The following workshops have been planned to assist services work with AMEP families and can be tailored to suit Long Day Care, Family Day Care, Occasional Care and Kindergarten.

Workshops can be presented at your service at a time that suits you. This service is available in all regions where AMES Victoria Consortia is the contacted AMEP Provider.

Workshops available free of charge for services with 5 or more AMEP children.

Developing Environments to Support Children Learning English as a Second Language

This session will discuss the importance of maintaining a child’s first language, and outline the different stages of acquiring English as a second language. Participants will investigate strategies that will enhance culturally and linguistically diverse environments to support children with English as a second language.

Topics to be Covered

• The importance of maintaining a child’s 1st language
• Stages of English as a Second Language
• Strategies that will support cultural and linguistic diverse environments

Session Outcomes

For participants to:

• Understand the importance of maintaining a child’s 1st Language
• Have a greater understanding about learning English as a second language
• Provide supportive environments that support communication and ESL development

Understanding the Needs of Refugee
and Newly Arrived Families

Increasing numbers of children and families who are affected by their refugee or migrant experience access children’s services in Victoria. This workshop will provide participants with the opportunity to gain a better understanding of issues faced by refugee and migrant families. Participants will explore approaches for staff to implement in their support of children and families in their care, as well as identify the agencies services can access to empower these families.

Topics to be Covered

• Define who is a refugee or migrant; the issues and support needed
• The impact on services of families who have been through a refugee or migrant experience
• Talking to staff about programming for refugee or migrant children’s needs

Session Outcomes

For participants to:

• Increased knowledge of refugee and migrant issues
• An awareness of the impact this has on families and how services can support
• For participants to increase their knowledge of program strategies that will support the needs of refugee children

Settling and Supporting Newly Arrived Families

When newly arrived migrant or refugee families begin at a service, they bring their unique experiences and expectations of how to educate and care for their children. The challenge for staff is to ensure the child and family feel their cultural and linguistic needs, along with home practices are respected and reflected in the service. This session will provide an overview of strategies to support families during the initial interview, enrolment, orientation and settling processes.

Topics to be Covered

• How recent migration experiences can impact on families
• Ensuring consistency of routines and expectations between the service
  and home
• What support newly arrived migrant and refugee families need

Session Outcomes

For participants to:

• Identify strategies that support newly arrived migrant and refugee families settle positively into children services
• Develop strategies to ensure continuity and consistency for both children and their families
• Develop an action plan for the processes of enrolment and orientation that supports newly arrived migrant and refugee families