Finding and settling into a new job can be a challenge for anyone, but for someone who has recently migrated and is new to the Australian culture, language and workforce it can be even more daunting.
Fortunately, support is on hand for those who need that extra help gaining language and job skills necessary to secure and settle into work in Australia. From English language support to help finding employment, STEPS can provide opportunities for a smoother transition through the Ready for Work program.
Ready for Work, or Settlement Language Pathways to Employment and Training (SLPET) program, is a sub program of the Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP), a free service for eligible migrants funded by the Australian Government.
Executive Manager STEPS Education and Training Joel Stevens said Ready for Work can be a “next option” for migrants who have completed the AMEP program. “After students have improved their English language skills through AMEP, they can think of our Ready for Work course as the next step,” Joel said.
“The main focus of this program is finding a job. So while the classes are centered on English studies, they have a work focus, such as learning the right words to use at work and understanding Australian practices and work culture.”
STEPS Ready for Work class is set to commence in Casuarina, Darwin on the 14th of October and will run for eight weeks until the 6th of December. The course has a component of face-to-face employment coaching as well as work placement where students can gain valuable work experience.
“It’s exciting for us and the students about to embark on this Ready for Work program knowing they will gain valuable skills and work experience to help them settle successfully in Australia,” Joel said. “We hope to run many more Ready for Work classes in the future, as many of our students have a real desire to find work.”
STEPS Casuarina Business Manager Michael Crawley said this is a great time for anyone interested in taking the Ready for Work course next year to sign up for AMEP. “We hope to have additional Ready for Work courses taking place in 2020, so this is the time to prepare for it by enrolling in an AMEP program which is the first step,” Michael said.
To find out more about Ready for Work or STEPS AMEP contact STEPS on 1300 585 868.
