Student Graduation

03 February 2009

The NSW Government’s ongoing commitment to train migrants and refugees to help ease the state’s skills shortage was demonstrated today when six classes of new arrivals graduated with dual qualifications in English and vocational skills.

The migrants and refugees have undertaken Linked Skills classes at the NSW Adult Migrant English Service (AMES) in Bankstown, Burwood, Campsie and Sydney City. Their qualifications include Certificate II and III in Spoken and Written English, Certificate III in Children’s Services, Certificate III in Community Services - Aged Care Work, Certificate II in Hospitality (Operations) and Certificate II in Business Administration.

Over 280 migrants and refugees have successfully graduated from the Linked Skills program. This is a highly innovative program which is achieving employment outcomes of up to 95% employment success.

Previous graduates include Meherun who completed Certificate II in Business and Certificate III in Spoken and Written English. She says, “Before going to AMES I didn’t want to speak in English. They helped me a lot with my fluency. They helped me to understand the work environment in Australia. I learnt how to write business correspondence, to work in a team and how to communicate effectively. We completed work experience as part of our course which made me feel more confident. I put the work experience on my resume and this helped me to get a job.”

Tommy graduated in January 2007 with Certificate III in Aged Care Work and Certificate III in English and continues to be gainfully employed. When he first arrived in Sydney he spent his first year looking for work.  His only job offer during that time was at a chicken factory paying $11 an hour. On graduating he was offered the first job he applied for in a nursing home paying $42 per hour. For Tommy graduating with dual qualifications not only led to employment but it also meant that he could feel that he had joined the mainstream of Australian society.

“Gaining real job skills while improving English through these Linked Skills programs means migrants and refugees graduate as job-ready candidates,” said Helen de Silva Joyce, Director of the NSW AMES.

Linked Skills courses enable the students to use their English language entitlement for free tuition under the Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP) to support them through vocational training. The AMEP is funded through the Department of Immigration and Citizenship. The vocational courses were funded by the NSW Department of Education and Training under its Strategic Skills Program and NSW AMES.

NSW AMES worked in partnership with Adult and Community Education Colleges to provide the Linked Skills courses. Institute partnerships formed include:

Bankstown Community College
Parramatta Community College
St George and Sutherland Community College
WEA Sydney

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