From Guinea to Growth: How NSF and the AMEP Helped Alice Find Her Voice in Australia
When Hawa (Alice) arrived in Australia from Guinea in December 2021, she was filled with optimism and excitement for her new life. A French-speaking doctor from West Africa, Alice had recently married and was settling into a new chapter with her husband. But as the dust of the initial transition settled, reality set in.
“I am a doctor who graduated in Guinea, and I knew that when I came to Australia, I was not going to be able to practise immediately,” Alice says. “So, I started to feel the weight of the things I had to do. In Guinea, French is the official language. The first challenge was the language, then came my lifestyle; the social aspect. I am someone who converses all day long at work and with those around me. Then everything became difficult for me.”
Determined to rebuild her life and professional pathway, Alice enrolled in the Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP) at Navitas Skilled Futures (NSF), a settlement English program funded by the Australian Government Department of Home Affairs. Encouraged by her husband, she began her English learning journey at NSF, bringing her then-four month old baby along for her registration.
“I came across some good supervisors during my stay at Navitas. Many of the lessons were all new to me. And it allowed me to learn and add to my knowledge,” Alice says. “The courses were assimilable thanks to the way they were delivered. We were given the opportunity to speak up—to say what you think or know on the subject. This sharing of experience opened my mind to areas that I didn’t even know existed.”
For Alice, Navitas was more than just a classroom. It was a gateway to community and confidence. “I met some beautiful people with whom I have much in common. And I am in contact with them – we discuss our different developments and encourage each other,” she says. “AMEP courses are diverse and help prepare the person to integrate into several areas: community, work, and social.”
NSF became the stepping stone that helped Alice feel more connected and empowered in her daily life in Australia. “There has been a clear change since my time at Navitas,” she says. “I have had more confidence in speaking in public places when I go out. Navitas prepared my mind for a job interview. I was guided for social situations. I would say that Navitas is a support system that every immigrant needs to settle in Australia.”
Now working as an Assistant in Nursing (AIN) in an aged care facility, Alice supports elderly residents with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and feeding, while also monitoring their health and accompanying them in social activities. It’s a role she takes seriously while keeping her eyes firmly set on her dream.
“I wish to continue my medical practice in Australia,” she says. “I can’t wait to be there one day.”
In the meantime, Alice continues her job search while preparing for her AMC exam; a key step toward medical registration in Australia. With resilience and quiet determination, she’s building a future for herself and her family.
She would recommend Navitas without hesitation to any new arrival.
“Obviously! If you want to learn or improve the English language and have a general knowledge of life that allows you to settle in Australia, Navitas is the most suitable. The professionals are there, each in their own field to support you. There’s nothing more than that!”
“The journey is not over yet, but at this stage I am grateful to my husband who had the brilliant idea of enrolling me in Navitas. I’m grateful for all the work the team does at Navitas.”