About the program
The Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP) is a free service to help eligible migrants and humanitarian entrants improve their English language skills and settle into Australia.
Learning English will help you to take part more fully in life in Australia. You will learn new skills to help you work and make friends.
Read a fact sheet in your language.
When you are in an AMEP class, free childcare is available for your children under school age.
Your service provider will help you find out about free childcare. Read more about
childcare in your language.
If you receive Centrelink payments, learning English with the AMEP gives you points that count for your mutual obligation requirements. There is more information below for job seekers.
What learners say about the AMEP
Kyi's story - From refugee camp to nursing
I want to be a nurse and I want to work as a nurse in Australia. And after English course, I want to continue my study with nursing course.
I really enjoy this course, especially discussing the things with my classmates. Yet talking with them and sharing my experience in refugee camp with them.
The first day I arrive, they try to speak to me, try to you know, they are very kind, kind and friendly. I meet new people and my teacher is very kind. She helped me with everything yeah.
It is very helpful for, for us, especially those who, those who are new here because it will help us to have confidence to communicate with other people. Yeah.
Jenny's story - The AMEP is family
So I arrived in Australia a year ago. I want to work as nurse here because I was nurse in Colombia too.
So I have been studying English for six months here. This program helped me how to improve my skills English, English skills about writing, reading, listening, speaking with many things.
We use a computer. We use a little conversation. The methodology is very, very diverse.
My teacher she give me a lot, a lot, a lot of things about not just about English but also about the basic things in Australia life such as bushfires, snakes, Medicare system. So I think all these things could be very good environment.
They need know this wonderful program because not just is an institution, it is something like the family. Yes, it's very you feel, you feel very comfortable. They always want to help, help you improve for any issue you have. If you have problems with I don't know, Medicare, if you have any problems with personal things, they always want to try help you.
What AMEP learners said in student surveys:
The AMEP has helped many students achieve their goals. Meet Vicky, an AMEP teacher, and see how the AMEP helped Totoya and Roya change their lives at
Our people, their stories.
Joining the AMEP
If you are aged 18 or over, you can join the AMEP if you speak little or no English and you:
- are a permanent resident, or
- you hold an
eligible temporary visa, or
- you are a citizen who held an eligible visa in the past.
If you are aged 15 to 17, you may be able to join the AMEP. Talk to a provider.
Your visa start date will decide the time you have to join and learn English with the AMEP.
If you arrived in Australia on or before 1 October 2020
You can stay in the AMEP until you reach a vocational level of English. You have no time limits for starting and finishing the program.
If you arrived in Australia after 1 October 2020
You have time limits for registering, starting and finishing the program from your visa start date.
You must:
- register with an AMEP provider within 6 months
- start your course within 12 months
- complete your course within 5 years.
In some cases, you may be allowed to register later, or stay in the program longer. Talk to your AMEP provider to find out.
Learning options
There are many options to help you learn, including full time, part-time, evening and weekend classes. As well as classes, you may get help from a volunteer tutor.
Face-to-face or online AMEP classes are available at around 300 locations across Australia, in major cities and regional areas. Find your nearest class at
AMEP locations.
You can also:
- learn remotely with a teacher’s support, by distance learning or
- use your phone or computer and learn English at your level for free with AMEPOnline.
AMEP for job seekers
Learning with the AMEP gives job seekers points that count for your mutual obligation requirements.
Visit the Workforce Australia AMEP page.
You can be referred to the AMEP by your provider if you are in Workforce Australia.
If you want to earn points for this activity and are self-managing in Workforce Australia Online contact Workforce Australia.
If you are already learning with the AMEP, talk to your provider about earning points for participating.
Volunteer with the AMEP Volunteer Tutor Scheme
The AMEP needs volunteers to help our students learn English. Helping someone improve their English can be a positive life changing experience. If you would like to support a migrant or humanitarian entrant for 1 to 2 hours per week, contact your nearest AMEP provider. Training is free, and you will be matched with a student to meet at a place you choose together.
Read AMEP volunteer
Fulgence’s story.
Eliza's story - Volunteering in the AMEP
I decided to become a tutor because I just didn't really feel connected with the community, and so I was looking for volunteering opportunities.
I don't really know anything about English teaching. It's more just providing that you know I suppose contact point and then helping them with whatever they require.
I get quite a lot of support from AMEP. We had a full induction program that provided us with a lot of the basic resources to begin tutoring and we also have regular check ins and opportunities to enter workshops to make sure that we're helping our students as much as we can.
I would absolutely recommend it for anyone who is looking to volunteer. It's a small time commitment and it's a really rewarding experience.
Employers
Find out how you can get involved. You could offer work placements or host English classes for your staff.
Read our factsheet:
A pathway to employment: information for employers.
Find out more
You can read the AMEP Fact Sheets in
49 languages.
You can also:
Help promote the AMEP
Have a look at the AMEP Promotional Flyer and share it with family and friends who may be eligible. The Flyer is available in many languages.
Other government services
If you are settling permanently in Australia, the Australian Government provides free document translation. This is to support participation in employment, education and community engagement. You can find more information about this service on the Free Translating Service website.
The Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS National) provides interpreting services for people who do not speak English.
For more information visit
TIS National.
