Adult Migrant English Program

Adult Migrant English Program

Background

The Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP), administered by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) under the Immigration (Education) Act 1971, provides English language tuition for eligible adult permanent migrants and humanitarian entrants who do not have functional English.

AMEP service providers are contracted by DIAC to provide English language tuition. They are also responsible for arranging, if required, free child care for clients with under school age children who are attending classroom tuition.

Child Care Benefit (CCB) eligibility for AMEP clients

Clients using child care for AMEP purposes are not eligible for CCB for that care as AMEP service providers cover the costs of all AMEP-related child care.

AMEP clients cannot choose to claim CCB for sessions of care relating to attendance at AMEP tuition. All sessions of child care related to attendance at AMEP English language tuition must be billed to, and paid for, by the AMEP service provider.

CCB is payable for any non-AMEP child care purposes, provided that eligibility criteria are met. Clients need to apply to the Family Assistance Office (FAO) for an assessment of their CCB eligibility if they choose to use care for non-AMEP related purposes.

Role of the AMEP service provider

The AMEP service provider is required to:

  • locate and arrange appropriate child care for their clients under school age children while they are attending AMEP tuition (within three months of registration)
  • ensure that where possible child care is located so that travel time between the child care service and the location of the AMEP class or the client's home does not exceed 30 minutes each way
  • ensure that child care is culturally appropriate
  • ensure that the child care service is approved or registered and meets State regulations
  • pay the child care service the full cost of the AMEP-related child care.

Role of the Child Care service provider

The role of the Child Care service provider is to:

  • bill the AMEP service provider directly for the sessions of care relating to AMEP tuition
  • restrict reporting of sessions of care that are AMEP-related to AMEP service providers only
  • ensure that child care relating to AMEP is not reported in attendance information - child care services should only include child care that is not related to attendance at AMEP tuition
  • ensure that any absences from child care relating to AMEP tuition are not counted as absences for CCB
  • ensure that hours of child care used for AMEP purposes are not counted towards a parent's eligible hours for CCB.

Further information

For further information on the AMEP please contact your local AMEP service provider. A list of AMEP Service Providers is available on the AMEP website at http://www.immi.gov.au/living-in-australia/help-with-english/amep/ or by contacting the DIAC enquiry line on 13 18 81.

For information regarding CCB eligibility contact the Family Assistance Office on 13 61 50 or visit the website at http://www.familyassist.gov.au/.