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Support doubled for the English as a Second Language – New Arrivals Programme

The Minister for Education, Science and Training, the Hon Julie Bishop MP, today announced that newly arrived entrants under Australia’s Humanitarian Programme will attract double the amount of Australian Government funding for English language tuition to improve their education prospects, as part of the 2007-08 Budget.

"Through this measure, an additional $127.8 million will be committed over the next four years to assist with intensive English as a second language (ESL) tuition for students entering Australia under a range of visa categories in the Humanitarian Programme. This will be achieved through a doubling of the rate of per capita funding provided to government and non-government education authorities under the ESL –New Arrivals Programme for newly arrived humanitarian students," Minister Bishop said.

"This important initiative is part of a whole-of-government strategy which focuses on promoting successful settlement through learning English, getting a job, committing to Australian values and participating in mainstream activities."

"The Australian Government is committed to supporting newly arrived humanitarian entrants and acknowledges that English proficiency is a vital aspect of successful settlement. For our humanitarian entrants in Australian primary and secondary schools, intensive support to improve English language skills is one of the best ways to improve the educational outcomes and future employability so that they can participate more broadly in Australian society."

This initiative builds on the success of the existing English as a Second Language – New Arrivals Programme which last year provided assistance for around 13,000 eligible primary and secondary students around Australia, including more than 5,000 humanitarian entrant students nationally.

Supporting Information

Why is this important?

• By assisting newly arrived refugee students to gain the English language skills they need to function effectively in Australian society, this initiative is an integral component of a whole of government strategy to support the continued success of Australia’s Humanitarian Programme.
• The English as a Second Language – New Arrivals (ESL-NA) Programme contributes to the provision of intensive English language tuition for recently arrived migrant students in order to improve their educational outcomes and employability. While humanitarian students are currently funded at the same per capita rate as other immigrant students, their pre-migration experiences mean that these students need, and are spending, much longer in the initial phase of intensive English language tuition.
• The Budget initiative will double the per capita rate of funding paid to government and non-government education authorities for students in primary and secondary schools who entered Australia on a humanitarian visa – a substantial increase in the Government’s contribution.
• The initiatives for improved whole of government support to newly arrived humanitarian entrants are aimed at ensuring they do not lag behind other permanent residents in English proficiency, education and employment.

Who will benefit?

• Students entering Australia as part of the Humanitarian Programme.
  
• In 2006 the ESL-NA Programme assisted around 13,000 students at a cost of around
  $69.1 million. More than 5,000 of these students entered Australia as part of the Humanitarian Programme.
• The change to the per capita payment made to education authorities, based on the number of eligible students they enrol, substantially increases the Australian Government’s contribution to support newly arrived humanitarian entrants who need more sustained assistance to gain crucial English language skills.

What funding is the Government committing to the initiative?

• It is estimated that this initiative will cost an additional $127.8 million over the four years to 2010-11.

What have we done in the past?

• Australia-wide over the last three years, the ESL-NA Programme has assisted almost 36,000 newly arrived primary and secondary students with intensive English language tuition.

When will the initiative conclude?

• The English as a Second Language – New Arrivals Programme is ongoing.

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