The English as a Second Language - New Arrivals (ESL-NA) Programme provides Australian Government funding to State and Territory government and non-government education authorities to assist with the cost of delivering intensive English language tuition to eligible newly arrived migrant primary and secondary school students. The Programme aims to improve the educational opportunities and outcomes of newly arrived students of non-English speaking backgrounds by developing their English language competence and facilitating their participation in mainstream educational activities.
In order to be eligible students are required to be:
- either:
- Australian citizens or hold permanent residency status; or
- be minors (under 18 years of age at the time of enrolling in the initial course of intensive English language instruction) and
- accepted as a temporary migrant under any part of the Australian Government’s Humanitarian Programme; or
- holding a provisional visa granted under the Business Skills Category of the Australian Government’s Non-Humanitarian Migration Programme; or
- holding a provisional visa granted under the Family Migration Stream of the Australian Government’s Non-Humanitarian Migration Programme; or
- holding a provisional visa granted under the General Skilled Migration Stream of the Australian Government’s Non-Humanitarian Migration Programme; or
- holding a Removal Pending Bridging Visa;
- and
- at the time of enrolling in the initial course of intensive English language instruction, 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; and
- if entering the first year of primary schooling, to 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.
Details of the criteria for eligibility for ESL-NA Programme funding are provided in the Australian Government Programmes for Schools - Administrative Guidelines 2005-2008.
A checklist of ESL - NA eligibility requirements and an updated list of eligible permanent and temporary residency subclasses are available to assist in determining students’ eligibility for funding. 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.
An Interdepartmental Committee (IDC) of Australian Government agency heads was convened in April 2006 to develop a whole-of-government strategy to improve the settlement outcomes of newly arrived migrants under Australia’s humanitarian migration programme. A series of recommendations were made by the IDC that focused on the achievement of successful integration through learning English, getting a job, committing to Australian values and participating in mainstream activities.
Education authorities were consulted late in 2006 regarding the education related recommendations, including the potential increase to per capita funding for humanitarian entrants in primary and secondary schools through the ESL-NA Programme.
In May 2007, the Australian Government announced that education authorities will receive increased funding for these newly arrived humanitarian students. Commencing 2008, newly arrived humanitarian entrant students will attract double the amount of Australian Government funding to assist with the provision of intensive English language tuition to improve their educational prospects.
Australian Government funding for schools for the 2005-2008 quadrennium is provided through the Schools Assistance (Learning Together – Achievement Through Choice and Opportunity) Act 2004 (the Act). Payments are made under the Agreements between the State and Territory government and non-government education authorities and the Australian Government in accordance with the Act.
Students who meet the eligibility criteria set out above will, for the purpose of the programme, be categorised as either new arrivals or humanitarian new arrivals. Eligible humanitarian new arrivals include those students who are in Australia under any part of the Australian Government’s Humanitarian Programme that hold permanent residency status; or are minors (under 18 years of age at the time of enrolling in the initial course of intensive English language instruction) and accepted as a temporary migrant. Eligible new arrivals include students that meet the above eligibility criteria excluding those who are in Australia under any part of the Australian Government’s Humanitarian Programme.
In 2008, grants of $5,786 per new arrival, or $11,572 per humanitarian new arrival, will be made to State and Territory government and non-government education authorities for each eligible ESL-NA student. These are the final 2008 rates that have been supplemented in line with movements in the Average Government School Recurrent Cost (AGSRC) index.
Advance Payment
In most circumstances, an advance payment of ESL-NA funding is made at the beginning of each school year to State and Territory government and non-government education authorities to meet the initial costs of providing intensive language tuition to eligible students. The advance for 2008 is 75 per cent of the payments made in 2007. This advance is greater than the usual 50 per cent provided by the Australian Government each year as it provides additional initial funding to support humanitarian entrant students. It is expected that the advance payment will return to the usual 50 per cent in 2009. An advance payment is only made, however, if there were at least five eligible students in the previous year. The advance payment is acquitted against subsequent claims made by the State and Territory government and non-government education authorities in August and December.
Claim Forms
Australian Government funding for intensive ESL-NA Programme tuition is provided on the basis of a claim form submitted by State and Territory government and non-government education authorities indicating the number of students who are eligible. There are two claim periods per year: the first is for the period from 1 November 2007 to 30 June 2008, and the second for the period from 1 July to 31 October 2008. The due date for the return of the first claim form is 8 August 2008. The second claim form is due by 28 November 2008. If there are no claims for the period a nil return is required for audit purposes.
Payments
A Recipient Created Tax Invoice will accompany the payment advice. Payments to non-government education authorities include GST.
Schools seeking information on ESL-NA Programme funding should contact their relevant education authority. Contact details of State and Territory government and non-government education authorities may be obtained from the attached list.
Queries about the ESL-NA Programme may be directed to the ESL-NA Programme Manager in the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations on telephone (02) 6240 5299 or email eslna@deewr.gov.au.