Daniel Cetrola, 32, grew up in Westmeadows and lives in Dallas, one of the most challenging residential precincts in an area too commonly called The Bronx.
It’s where many of Melbourne’s non-English-speaking and unresourced migrants head to.
And it’s where Mr Cetroloa and other tutors in the Adult Migrant Education Program [AMEP] intend to make a difference as English teachers and helpmates.
Mr Cetrola read an ad in his local paper asking for people to work with new migrants and people with limited English. He told his partner and his boss at engineering firm Adapt Australia about the ad.
Now, having undergone weeks of training by AMEP staff, the three of them are helping migrants in their northern homes.
Mr Cetrola works with a Roxburgh Park couple, aged in their 50s, who fled Iraq and joined the many Assyrian Chaldean people who have moved into the area in recent years.
He spends an hour every week at their home helping them with their English conversation, and more.
“It’s about life skills,” he said. “Do you know how to buy a bus ticket? Do you have a myki card? Is it registered? This is how we build up an awareness of services.
“Often it’s as simple as pointing people in the direction of other people who can help.”
Liesl Trenfield heads up Northern AMEP, which helps new migrants and refugees across the northern suburbs.
The scheme offers all new migrants up to 510 hours of English tuition and also helps people prepare for employment or plan for further study at TAFE or university.
It also teaches newly arrived people about Australian society, culture and customs, and introduces them to adult education, youth, community, TAFE and university courses available at participating campuses.
AMEP training is available to all eligible permanent visa holders who are 18 and over and who don’t have a functional level of English language proficiency.
Ms Trenfield says people booking in with Northern AMEP come from dozens of different countries. “Many are from war-torn places, who have been through traumatic situations. Settlement can be a long, difficult process. We’re always after tutors.”
To help or for more details, phone: 1300 062 314.
