Ferguson supports AMEP review focus on jobs
Thursday, 17 April 2008
The review of the Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP) would help the program meet the social, settlement and employment goals of new migrants, Parliamentary Secretary for Multicultural Affairs and Settlement Services Laurie Ferguson said today.
Speaking at the AMEP Research Centre's Pathways to Settlement National Forum at Macquarie University at North Ryde in Sydney, Mr Ferguson said English for employment would be a key area of the review in the program's 60th year.
‘The changing workplace and skills and labour shortages mean there is an increasing need for new migrants to join the workforce as soon as possible,' Mr Ferguson said.
‘The review will examine all aspects of the program, including its links with agencies such as Centrelink and the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations.'
The parliamentary secretary acknowledged the challenges of working with clients born in 189 countries who spoke more than 18 different languages. ‘A one-size-fits-all program will simply not meet the needs of 50 000 different people,' Mr Ferguson said.
Mr Ferguson also launched new units of AMEP's Get Wise course materials at the forum.
He said the Your Health and Wellbeing and Your Money units would help migrants aged 16 to 25 better manage money and health while they improved their English skills.
‘Pathways to Settlement is an appropriate platform to launch materials that help young migrants learn English through valuable information about looking after themselves in Australia,' Mr Ferguson said.
After meeting AMEP stakeholders at the forum, Mr Ferguson traveled to the University of Western Sydney College in Liverpool to launch an expansion of childcare facilities for its AMEP clients.
‘The centres provide bilingual childcare workers who meet the needs of AMEP students and their children,' Mr Ferguson said.
The university has expanded its childcare centre to meet the increased demand for childcare services from AMEP clients in the Liverpool area.
Media Contact: Khaldoun Hajaj - 0404 078 692
URL: http://www.minister.immi.gov.au
/parlsec/media/media-releases/2008/lf08026.htm
Last update: 13 August 2008 at 17:14 AEST