Overview of the AMEP

The AMEP is a national settlement program that provides English language tuition for eligible migrants and humanitarian entrants who do not have functional English.

Functional English assists migrants to settle successfully in Australia and provides the basic language skills necessary to deal with everyday social and some work situations in English.

The AMEP offers up to 510 hours of free English language tuition to eligible adult permanent migrants and humanitarian entrants.

Additional tuition is available through the Special Preparatory Program to humanitarian entrants with low levels of schooling or who have had difficult pre-migration experiences, such as torture and or trauma.

The AMEP is delivered nationally by 13 service providers with learning centres in more than 250 locations.

How do migrants enrol in the AMEP?

Eligible migrants are referred to the AMEP by their sponsor, settlement provider or Centrelink. Clients may also hear about the program and contact enrolment centres themselves.

Migrants are required to register for the AMEP within three months of arrival or visa grant if onshore, and commence classes within 12 months.

Prior to commencement of tuition, AMEP service providers conduct an assessment of each individual’s English language skill.

How is the AMEP delivered?

The program is delivered at approximately 250 locations. Clients may choose from the following range of learning options:

• full or part-time classroom tuition in formal or community based settings
• a distance learning course for clients to learn at home, with curriculum materials specifically designed for out-of-classroom learning, supported by regular telephone contact with a qualified teacher
• the Home Tutor Scheme which provides language assistance by a trained volunteer, usually on a one-to-one basis, in the client’s home.

What is the role of service providers?

Other than English language tuition, service providers offer:

• ongoing educational counselling, advice on options for further study and referral to services, including Commonwealth funded employment assistance
• arrangement of free childcare for the under school age children of clients during class times.

What is taught in the AMEP?

The program uses the Certificates in Spoken and Written English (CSWE) as the curriculum. CSWE 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.

Within each CSWE level, clients work at the level appropriate to their needs, interests and abilities.

The modular approach adopted enables clients to focus on general skills development or choose a particular area such as listening, speaking, reading, writing, or numeracy.

Clients may choose high, medium or low-intensity courses of study and may vary their choice to meet changing needs.