This submission focuses on the evaluation of the AMEP New Business Model (NBM) which emphasises the critical role of English language skills in the successful settlement of young refugees and migrants. MYAN highlights that while young people from these backgrounds show high levels of resilience and potential, they face significant barriers in accessing services and opportunities. The submission underscores that 45% of young people aged 12-24 in Australia were from refugee and migrant backgrounds as of 2016, making their successful integration crucial.
MYAN’s submission raises several concerns about the current AMEP model, including the inconsistent availability of youth-specific programs nationwide, challenges in accessing AMEP for disengaged youth, insufficient tuition hours for achieving functional English, and lack of flexibility in combining language training with employment. To address these issues, MYAN recommends developing a national youth strategy for AMEP. This strategy should include targeted funding for youth-specific courses, stronger links between AMEP and youth settlement services, and increased flexibility and eligibility for young people to access AMEP within their first five years of arrival in Australia.
