KU opens AMEP centre in NSW Hunter Region

KU Children’s Services have opened a new childcare centre in the New South Wales Hunter region, designed to support migrant and refugee families who are learning English. 

The KU Mayfield AMEP Child Care Centre is located in Mayfield, Newcastle, and provides childcare to families who are studying English through the Australian Government’s Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP).

While parents are learning English language and settlement skills at MAX Solutions college, children are cared for onsite by KU at the centre, which opened last week.

Children, families and staff attended the official opening celebrations, which also featured special guests from Navitas English, MAX Solutions, KU Children’s Services and other community services.

KU AMEP and Community Programs Manager Sabira Sukurma said the organisation was “very excited” to have officially opened KU Mayfield AMEP. 

“We are proud to be able to offer this important service exclusively to migrant and refugee families in the Hunter community,” Ms Sukurma said.

Up to 20 children a day attend the service, where they are educated and cared for by five bilingual early childhood trained educators. 

“Our great educators ensure each day that all children settle well, learn through play-based activities and grow happily in their new home country of Australia,” Ms Sukurma noted. 

The service the centre provides has been warmly welcomed by those learning English with MAX. Fatima, whose daughter Arwa attends the centre, has seen her daughter learn, develop and settle in after the family recently moved from Egypt to Australia.

“I love the service at KU Mayfield AMEP. All the staff are friendly, and they make sure our daughter Arwa is safe and happy. We’re so blessed to see the happiness in our daughter,” Fatima said.

The new service continues on the role KU has played in supporting refugee and migrant families participating in the AMEP program, with the organisation having provided childcare under AMEP in the region since 2017. 

In that time, 236 children and 182 parents have been supported at MAX Solutions colleges in Newcastle, Charlestown, Maitland and Mayfield.

More information about KU Children’s Services and the Adult Migrant English Program is available here.