FAQ: Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP)

TESOL qualification in Adult Education or equivalent.

Our Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP) teachers have qualifications additional to the minimum trainer and assessor requirements set by the Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) 2015. 

Provided you meet the eligibility criteria, you can access the Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP) for free.

The AMEP is available to all eligible permanent visa holders, citizens (former holders of a permanent visa), eligible temporary visa holders and dependents 18 years of age or over who have less than a vocational level of English skills.

To be eligible for the AMEP, you must:

  • Be in Australia
  • Not have vocational English language skills
  • Comply with registration, commencement and completion time limits (see below)
  • Meet one of the following criteria (: hold a permanent visa | hold an eligible temporary visa | have previously held a permanent entry permit or permanent visa and are now an Australian citizen | have at least one parent (if under 18 years) who has held or holds a permanent entry permit or permanent visa
  • Be over 18 years of age (however exceptions may apply)
  • Complete classes within five years of your arrival in Australia or the commencement of your visa.

In addition, you must meet the following time frames from the date of your visa commencement or arrival in Australia to remain eligible if your Visa Commencement Date is after 20 October 2020:

  • Register with an AMEP service provider within six months (or 12 months if you were under 18 years of age when you arrived in Australia)
  • Commence your tuition within 12 months
  • Complete your tuition within five years.

Access is extended to some temporary visa holders as specified in the legislative instrument English Courses for Holders of Certain Temporary Visas. The temporary visa classes include:

  • Bridging F (Class WF)
  • Business Skills (Provisional) (Class UR)
  • Business Skills (Provisional) (Class EB)
  • Humanitarian Stay (Temporary) (Class UJ)
  • 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)

To confirm if you are eligible or to register for the program contact us.

Our Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP) courses are delivered in four regions across Australia. Find your nearest AMEP location.

According to the Australian Government, access to the Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP) is extended to some temporary visa holders. 

The temporary visa classes include: 

  • Bridging F (Class WF)
  • Business Skills (Provisional) (Class UR)
  • Business Skills (Provisional) (Class EB)
  • Humanitarian Stay (Temporary) (Class UJ)
  • 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 Areasponsored (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).

To confirm if you are eligible or to register for the program contact us.

We understand that studying with children can be difficult. The Australian Government provides funding to ensure you can access child care for children under school age, while you are attending Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP) classes.

We will help you to find a child care placement at a child care facility close to your home or the class. We will also help you through the enrolment process. Child care placements are generally secured in time to coincide with your commencement of the program, however due to the high demands on child care facilities, this is not always possible. 

It is important to ensure you are attending your AMEP classes in order to retain the child care place. Your child/children can only attend childcare on days you come to AMEP class. 

All child care services offered must meet relevant state and territory regulations and may include:

  • Accredited licensed long day care services
  • Registered occasional care centres
  • Registered family day care services
  • Registered in-home care
  • Crèches and adjunct child care.

Yes. The English classes you will take part in as part of the AMEP (Adult Migrant English Program) are designed to enable you to confidently participate in Australian life, whether in the workplace, or with services and individuals in the community. 

We integrate settlement skills into the course, including how to access government and community services, banking, medical assistance and emergency services, as well as understanding Australian law and your legal rights.

Please bring the following with you:

  • Proof of identification (ID), eg. Immicard, passport
  • A copy of your Visa Grant Letter.

The registration and initial assessment meeting may be up to two hours long so please make a time that will suit you.

All our staff are friendly and understand that you may have difficulty understanding when registering for the Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP). 

You can ask us to speak slowly. You can also ask us to repeat what we said. It is ok to keep asking people to repeat – it is not rude to keep asking. 

You can also ask for an interpreter or bring a friend or family member along to help you. But, your interpreter or friend cannot help you with the part of the interview that is testing your English.

When attending Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP) classes, please bring an exercise book, a folder for worksheets, pencils, pens, highlighter and other stationery if you like. 

If you don’t have these items at home, we have plenty that you can use in the classroom.

No, you don’t have to buy books to study Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP) with us. 

We know that many students like to have a textbook but our classes are focussed on helping you learn English for everyday situations so we will be doing a lot of speaking and listening.

Yes, when undertaking the Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP), you will have homework. 

The best learning is when you are learning outside the classroom and talking to people in the community. Talk to everyone. The best way to learn English is to use it and practise every day.

The AMEP is designed as a settlement program to assist you at the beginning of your new life in Australia. 

It is a good idea to attend class as much as you can to get the most benefit from the AMEP.