The English as a Second Language - New Arrivals (ESL-NA) Programme focuses on improving the educational opportunities and outcomes of newly arrived students from non-English speaking backgrounds by developing their English language competence and facilitating their participation in mainstream educational activities.
The following information is provided to assist in assessing the eligibility of enrolling students for the ESL-NA Programme. For further information on the Programme, please refer to the Australian Government Programmes for Schools Quadrennial Administrative Guidelines 2005 to 2008.
1. Each student’s proficiency in the English language must be assessed at the local level as requiring intensive assistance to enable the student to participate fully in mainstream classroom activities.
2. Students must provide evidence to the school of their eligibility for the ESL-NA Programme. Valid evidence includes:
-
a current Australian passport or a Certificate of Australian Citizenship;
-
a passport from a country other than Australia with a current Australian visa granting permanent residency status for example - “Holder permitted to remain in Australia indefinitely”;
-
proof of being a minor under 18 years of age at the time of enrolment in the initial course of intensive English language tuition and proof of
The list of current eligible visa subclasses is available. Should any permanent or temporary visa that is not on the list be presented, eligibility can be established by contacting the ESL-NA Programme Manager in DEEWR by telephone (02) 6240 5299 or e-mail eslna@deewr.gov.au.
3. Students are also required to enrol in an intensive English class within certain timeframes:
- if entering the first year of primary schooling, have enrolled in an intensive English class funded under this Programme within 18 months of arrival in Australia or being granted a temporary visa under the Humanitarian Programme; or
- if entering any other year of schooling, have enrolled in an intensive English class funded under this Programme within six months of arrival in Australia or being granted a temporary visa under the Humanitarian Programme.
In addition, at the time of enrolling in the initial course of intensive English language instruction, students must be undertaking primary or secondary education at a government or non-government school, or have an intention to undertake such education as soon as practicable after completion of the course.
The date of entry stamp on the visa label or a stamp in the Australian passport is usually evidence of entry to Australia. Where required details are not shown, the holder can request this information from the Department of Immigration and Citizenship on that Department’s general inquiry line (telephone 131 881).
If students meet all of these criteria, a one-off per capita grant from the Australian Government will be paid to the education authority responsible for the provision of the students’ initial course of intensive English language tuition.
* Eligible students who are in Australia under any part of the Australian Government’s Humanitarian Programme, who enrol on or after 1 January 2008, will attract double the amount of Australian Government funding to assist with the provision of intensive English language tuition to improve their educational prospects.