Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP) 001-02170000

AMEP participants have access to English classes for 5 years or more from their visa commencement date or arrival in Australia. The program provides English language tuition, which allows participants a choice of learning streams – either Vocational English or Social English - depending on their goals.

In addition, AMEP participants with particular needs can access the following special activities/training:

Special Preparatory Program (SPP)

Additional hours of tailored English classes may be offered through SPP for humanitarian entrants in recognition of their greater learning and support needs arising from difficult pre-migration experiences such as limited schooling and/or traumatic experiences.

Settlement Language Pathways to Employment and Training (SLPET)

To assist with the transition to work in Australia, additional tuition is available to AMEP participants through Settlement Language Pathways to Employment and Training (SLPET). SLPET provides AMEP participants with 200 hours of tuition, including work placement, in addition to their AMEP entitlement.

All permanent visa holders who are 18 years and over who do not have vocational English are eligible for AMEP.

Access to the AMEP is also available to the following temporary visa holders:

• Bridging Visa F (Class WF)
• Business Skills (Provisional) (Class UR)
• Business Skills (Provisional) (Class EB)
• Interdependency (Provisional) (Class UG)
• Partner (Provisional) (Class UF)
• Partner (Temporary) (Class UK)
• Resolution of Status (Temporary) (Class UH)
• Safe Haven Enterprise (Class XE)
• Skilled - Designated Area-sponsored (Provisional) (Class UZ)
• Skilled - Independent Regional (Provisional) (Class UX)
• Skilled - Regional Sponsored (Subclass 475)
• Skilled - Regional Sponsored (Subclass 487)
• Skilled - Regional Sponsored (Subclass 489)
• Temporary (Humanitarian Concern) (Class UO)
• Temporary Protection (Class XD)
• Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) (Subclass 491)
• Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) (Subclass 494)

Eligibility for migrants under 18 years of age

The AMEP is intended for adult migrants aged 18 years or over. Migrants aged under 18 are expected to be in school or training. AMEP service providers can apply to have youth whose needs are not met through mainstream schooling to participate in the AMEP. Participation for youth is determined on a case-by-case basis in consultation with local schools.

Eligibility for migrants not yet in Australia

To support English language learning in preparation for migration, from 1 October 2020, some migrants may be eligible for AMEP while outside Australia where they hold, or have applied for:

• a permanent visa; or
• a temporary visa as determined by the Minister of Department of Home Affairs

The program is delivered flexibly to respond to individual circumstances, including the needs of participants living in rural and regional locations. The learning options are:

• Full or part-time classroom tuition: in learning centres or community based settings, designed to meet diverse needs, educational backgrounds and learning abilities
• The Volunteer Tutor Scheme: provides English language assistance through a trained volunteer, usually on a one-on-one basis. Home tutoring usually takes place in the informal atmosphere of the participant's own home or at another mutually convenient venue
• Distance Learning: can be undertaken either online or through workbooks with supplementary materials. Regular contact with a qualified teacher is provided over the phone or via the internet for participants undertaking this mode of study
• Youth classes: some AMEP service providers offer youth-specific courses for participants under the age of 25 years. Youth-specific courses are tailored programs with both a social and educational focus, which target the specific needs of young people

Participants must register, commence and complete the AMEP within specified time limits. The AMEP time limits start on the first day of arrival in Australia or after the date their visa came into effect—known as the 'visa commencement date'. Prior to 1 October 2020 there was a time limit of 510 hours participation in AMEP.

Participants who hold a qualifying visa and were in Australia on or before 1 October 2020 have no time limits on achieving a vocational level of English through participation in AMEP.

Participants who hold a qualifying visa and were in Australia after 1 October 2020 have time limits:

• Registration with an AMEP provider:
• within 6 months of their visa commencement date for people aged 18 years or over; and
• within 12 months of their visa commencement date for people aged under 18
• Commencement of tuition with an AMEP provider within 12 months of a person's visa commencement date.
• Completion of AMEP tuition within 5 years of a participant's visa commencement date. Extensions to all time limits are available under prescribed circumstances. Participants have up to 10 years from their visa commencement date to submit applications for extensions.

Childcare is available at no cost to AMEP participants for children under school age during AMEP class times. Childcare is arranged by AMEP service providers and is generally located close to the participant's class. Any childcare outside of the class hours or during semester breaks may be at the clients own cost – depending on the service provider's arrangement with the centre.

AMEP providers are not required to organise or deliver childcare during times the AMEP participant is not in class, for example during term and semester breaks.

Childcare will not be provided to those participants choosing other methods of AMEP delivery, such as home tutoring, or distance learning.

When a participant transfers from AMEP to Skills for Education and Employment (SEE), their entitlement for childcare under AMEP ceases. The customer may be eligible for Additional Child Care Subsidy (ACCS) (Transition to Work).

Skills for Education and Employment (SEE) and AMEP are similar but separate programs that cannot be undertaken concurrently. AMEP participants are encouraged to complete their AMEP hours before transferring to SEE. A participant can be referred to SEE while participating in AMEP, but if they are accepted into SEE, they will be exited from AMEP automatically.

A customer must be on an eligible income support payment for 12 months or more when they commence the program to be eligible for an Education Entry Payment (EdEP).