Adult Migrant
English Program
EARLY LEARNING
CENTRES

Adult MIgrant EnglIsh Program EARLY LEARNING CENTRES

2019 was a year of growth

We opened a total of

centres

taking us to

centres across NSW today.

Our families speak many languages

We supported

children to access early learning whilst their parents studied English at TAFE.

These families came from

countries.

They speak

different languages.

Their children were cared for in

different centres, including Gowrie NSW.

Each child and each family in Gowrie’s AMEP program has a different story.

Each one of our children and families are supported by

special educators and Program Coordinators – without these people it would not be possible to provide this very unique and inclusive program.

In our AMEP centres Gowrie’s people always go the extra mile, sometimes literally.
It’s passionate people like Belinda who make the Wagga Wagga AMEP Early Learning Centre such a supportive program for newly arrived refugees. Belinda and her team go above and beyond their role as early educators by helping the children and families navigate their new lives in Australia. This includes translating electricity bills and appointment messages, organising a clothing donation program, helping parents figure out the local bus systems, and even taking a family to Sydney to help them purchase a reliable car, so they didn’t have to walk 8km to classes.

 

In our AMEP centres it’s all about relationships.
Su and the team have worked extensively over the past year to ensure two newly arrived refugee sisters who attend the Armidale Early Learning Centre have the best start. Both girls are hearing impaired and due to their circumstances in Iraq had not received any intervention. Using the Early Learning Centre as a base for early intervention and Auslan lessons and with the help of the children’s newly fitted cochlear implants, the children are now able to communicate with their families and friends.

Relationships are complex, especially when conducted in your second language.

At Ultimo Early Learning Centre Novita and Rachel have created a safe space for mothers and children, where they provide far more than just early education.

A few mothers disclosed they were in the process of or had recently left unsafe relationships and were struggling to start a new life. This was a hard decision for many of the women, as they were new to Australia, had no family support and limited English. Rachel and Novita supported the group of mothers by helping them to research and enrol in new study, with Centrelink paperwork to obtain new housing, organising social events to expand their social network and grow their friendships, as well as ensuring their children have a consistent and loving environment at the Early Learning Centre.

Relationships are complex, especially when conducted in your second language.

At Ultimo Early Learning Centre Novita and Rachel have created a safe space for mothers and children, where they provide far more than just early education.

A few mothers disclosed they were in the process of or had recently left unsafe relationships and were struggling to start a new life. This was a hard decision for many of the women, as they were new to Australia, had no family support and limited English. Rachel and Novita supported the group of mothers by helping them to research and enrol in new study, with Centrelink paperwork to obtain new housing, organising social events to expand their social network and grow their friendships, as well as ensuring their children have a consistent and loving environment at the Early Learning Centre.

Different stories, but with a common thread.
Our AMEP centres cater for parents and children from many cultures. Their routes to a Gowrie centre are diverse. Some have had happy journeys, some traumatic, most still evolving. But there is a common thread. The parents want to learn.

And whIle they learn, their chIldren can learn too.