Navitas Skilled Futures (NSF) welcomes Minister for Skills and Training
The Hon Andrew Giles MP, Minister for Skills and Training, and the Federal Member for Parramatta, Dr Andrew Charlton MP, visited Navitas Skilled Futures in Parramatta to observe Skills for Education and Employment (SEE) Program training and to meet three inspiring Navitas Skilled Futures participants.

Hon Andrew Giles MP, Minister for Skills and Training, and the Federal Member for Parramatta, Dr Andrew Charlton MP visited Navitas Skilled Futures Parramatta on Wednesday, 23 January 2025 to observe SEE Program training.
Minister Giles and Dr Charlton MP were greeted by Navitas General Manager, Jetinder Macfarlane, Executive General Manager, Michael Cox, Employment Programs Manager, Kristy McNair and SEE Regional Lead, Patricia Pavez. They observed three different levels of SEE Program classes where they saw participants developing their skills in language, literacy and numeracy. They also observed participants using Chromebooks for digital literacy training and learning about job application processes.
The SEE program is funded by the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations and delivers free support and training in language, literacy, numeracy, and digital skills, with the aim of providing participants pathways to work or further study. NSF delivers the program at 11 colleges in Greater West Sydney, South West Sydney and West Melbourne, as well as at two additional Sydney sites through its subcontractor, Macquarie Community College.
Following the class visits, three SEE participants attended a roundtable discussion with Minister Giles and Dr Charlton MP where they shared their experiences.

Participant Marzieh spoke about developing her skills through the SEE program, decades after she arrived in Australia from Iran. She said after being a homemaker and mother for many years, with limited foundational English literacy and language skills, she made the decision to pursue education for herself through NSF.
Former nurse, Jessie, had been studying at Navitas Skilled Futures for two years, and told the Minister she is hoping to find a new career path in Australia through the SEE program.
“I want to go on to further study, I want to build my language skills at Navitas Skilled Futures and later change my career, maybe become an immigration agent,” she said.
“Once my language skills have improved, I hope to go to university.”

Mariam arrived in Australia from Iran 11 months ago with no English and told Minister Giles the SEE program at NSF helped her transform her language and digital skills.
Under changes to the SEE program introduced in July 2024, a new Participant Support Officer (PSO) role was created to assist participants with support beyond the classroom.
NSF Parramatta’s PSO is Sipho Khoza, and Mariam told Minister Giles he has been helping her pursue her dream of finding a job with Qantas.
“Navitas helped me to improve my language because I have a language barrier. Now I can speak, and I really want to thank the teachers and the administration. I want to change my career, and Sipho advocates for me and helps me to apply to find a job. He showed me how to make a resume and how to have an interview. He helped us a lot. I am really grateful for him.”
Mariam, NSF SEE participant

Minister Giles said the participants’ stories were inspiring.
“[I heard] so many different stories of people’s journeys to Australia, some of them long-standing, but all of them making the choice to do something brave, which is saying, ‘I need help with my English language skills,’” he said.
“[Marzieh] had been here since the 1980s and had recently taken the step to take up the SEE training and now is so confident in her English language. We also met an older Australian man taking that big step to get the skills we should have given him in schooling, achieving those skills later in life.”
Dr Charlton MP praised the participants for their bravery and the Navitas Skilled Futures’ trainers for their dedication to participant outcomes.

“I thought their stories were really brave; taking that initial step of coming to Australia and then that second brave step to come and pick up the skills they’re going to need to succeed in their lives here. We learned today what it means to them to have those skills and that confidence that will help them fully participate in their lives in Australia.”
Dr Andrew Charlton MP, Member for Parramatta
Jetinder Macfarlane said the department visit was very important to all at NSF.
“The department has entrusted Navitas to deliver the program, so it’s really important that we’re able to talk to participants about the benefits of the SEE program,” she said.
“We recognize the barriers and challenges our participants face and talk to them about how we’re able to help them overcome those challenges, whether it’s a lack of confidence or some of the more technical skills, helping with their digital skills, English language skills, employability skills, or whatever they might be. That’s a critical part of what we do.”