations to help them meet their performance requirements.
Analysis of performance
We provided $29.8 million for migrant community services grants in 2005-06 to support the settlement needs of migrants. Of this, $21.4 million was directed to CSSS grants, $8.1 million as core funding to 28 MRCs/MSAs, and an additional $150 000 was allocated for training of funded organisations.
In 2005-06 we managed 335 service agreements with organistations funded to provide settlement services under CSSS and MRC/MSA funding. Of these, 28 grants were in the form of core funding to MRCs/MSAs and 307 were for CSSS projects, including 213 grants awarded in the 2005-06 funding round.
During the 2005-06 funding year, we temporarily withheld eight payments to organisations due to lack of progress in completing performance reports, or failure to provide financial information relating to their grant.
The 28 MRCs/MSAs that received core funding in 2005-06 satisfactorily delivered work programmes and met reporting requirements. A standard work programme for MRCs/MSAs was refined in consultation with the organisations. It was included in the online application and formed part of the service agreement for 2005-06.
Settlement Grants Programme
The 2003 Review of Settlement Services for Migrants and Humanitarian Entrants recommended the development of a new grants programme to combine and replace the CSSS and MRC/MSA funding programmes.
Community consultations contributed to the development and implementation of the new Settlement Grants Programme which provides support and assistance to recently arrived humanitarian entrants and family stream migrants who have low levels of English proficiency. We undertake an annual settlement needs assessment and analysis to identify and prioritise the needs of these new arrivals. In October 2005 national advertisements invited organisations to apply for funding under the SGP for services to commence on 1 July 2006.
Multicultural Affairs - Grants to Federation of Ethnic Communities' Councils of Australia (FECCA)
Objective
The objective is to enable FECCA to provide advice to the government on the views and needs of ethnic communities in Australia.
Table 72: Performance Information - Grants to FECCA
| Measures | Results |
| Quantity | |
| One grant | One grant of $360 000 to FECCA. |
| Quality | |
| A high proportion of agreed performance indicators met | FECCA has substantially met the priority objectives under its work plan, undertaking a number of worthwhile activities. |
Description
The government provided a grant of $360 000 to FECCA in 2005-06 to assist in meeting the objective.
Analysis of Performance
FECCA continues to work positively towards achieving tangible outcomes in line with its work plan. These include 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 2005-06 included:
- publishing four editions of the magazine Australian Mosaic and re-designing its website
- working with the media, including issuing 27 media releases and giving nearly 50 media interviews
- working closely with strategic partners and other organisations to promote the benefits of cultural diversity and deliver better outcomes for communities
- preparing 21 policy submissions and participating in a range of consultative fora
- working with SBS to conduct a national competition for student journalists, designed to promote cultural diversity values among the new generation of journalists
- preparing a submission on government multicultural policy and programmes.
National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters Ltd (NAATI) - Contribution
Objective
The objective is to set and maintain high national standards in translating and interpreting and support the ongoing development of a pool of accredited translators and interpreters responsive to the changing needs of the Australian society.
Table 73: Performance information - NAATI contribution
| Measures | Results |
| Quantity | |
| Contribution paid as specified in the Funding Agreement between the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters Ltd (NAATI) and the Australian, state, and territory governments | Contribution paid. |
| Quality | |
| Fulfilment of agreement requirements or breaches addressed | Agreement requirements fulfilled. |
Description
NAATI is a company limited by guarantee and is the only national accreditation authority for interpreters and translators in Australia. The Australian Government and state and territory governments contribute to NAATI funding and the members of NAATI are the nine Ministers responsible for citizenship and/or multicultural affairs in each jurisdiction. In 2005-06 the Australian Government contribution was $496 000.
Analysis of performance
NAATI continued to deliver services in accordance with its objectives and the changing needs and demography of Australian society. Results achieved in 2005-06 were positive and contributed significantly to maintaining high national standards in translating and interpreting.
NAATI conducted 3917 interpreter and translator language tests, resulting in an additional 1943 accredited translators and interpreters. Language tests were available in 43 languages, which was an increase of 13 over the target for 2005-06. A total of 26 translating and interpreting courses were approved during the year. This included one new approval, re-approvals, extensions, and continuing approvals. Five courses had approvals for additional languages.
Assistance for former child migrants
Objective
The objective is 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.
Table 74: Performance information - Assistance for former child migrants
| Measures | Results |
| Quantity | |
| Two contracts with community-based organisations administered | Two contracts administered. |
| Quality | |
| Contract requirements met and/or specific breaches | Nil breaches. |
| Level of satisfaction of eligible clients with service provided | Satisfactory service level met. |
Description
Approximately 6000 children were sent to Australia from child care institutions in the United Kingdom and Malta throughout the 20th century, with 3000 children arriving in the post-war period between 1945 and 1970. The children were placed in a variety of charitable and religious institutions in New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, and Western Australia.
This output component began in 2002-03 and initially provided 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. As the Travel Fund was to be demand-driven, it was closely monitored with funding increased from $3 million to approximately $5.5 million over the three years.
In 2002 funding of $125 000 per year was also provided to former child migrants for tracing and counselling services. Then in 2005 the government provided an additional $450 000 to provide counselling and tracing services to former child migrants for a further three years.
An amount of $100 000 was provided in 2002-03 to help state governments erect memorials to former child migrants who settled in their state. The memorial funds were distributed equitably across all participating states.
Analysis of performance
International Social Services which administered the Travel Fund, liaised with former child migrants to assess eligibility and made all travel arrangements.
Since 2002-03, a total of 826 applications have been received, 771 applications have been approved, and 702 former child migrants have undertaken a reunion visit. The Travel Fund allowed for approved applicants to complete their travel by 31 May 2006. Total expenditure for the Travel Fund at 30 June 2006 was approximately $5.5 million. This consisted of travel expenses and allowances for the Travel Fund and for ISS administration fees. The Travel Fund ceased operations on 30 June 2006.
During 2005-06 the Child Migrants Trust provided tracing and counselling services to 887 clients. Seventy five were new clients in 2005-06. A further 514 clients received post reunion support. Total expenditure at 30 June 2006 was $150 000.
There was no expenditure for memorials in 2005-06. Tasmania, South Australia, and New South Wales held their dedication ceremonies in 2005-06. Plans are progressing for the dedication ceremony of the state memorial for Victoria.
Welfare of Humanitarian Minors without Parents in Australia
Objective
The objective is to provide and monitor welfare supervision, support, and settlement assistance to Unaccompanied Humanitarian Minors (UHM).
Table 75: Performance Information - Welfare of humanitarian minors without parents in Australia
| Measures | Results |
| Quantity | |
| Offshore | There were 660 offshore entrants in the Unaccompanied Humanitarian Minors (UHMs) programme at 30 June 2006. |
| Onshore | There were 18 temporary protection and six permanent protection visa holders in the UHM programme at 30 June 2006. |
| Quality | |
| Appropriate guardianship, monitoring, and settlement support arrangements are in place for all unaccompanied humanitarian minors | Guardianship arrangements are in place with appropriate state welfare authorities. |
Description
The UHM programme covers unaccompanied minors (under the age of 18 years) who have been granted visas under the Refugee and Humanitarian Programme and who do not have a parent to care for them in Australia.
Some UHMs have a relative over the age of 21 to care for them in Australia. Those who do not have a suitable relative in Australia become wards of the Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs under the Immigration (Guardianship of Children) Act 1946.
The Minister's functions as guardian under the Act are delegated to officers of the child welfare authority in each state and territory. State and territory welfare authorities provide welfare supervision and support to each UHM through the UHM programme. The programme is funded through cost sharing agreements between the Australian Government and state and territory governments.
Analysis of performance
In 2005-06 some 942 UHMs were assisted under the programme. During this period 350 minors entered the UHM programme and 258 minors left.
In 2005-06 the total cost of the UHM programme was $1.5 million. This includes funding to state authorities through cost sharing agreements, as well as maintenance allowance payments to carers of wards of the Minister.
As at 30 June 2006, there were 684 UHMs in the UHM programme, 660 of whom arrived under the offshore component of the Refugee and Humanitarian Programme and another 24 who were granted temporary or permanent protection visas onshore. This represents an increase of 92 on the number at 30 June 2005.