Bitao’s Path to Success: How Learning English Supports Families and Facilitates Intergenerational Change

When Bitao arrived in Canberra in 2023 after spending most of her life in China, she had no idea how transformative her new life in Australia would be. After facing the challenges of life in a new country head-on, a turning point occurred when Bitao enrolled in the Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP). The AMEP is a national program funded by the Australian Government Department of Home Affairs, that is designed to support migrants and refugees to successfully settle into their communities. An important part of the settlement process is finding sustainable employment, something that can prove difficult when faced with the double challenge of adjusting to a new language and new culture.

The AMEP was a game-changer for Bitao.  After participating in the AMEP for some time, Bitao progressed to the Pathways to Work program – a subset of the AMEP – providing her with highly vocational and industry-specific training and language learning.

“The Pathways to Work program helped me gain confidence in expressing myself with fluent English during the job interview. It also provided many useful tips for job seekers,” she said.

The AMEP’s comprehensive approach included resume preparation, interview skills, and work placements, all of which equipped Bitao with the tools she needed to succeed.

The support Bitao received at NSF extended beyond language skills; as a mother of a young child, she was incredibly grateful to have childcare available at no cost while she was studying. She said this was instrumental in helping her achieve her goals.

“”With the free childcare, I could focus on my English study and preparation for the job without worrying about the high cost of childcare fees”

Bitao – AMEP, Canberra

“With the free childcare, I could focus on my English study and preparation for the job without worrying about the high cost of childcare fees,” Bitao said.

This crucial support allowed Bitao to concentrate on her studies and career aspirations, knowing her child was in good hands.

“I applied for many jobs online for around one month. At first, I didn’t get any response for most of them. But I didn’t give up sending my resume. Then I was very happy to receive some interview offers. I tried my best to prepare for every job interview and I reflected on each interview. Finally, I was confident enough to go to the interviews,” Bitao said.

Her study, hard work and determination paid off when she secured a full-time position as an Early Childhood Educator.

“Thanks to NSF, especially my teacher Peter, everything went very smoothly. I commenced the job in March, which I very much enjoy. I’m able to take public transport to work and I’m happy with my new job and the working environment,” Bitao said.

Bitao credits the AMEP with giving her confidence to express herself with fluent English during the job interview.

“I loved the course. The best thing is that you feel totally supported by the NSF professional team and there are people from different cultures and different backgrounds. All of us worked hard towards one goal; to find a job with confident English.”

“The teachers at NSF are the best English teachers I’ve met. And the Pathways to Work team members are so supportive.  At NSF, amazing things can happen. When I was new in Canberra and needed free childcare to allow me to study, Navitas supported me with it” 

Bitao – AMEP, Canberra

Bitao would like to encourage other migrants to start a new chapter in their life with the help of NSF.

“The teachers at NSF are the best English teachers I’ve met. And the Pathways to Work team members are so supportive.  At NSF, amazing things can happen. When I was new in Canberra and needed free childcare to allow me to study, Navitas supported me with it,” Bitao said.

“When I was afraid to speak English, Navitas helped me build confidence in communicating with others. When I felt isolated from the local communities, NSF provided me with strong connections with people from different cultures.”

“I feel very lucky and very thankful to NSF.”

Bitao looks forward to supporting other children in her community in her role as an Early Childhood Educator, and feels confident and secure in her own children’s future here in Australia.