PrintAdult Migrant English Program
Objective
To provide access to a quality national English language program for all eligible new arrivals.
Description
The Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP) is a national settlement program that has been providing English tuition to eligible adult permanent migrants, who do not have functional English, since 1948. In 2008, the AMEP marks its 60th year of English language service to migrants by reviewing the past and planning for the future. The AMEP provides English language tuition as follows:
- refugee and humanitarian entrants under the age of 25, with seven years or less of schooling, may be eligible for up to 910 hours of English language tuition
- refugee and humanitarian entrants aged 25 or older, who have suffered difficult pre-migration experiences such as torture or trauma, may be eligible for up to 610 hours of tuition
- others may be eligible for up to 510 hours of tuition.
The tuition is designed to provide clients with basic language skills to help them settle successfully in Australia. The program, with administered expenses of $157.8 million, is managed through 18 contracts for tuition and two for associated services. The two non-tuition contracts relate to research and professional development provided by the AMEP Research Centre and quality monitoring and accreditation of service providers by the National ELT Accreditation Scheme (NEAS).
Performance
Access
AMEP clients have access to classroom tuition at over 250 locations throughout Australia. Clients can also learn through distance education, rural and regional intensive tuition or the Home Tutor Scheme.
Classes are offered full-time and part-time, during the day, evenings and weekends, to further improve access for clients with work, family or other commitments. Classes are held in a variety of locations, including TAFEs, schools, colleges and community centres, such as churches and mosques.
Client focus
While the AMEP is equally accessible to all eligible migrants, higher female-to-male enrolment continued in 2007–08. Of the 50 432 eligible migrants undertaking AMEP English language tuition during 2007–08, 68 per cent were female.
Clients represented 192 countries of birth and 248 languages spoken, with Mandarin, Arabic and Vietnamese the most common.
AMEP clients comprised 28.5 per cent humanitarian entrants, 56.3 per cent family entrants and 15.2 per cent dependants of skilled entrants. Just under 21 per cent of all clients indicated they had seven years or less of formal education.
Clients were aged largely between 16 and 44, with 78.5 per cent in this category, and 21.5 per cent above 44 years of age.
Clients embraced a variety of learning options in 2007–08, with 76.7 per cent undertaking classroom tuition, 9.7 per cent studying with a home tutor, 8.4 per cent enrolled in distance learning and 5.2 per cent engaged in rural and regional tuition.
Reach
Reach measures the extent to which eligible migrants enrol in the AMEP. The registration rate for adult migrants who arrived in 2007–08 and self-determined a need for English tuition was 65 per cent, compared with 69 per cent in 2006–07.
Retention
Retention measures the average number of hours a client remains in the program. Retention in 2007–08 for all exiting clients was 382 hours, a slight decrease from 389 hours in 2006–07.
English language achievement and measurement
The AMEP uses Certificates in Spoken and Written English (CSWE), a competency-based national curriculum and assessment framework, to measure English proficiency. CSWE consists of Level 1 (beginners), Level 2 (post-beginners) and Level 3 (intermediate). Clients who achieve the required competency for a particular level receive a certificate and those who complete modules within levels receive records of achievement.
The Australian Government considers learning English to be one of the most important steps towards successful settlement in Australia. The program design, combining English language tuition with practical subject matter, introduces clients to life in Australia while providing pathways to various settlement outcomes, including social inclusion and contribution, future study and employment training.
The AMEP provides for clients from a range of backgrounds, experiences and skill sets. Its course structure supports clients with no history of formal classroom tuition and written illiteracy in their first language, through to those with tertiary education who require proficiency in English to use their qualifications in Australia.
During 2007–08, 21.3 per cent of clients attained certification at CSWE Level 3, 20.8 per cent at Level 2 and 41 per cent at Level 1. Certificates of achievement were awarded to a further 16 per cent.
Accreditation and quality monitoring services
AMEP English language tuition service providers are subject to an annual on-site inspection of facilities, resources and processes by NEAS. Accreditation and quality monitoring confirm that the services provided to migrants on behalf of the Australian Government continue to be of a high standard, meet relevant industry standards and take into account the special needs of clients.
The standards against which providers are assessed in this review process include:
- quality and suitability of facilities
- accessibility of classes by public transport
- cultural appropriateness for clients in the region
- availability and appropriateness of student resources
- availability and accessibility of student support and counselling services
- processes for monitoring the quality of services
- suitably trained staff to provide tuition
- provision of childcare for the duration of classes.
This process complements the department's internal quality assurance processes.
AMEP review
A formal review of the AMEP commenced in late February 2008 and is expected to have been completed by October 2008. The review was initiated to prepare for the upcoming tender process and takes account of:
- recommendations from an internal audit conducted in 2007
- the government's focus on providing employment pathways for new migrants through the AMEP
- feedback from clients through a variety of sources and fora
- issues previously identified through the Interdepartmental Committee on English Language Training conducted in 2007.
All aspects of the AMEP, including its structure and outcomes, are being considered in the review. Focus group meetings were held with clients, non-government organisations, service providers, teachers, employers and Commonwealth and state government agencies.
A steering committee was formed to provide high level guidance and overall strategic direction for the review. The steering committee comprises representatives from academia, state government and the community. In addition, an internal reference group was convened to ensure all relevant areas of the department were aware of, and able to contribute to, the review.
A discussion paper inviting submissions from the public was released on the department's website in July 2008. The final report is expected to have been completed by October 2008.
The outcomes of the review will be used to inform the development of the Request for Tender for the AMEP tender process. The new AMEP contracts will commence mid-2010.
Contract extensions
The 18 contracts for English language tuition were extended by twelve months, expiring on 30 June 2009. The NEAS contract was extended for two years expiring on 30 June 2010. The contract extensions ensure any post-AMEP review decision made by the Australian Government regarding the future of Commonwealth funded English language tuition can be incorporated into the next tender process.
AMEP Let's Participate course
The AMEP Let's Participate citizenship course was suspended in early 2008 following the introduction of the Australian citizenship test.
Teaching materials entitled Understanding Australia: People and Government, which focus on Australian civics, values, history and institutions will replace the course.
Get Wise series
Get Wise is a six-module learning series that was launched in early 2008. The series was designed specifically for youth between 16 and 24 years of age, but it will also be of value to other clients. One module, Your Money, won a 2008 Australian Award for Excellence in Educational Publishing.
Table 82: Adult Migrant English Program tuition, accommodation and related expenses—performance information| Measures | Results | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Quality | 2007–08 | ||
| English language tuition is available, accessible and of good quality in all contract areas | Good quality tuition was available and accessible | ||
| Quantity | 2005–06 | 2006–07 | 2007–08 |
| Anticipated demand for tuition by eligible migrants | 38 800 | 39 810 | 39 810 |
Table 83: Adult Migrant English Program tuition, accommodation and related expenses—further information
| Measures | Results | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005–06 | 2006–07 | 2007–08 | |
| Client demand for formal tuition1 | 39 907 | 45 022 | 45 283 |
| Client demand for informal tuition2 | 5 116 | 5 419 | 5 791 |
| Total clients—formal tuition, informal tuition and Special Preparatory Program3 | 45 141 | 50 218 | 50 432 |
| Number of clients in the Special Preparatory Program | 8 012 | 8 064 | 6 943 |
| Average number of hours a client remains in the program | 384 | 389 | 382 |
- Formal tuition refers to classroom tuition and distance learning in the AMEP.
- Informal tuition refers to clients studying with a home tutor.
- Clients may move between the various types of tuition. This figure is the number of clients, counted only once, who participated in the program during the year.
