Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP) Success stories

When war erupted in the Ukraine last year, Kate found herself moving to Australia in what was an unplanned and unexpected move. Originally from Odessa, a seaport and tourist destination on the Black Sea, Kate is incredibly proud of her hometown and it will always be a part of her, no matter where she is. It’s not only the unique cuisine Odessa has to offer. Kate explains ‘it's a place where you can breathe in the sea breeze and feel absolute freedom. In Odessa people love life and know how to live to the fullest, relax, have fun, and even now, in these troubling times of war they have not changed their attitude to life. It is an amazing city that will forever hold a special place in my heart.’

Kate had learnt English during her school years, but she found there was a big difference between theoretical knowledge and practical understanding. In addition to a 10 year gap in practising English, Kate found herself challenged in Australia by the local accents and pronunciation. ‘I didn’t feel confident and I was afraid of making mistakes. I also realised how important a wide vocabulary is and I definitely had issues with that.’

Kate learnt about the AMEP on social media, and in particular, on a platform set up by Ukrainian refugees who had arrived in Australia, and enrolled as soon as she could. She started her language journey at Southport campus, enrolling in Certificate II in Skills for Education, Training and Employment Pathways. Kate states the incredible support for students in Australia is something she has never experienced before.

Kate continued to attend classes on campus and began work on a voluntary basis at the Gold Coast Student Hub in Southport. As a result of her outgoing nature, Kate has made great leaps in her English language skills. She has an eagerness to learn and enjoys writing and sharing articles about her Australian experience. In 2023, she was selected to represent the student community as part of the Gold Coast Mayor’s Student Ambassador program that engages with exceptional young people. This has given Kate activities to develop herself personally and professionally. She was also the recipient of an AMEP 75th ​Anniversary Award for Excellence in 2023.

When it comes to learning English, Kate has some frank advice. ‘Don't be afraid to try new things, don't be afraid to appear foolish, don't be afraid to ask questions again and again, and most importantly don't be afraid to speak up. Get to know new people, be open and active. The AMEP is the place that will give you much more than just learning a new language. It will give you new friends, widen your understanding of life and open you up to the world, to different countries and their cultures and traditions.’

Kate is still studying with the AMEP, and says she is immensely grateful for it. “I strive to improve my skills every day, and the further I go, the more challenging it becomes, but at the same time it is more rewarding.’

‘I am very glad that the AMEP exists. It has opened up a new world for me. The support provided by TAFE and its staff is invaluable. I feel like I’m at home where I am loved and cared for. And of course, the English language skills I acquired through the AMEP gave me faith in myself and in a bright future.’

Kate aims to reach a proficiency in English that matches the level of native speakers. She is aiming high! Despite the hardship and instability she has endured, she continues to make the most of life, chase her dreams and show others that anything is possible if you really want it.

After growing up in Burundi, Fulgence worked his way up to being the Second Counsellor to the Burundian Embassy in Ethiopia. In 2011, he was forced to give up his position as a diplomat, becoming an asylum seeker and later a refugee. After an extensive waiting period, Fulgence arrived in Australia in 2018 with his family. “In every way, I had to start from scratch,” Fulgence said.

Fulgence joined the AMEP at TAFE Queensland to develop his English language skills. He further improved his understanding of Australian workplace language and culture through the Settlement Language Pathways to Employment and Training (SLPET) subprogram offered by the AMEP. After SLPET, he enrolled at university to study government and international relations.

Whilst studying at university in 2019, Fulgence felt compelled to return to the AMEP, this time as a volunteer tutor. Speaking five languages which helped many different clients, Fulgence describes the excitement he felt when he saw AMEP clients make progress, day after day, some in unexpected ways.

Fulgence’s personal experience as a refugee and a former AMEP client contributed greatly to the AMEP. His continual effort made a real difference in the lives of clients. Fulgence used his life story to inspire and encourage AMEP clients to keep learning and keep dreaming. He spoke with prospective SLPET clients about the benefits of the program and what to expect, using a catch-phrase “Choose SLPET! Choose the kind of person you truly want to be!”

Fulgence believes in giving freely of his time and finds great happiness and joy in helping others. “I helped some students write their resumes and cover letters when I volunteered in SLPET, and many succeeded in their job searches. To this day, I am deeply gratified that I was able to help them progress toward making a fulfilling living for themselves.”

In 2022, Fulgence graduated from university with a Bachelor of Government and International Relations. He began work as a research assistant and translator and continues to volunteer in the AMEP. He remains committed to “serving his brothers and sisters from refugee and migrant backgrounds”, and sharing his knowledge and experience about how to confidently participate socially and economically in Australian life.

“My understanding of life is that it is worth living, but it is more so when people share whatever good they have.”

Fulgence has a strong commitment to the AMEP. He is a notable volunteer with a willingness to help others and inspire refugees and migrants to achieve their goals. This won Fulgence an AMEP 75th Anniversary Award for Excellence in June, 2023. The Hon Andrew Giles MP and 2021 Australian of the Year Rosemary Kariuki, OAM presented the Award for Excellence to him.

The AMEP offers its sincere appreciation to Fulgence for his tireless commitment as an AMEP volunteer and for his dedication to helping others. He is a truly inspiring man and we wish him all the best!

When Rohallah arrived in Australia from war torn Afghanistan suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), he had no idea that he would end up working for the Australian Government. His only immediate goal was survival.​​

​As soon as Rohallah arrived in Australia, he started experiencing PTSD. He could not sleep and was experiencing terrifying nightmares and vivid flashbacks during the day about his experiences from the conflict in Afghanistan. The quiet suburb of Wembley Downs in Western Australia with its empty streets and parks did not help his mental state either. Troubled by his experiences, Rohallah sought counselling from the Association for Services to Torture and Trauma Survivors (ASeTTS) in Perth.

Rohallah’s experience with Australian settlement services, including the AMEP and mental health services was positive. Rohallah started to think that he could not just survive, but also thrive here. He started to believe that he could build a beautiful life from scratch.

When Rohallah arrived in Australia, he knew the English alphabet and enough words to introduce himself by name. His case worker encouraged him to enrol in the AMEP which he did. Rohallah has fond memories of his AMEP classes. ‘I liked Jenny, our beautiful and lovely English teacher who embodied everything good in a teacher. Besides being very patient and kind, Jenny knew so much about English grammar and parts of speech, so critical for a strong foundati​on to build a strong English language skill.’​

Once Rohallah learned the technicalities of speech and basic grammar skills, he immersed himself in reading, picking up new vocabulary in the Alexander State Library of Perth located next to his AMEP provider. On completion of his AMEP course, Notre Dame University offered Rohallah a humanitarian scholarship that, in his own words, ‘enabled a lifetime of wellbeing’ for him.

Study was hard for Rohallah. The effects of PTSD still lingered. It affected his sleep and he would often fall asleep in classes. However, at the same time Rohallah possessed a strong sense of resilience and grit. The mental health support he received from ASeTTS enabled him to fight his way through, and he continues to do so till this day.

Rohallah graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 2008, majoring in Politics and Journalism. He began working in the private sector before joining the Australian Public Service in 2016.

So, what’s Rohallah’s advice to others considering enrolling in the AMEP?

‘If you want to have a dignified and good quality of life in Australia, learn English to be able to communicate your ideas and understand people in the mainstream society. The AMEP set a very strong foundation for my English skill, which I built upon with further studies through a college foundation course and a university degree. As a result, I am very privileged to be working in one of the most influential Commonwealth departments in Canberra.’

We hope you find Rohallah’s story to be as inspiring as we at the AMEP do. It is an example of what grit and determination can bring you against all odds!

After graduating from theatre school in Colombia, it seemed like Milena was right where she wanted to be. Her acting career progressed quickly and she was soon enjoying the success of featuring in theatre productions and a Colombian TV drama series. But when Milena moved to Australia in 2019 she was not sure how she could pursue her dream of being an actress​ with hardly any English.

“When I was in conversations with my Australian husband's family I understood maybe 10 per cent.”

Not one to be disheartened, Milena enrolled in the AMEP and studied Certificate 1 in Spoken and Written English at TAS TAFE, completing it in just under a year.

“My experience in the class from the first day was gratifying, being able to listen to English with a native accent. It is really important for fluent learning and speaking correctly.”

“The classes are dynamic, inclusive in a multicultural context, and all students have the opportunity to learn vocabulary, grammar, writing, etc.”

Aware of the improvement in her ability to speak and understand English, Milena continued on her pathway and enrolled in Certificate 2 in Spoken and Written English.​

“There are conversations with volunteers in the group. I love group outings where we have real contact with people in art galleries, or in a cafeteria. Being able to speak, listen and improve our English with these activities are my favourite part!”

Milena says she now understands about 70 per cent of conversations she hears and her vocabulary has increased by about 80 per cent. Empowered by her greatly improved English language abilities, Milena regained the confidence to participate in local theatre productions, theatrical competitions and small onscreen acting roles. And it appears there’s no stopping her.

In 2021 Milena won Best Actress at OneFest, Hobart’s one act play festival with only a few words in English. In 2022 Milena again won Best Actress, this time for a 20 minute monologue she delivered on stage entirely in English. She has also returned to the screen, taking on work as an extra in Tasmania.

Milena wishes to pursue a career on the stage and screen in Australia and believes AMEP classes are her pathway to achieving this goal. But it’s not just her dream of a stage and screen career that motivated her to get involved with AMEP.

“Learning English is important to me as a mother, as a wife, and as an artist. To be able to play an active part in society… bring art into my daughter’s classroom and share our culture with other families.”

And what is Milena’s advice for other people thinking of enrolling in th​e AMEP?

“Just do it! The first step is the most important and being in this program is the tool that is needed to learn English in a harmonious way.”

All the best Milena. We look forward to seeing you achieve your dreams!

Nestled amidst the blue waters of the Caribbean, just off the coast of the Venezuelan mainland, lies the tranquil Island of Margarita. It’s famous for its pearls, colourful history and beautiful beaches, and now Gabriel has a dream to introduce Australia to its amazing cuisine.

Before arriving in Australia in 2020, Gabriel had moved from Margarita to Mexico six years earlier to join his Australian born husband, where he studied and worked in telecommunications. But a passion for food was about to reshape his future.

“I studied business administration and worked in a telecommunications company which I enjoyed, although my passion has always been cooking. I loved cooking since I was young when I used to cook with my mum.”

Shortly after arriving in Australia, Gabriel enrolled in the AMEP, studying Certificate III of Spoken and Written English at TAFE NSW Albury. While it turned out to be a great experience for Gabriel in developing his English language skills and helping him communicate with others, he wasn’t without his initial fears.

“In my first class I felt scared because my English was not really good, but supportive teachers helped me overcome this. I liked that I was meeting people from different cultures while practising my English.”

Now working at a local eatery in Albury, Gabriel dreams of opening his own restaurant to share the food of his country.

“It’s now more than a hobby. I’m chasing the dream and hope to start a chef apprenticeship at TAFE NSW in the near future.”

In February 2022, Gabriel had the opportunity to share some Venezuelan recipes for the SIMMER Exhibition at the Murray Art Museum. For two Saturdays he demonstrated how to make Venezuelan food. A collaborative project between artists, local cooks, chefs and family members, SIMMER centred on the experiences of preparing and sharing food.

“This exhibition considered how food can bring us together, break down barriers and open us up to new experiences.”

And his advice to others wanting to enrol in AMEP and get involved in their own project?

“I advise others to not be scared like I was. If learning English is a goal, enrol and follow the process because the teachers and staff are there to help you every step of the way. You don’t know where it could take you!”

Eager to find a career in Australia, Faiza recognised the benefit that better English would play in her future. She enrolled through Melbourne Polytechnic in the Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP) to do a Certificate 3 - English as an Additional Language (EAL) course which she studied for about one and a half years.

When classes were affected by Covid-19 restrictions, Faiza changed from face to face classes to online learning. She praised the quality and approach of her teachers.

“I am very grateful to all my teachers at Swinburne and I really like them. The friendly and kind way they treat and teach their students can never be forgotten. Because of them I can believe in myself and I am confident that I can do anything I want.”

As her English improved, the guidance provided in the AMEP helped Faiza identify her next move. She has a Bachelor in Computer Science and had worked as a teacher and an administrative assistant in Pakistan, but a new opportunity awaited her.

Having always been interested in cables and electricity, Faiza commenced her Certificate II in Electro Technology (Pre-Apprenticeship) studies at Victoria University. As part of the course she also learnt how to find and apply for jobs, and as a result, she soon found herself working with a major urban construction company.

Faiza is now a first year electrical apprentice. “I wanted to be an electrician and this is the right path which would lead me to my dreams. My colleagues and manager supervise and support me in every step. I help them with daily tasks, for example working with cables, using tools and handling things we use in our tasks. Alongside all jobs I observe the other A-grade electricians and learn their problem-solving techniques.”

As a part of her apprenticeship, Faiza studies Certificate 3 in Electrotechnology, which requires 1 day of study and 4 days of work a week. And she couldn’t be happier.

“I am really happy with my work and I enjoy every bit of it. It’s the hands-on work which I enjoy and wanted to do. I am hopeful that this path would be a good career start for me in Australia.”

Faiza completed 540 hours of language tuition with the AMEP before becoming an AMEP Volunteer Tutor herself. Helping new migrants settle and learn how to manage the new culture in Australia provided the motivation for her decision. She tutored three clients before withdrawing to start her pre-apprenticeship course and hopes to take up volunteer tutoring with the AMEP again in the future.

Faiza has a message for other migrants new to Australia too. “I would also like to encourage other migrants, especially women, to consider TAFE and get involved in trades. My decision to become a tradie is one of the best decisions of my life!”