The English as a Second Language - New Arrivals (ESL-NA) Program focuses on improving the educational opportunities and outcomes of newly arrived students from non-English speaking backgrounds by developing their English language competence and facilitating their participation in mainstream educational activities.

The following information is provided to assist in assessing the eligibility of enrolling students for the ESL-NA Program. For further information on the Program, please refer to the Australian Government Programs for Non-Government Schools - Administrative Guidelines 2009-2012.

1. Each student’s proficiency in the English language must be assessed at the local level as requiring intensive assistance to enable the student to participate fully in mainstream classroom activities. 
2. Students must provide evidence to the school of their eligibility for the ESL-NA Program. Valid evidence includes: 
   
   - a current Australian passport or a Certificate of Australian
     Citizenship; 
   - a passport from a country other than Australia with a 
     current Australian visa granting permanent residency
     status for example - “Holder permitted to remain in
     Australia indefinitely”; 
   - proof of being a minor under 18 years of age at the time of
     enrolment in the initial course of intensive English
     language tuition and proof of 
        -  having a current temporary visa granted under the
           Australian Government’s Humanitarian Program; or 
        - holding an eligible provisional visa granted under the
          Business Skills Category of the Australian
          Government’s Non-Humanitarian Migration Program; or 
        - holding an eligible provisional visa granted under the
          Family Migration Stream of the Australian Government’s
          Non-Humanitarian Migration Program; or 
        - holding an eligible provisional visa granted under the
          General Skilled Migration Stream of the Australian
          Government’s Non-Humanitarian Migration Program; or 
        - holding a Removal Pending Bridging Visa.

The list of current eligible visa subclasses is available. Should any permanent or temporary visa that is not on the list be presented, eligibility can be established by contacting the ESL-NA Program Manager in DEEWR by telephone (02) 6240 5299 or e-mail eslna@deewr.gov.au.

      3. Students are also required to enrol in an intensive English
          class within certain timeframes: 
           - if entering the first year of primary schooling, have enrolled
             in an intensive English class funded under this Program
             within 18 months of arrival in Australia or being granted a
             temporary visa under the Humanitarian Program; or
          - if entering any other year of schooling, have enrolled in an
            intensive English class funded under this Program within six
            months of arrival in Australia or being granted a temporary
            visa under the Humanitarian Program.

In addition, at the time of enrolling in the initial course of intensive English language instruction, students must be undertaking primary or secondary education at a non-government school, or have an intention to undertake such education as soon as practicable after completion of the course.

The date of entry stamp on the visa label or a stamp in the Australian passport is usually evidence of entry to Australia. Where required details are not shown, the holder can request this information from the Department of Immigration and Citizenship on that Department’s general inquiry line (telephone 131 881).

If students meet all of these criteria, a one-off per capita grant from the Australian Government will be paid to the non-government education authority responsible for the provision of the students’ initial course of intensive English language tuition.

* Eligible students who are in Australia under any part of the 
  Australian Government’s Humanitarian Program, will attract
  double the amount of Australian Government funding to assist
  with the provision of intensive English language tuition to improve
  their educational prospects.

Click here for a link to the DEEWR site for a list of Visa Subclasses for Validation of ESL-NA Claims