Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP)

The Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP) is funded by the Department of Home Affairs, and is a free language tuition service that helps eligible migrants and humanitarian entrants with low English levels to improve their English language skills and settle into Australia.

The AMEP has been teaching migrants English for over 75 years. It assists around 50,000 to 60,000 eligible migrants and humanitarian entrants each year.

Classes are flexible and designed to support clients to learn wherever they may live. In an AMEP class, students will learn English language skills and information about Australian society. They will meet other new arrivals, with similar backgrounds, experiences, and goals.

When in an AMEP class, free childcare is available for children under school age. AMEP providers will be able to assist clients to access the Childcare Placement Service.

AMEP is delivered by approved service providers with classes taught by teachers who are trained to teach English to speakers of other languages.

Eligibility

If a client is 18 or over, they can join the AMEP if they speak little or no English, or if they need to improve their English skills, and they:

• are a permanent resident, or

• are a principal visa holder or their dependent with a permanent visa, or

• hold an eligible temporary visa, or

• are a citizen who held an eligible visa in the past.

If a client is aged 15 to 17, they may be able to join AMEP. Talk to your local provider for further details.

Eligible clients will be asked to complete a language assessment prior to enrolment by the AMEP provider. Clients who have not yet attained a vocational level three of English will be eligible to take part in the program.