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 NVR Registered Training Organisations 2025. 

What are the costs involved in the AMEP?

The Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP) is free for eligible participants. To find out if you’re eligible, visit the About the AMEP page on the Department of Home Affairs website or download the AMEP Fact Sheet – Learn English for Free.

If you arrived in Australia on or before 1 October 2020, you can access AMEP classes until you reach vocational English — with no time limits to register or complete your tuition.

If you arrived after 1 October 2020, you must:

• Register with an AMEP provider within 6 months (or 12 months if you're under 18)

• Start classes within 12 months

• Complete your tuition within 5 years of your visa commencement date

Extensions may be available if you’re unable to start or complete the program within these timeframes.

Our Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP) courses are delivered in four regions across Australia. Go to the Contact Us page to find your nearest AMEP location.

Some temporary visa holders may be eligible for the Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP). Eligibility depends on your visa subclass and meeting other program requirements.

To check if your visa is eligible, view the AMEP Eligible Temporary Visas fact sheet on the Department of Home Affairs website.

No, children can’t attend AMEP classes with you. However, if you're enrolled in face-to-face AMEP classes, free child care is available for your children who are under school age.

Your AMEP service provider will work to arrange child care as close as possible — ideally within 30 minutes of your home or class location. While this may not always be possible, they will do their best to find the nearest available child care for you.

For more information, visit the About the AMEP page on the Department of Home Affairs website.

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.

When undertaking the Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP), you may have voluntary 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.

If you arrived in Australia on or before 1 October 2020, you can stay in the AMEP until you reach the end of the program.

If you arrived in Australia after 1 October 2020, you have 5 years to complete the program.