Fact Sheet 94 - English Classes for Permanent Adult Migrants in Australia

Program delivery

AMEP classes are delivered by contracted service providers who specialise in teaching English as a second language.

Teaching from more than 250 locations around Australia, service providers assess new arrivals for eligibility for the program, arrange free childcare for students with under–school age children while the parent attends class and provide ongoing educational counselling to help clients plan for future study.

A list of Service Provider locations is available on the AMEP website.
See: Where can I learn English (255KB PDF file)

Performance

Program performance is reported in the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) Annual Report. In 2007–08 the AMEP provided approximately 8.9 million hours of English language tuition to 50 432 clients. AMEP expenditure was $157.8 million.

During this period AMEP clients came from 192 different countries of birth, 79 per cent had eight or more years of education, 68 per cent were female and 78.5 per cent were aged from 16 to 44. Mandarin, Arabic and Vietnamese were the main languages spoken.
See: Annual Report 2007-08

The National Client Satisfaction Survey of AMEP clients who had participated in the program between 1 January 2005 and 30 June 2006, was published in 2007. The results of the survey indicated 79 per cent of respondents had been offered English classes suitable to their needs and English level and 84 per cent were happy with their AMEP English classes overall.
See: National Client Satisfaction Survey Report 2007 (614KB PDF file)

More information

Further information is on the AMEP website.
See: AMEP

You can also contact the 24-hour national telephone service inquiry line for the cost of a local call from anywhere in Australia.
Telephone: 131 881

For media enquiries contact the department's National Communications Media line (24 hours).
Telephone: 02 6264 2244

More information on other Australian Government English language programs can be found on the Centrelink and Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) websites.

• The Language, Literacy and Numeracy Program provides up to 800 hours of language, literacy and numeracy training over two years to those having difficulties finding employment due to low literacy or English language competency.
  See: Language, Literacy and Numeracy Program
• The Workplace English Language and Literacy Program provides funding to employers for training their workers in English language, literacy and numeracy skills.
  See: Workplace English Language and Literacy Program
• The English as a Second Language – New Arrivals Program provides eligible newly–arrived students with intensive English language tuition.
  See: English as a Second Language – New Arrivals Program

Further information is available on the department's web site.
See: www.immi.gov.au

The department also operates a national telephone service inquiry line.
Telephone: 131 881
Hours of operation: Monday to Friday from 9 am to 4 pm (recorded information available outside these hours) for the cost of a local call anywhere in Australia.

Fact Sheet 94. Produced by the National Communications Branch, Department of Immigration and Citizenship, Canberra.
Revised 26 May 2009.

© Commonwealth of Australia 2009.