Jennifer Pittorino
For 75 years, Learning for Employment (LFE) has helped migrants navigate life in Australia, with the Adult Migrant Education Program (AMEP).
On Wednesday, August 1, Yarraville Community Centre celebrated this milestone, as a subcontractor for LFE.
Education Manager Melissa Giffard said the AMEP has helped more than 962 students in the six years the program has been running at the Yarraville Community Centre.
The AMEP is a free English language program available to eligible migrants and humanitarian entrants with low English levels.
“Mostly, we teach English to migrants, but we teach them English in the context of settlement and coming to a new country,” she said.
“They learn about Australian culture, they learn about medical services, transport as well as how to gain employment.”
The AMEP’s leading focus is on pathways, encouraging students to get into the workforce.
“Once they have mastered English we encourage them to take further training, as the main goal is to become employed.”
Ms Giffard said students come from a range of countries, circumstances and ages.
“Our students are a mix of permanent residents and visa holders, most of them coming from countries that are fairly disrupted,” she said.
“They come here to make a new life, which is challenging as it is, when you come from places that are disrupted it is more of a struggle.”
The classes at the centre hold 20 students per class, running anywhere from three to five times a week.
As well as in class learning, Ms Giffard said the students benefit well from going out on excursions.
“Sometimes we take them outside into the city, this way they learn how to use public transport and visit significant places in the city.”
Ms Giffard said the special thing about the AMEP is that there are no expectations of the students.
“The program works on unlimited training time,the premise is once they reach a vocational standard then they have met the objectives of the program and can move on.
“Some people take longer than others and others pick it up really quickly, there is no rush and no pressure.”
