Navitas Skilled Futures: Delivering skilled staff to local industry

Proving a model of success that supports both community and industry, Navitas Skilled Futures (NSF) youth class students have successfully secured paid work, following the completion of the innovative Grow, Move and Make Program.  The Program is offered exclusively by NSF as part of the Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP) and is designed to equip migrants and refugees between 18-25 with the skills required to enter today’s workforce.   

The AMEP is a program that’s funded by the Australian Government Department of Home Affairs and supports the settlement English language needs of migrants and humanitarian entrants. In addition, it provides a community to those arriving on these shores. Over the past year, two NSF students who have studied in the AMEP have been working at the Ozsale distribution centre in Smithfield, contributing to both community and economy, while finding independence and security in their new home in Australia.  

The distribution centre, which processes up to 10,000 orders a day, has benefited from the employment focus of this AMEP course, that provides a dynamic learning environment for NSF students who are transitioning to life in Australia. After completing their course, the students are now working five days a week alongside Ozsale’s team of approximately 70 staff, where their roles include order picking and packaging, as well as collaborating with work colleagues in a bustling warehouse environment. 

NSF General Manager, Jetinder Macfarlane, emphasised the significance of the AMEP in empowering students and providing them with tangible learning environments that ensure students’ new English language skills can be applied in real-world and business settings: “Through the AMEP, Navitas Skilled Futures is empowering students to thrive in their new home country of Australia. Our Grow, Move and Make Program exemplifies this, bridging language barriers to secure meaningful employment for them. It’s not just about language; it’s about building confidence and skills for success in everyday life and in Australia’s workforce.” 

Ozsale Distribution Centre Manager, Lakhvinder Singh Kalsi, commended the dedication and adaptability of NSF students within one of the busiest distribution centres in the city: “The students have demonstrated a strong work ethic and a positive attitude throughout their time at Ozsale. We have witnessed their progression, from learning essential tasks such as using the RF scanners and printing labels to effectively communicating with our warehouse staff. We have also been happy to support their progression by paying for their forklift training, which has resulted in one NSF student receiving their forklift licence.” 

Reflecting on her experience, Inga, who migrated from Russia on a partner visa, expressed her gratitude for the AMEP, and the resulting opportunity to find employment, based largely on her new language skills: “Thank you to Navitas Skilled Futures, I have enjoyed learning new skills at Ozsale. The people are friendly, and they have helped me.”

Similarly, Fahad, who came over from Pakistan with his family on a refugee visa, highlighted the importance of English language proficiency in the workplace: “Doing this job for the last six months made me realise how important it is to learn English because you have to be able to communicate with people you work with.” 

Since 1990, NSF has helped over 300,000 people from different backgrounds and cultures live their best lives in Australia through a range of English language, job seeker, literacy and numeracy programs.