Statewide AMEP meeting
Queensland Teachers' Journal, Vol 127 No number 4, 3 June 2022, page no. 20
Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP) teachers from across the state have met to discuss the federal Department of Home Affairs’ review and proposed changes to the Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP) business model, as well as the forthcoming tender process.
The current contract comes to an end in June 2023. TAFE Queensland has successfully won the contract for decades.
In summary, the new model provides for:
- hybrid funding (pre-certificate and certificate level payments), including fixed tuition payments based on VET efficient pricing (which includes loadings for CALD, LLND, disability and region)
- tendered prices for student support (VTS, pathway guidance, child care), initial assessment, and AMEP Connect
- a single national curriculum (EAL Framework)
- a distance learning service offering
- a flexible delivery model
- pathway guidance (case manager)
- a new ICT system to replace the ARMS system.
Funding for pre-certificate provision is to be based on remuneration following 10 hours of delivery, no payment is due until the 10th hour is completed).
Funding for Certificate I, II, III provision in EAL will be 10 per cent on commencement, 40 per cent on unit milestone, and 50 per cent on completion. In the event of non-completion, there will be a 30 per cent payment. Non-completion leads to 20 per cent less funding, regardless of the length of study time or resources accessed.
During the meeting, which was held via Zoom on the evening of 27 April, members expressed concerns that the proposed funding models will undermine the viability of the program and that the proposed program shifts the focus from a teaching and learning model to an assessment model. Members felt that this would create an unreasonable focus on vocational outcomes, to the detriment of AMEP’s original purpose as a settlement program.
Members will be lobbying to restore the AMEP focus to settlement outcomes.