Alice continues her passion for landscape architecture in Australia
Alice has used her AMEP SLPET class to learn about applying for work in Australia, to get some valuable work experience and to make meaningful connections in her profession.
Alice, who holds a Bachelor of Architecture and a Master’s in Landscape Architecture from Iran, brought eight years of design experience with her when she arrived in Australia in October 2023. After spending some time in an AMEP English class, she joined the Settlement Language Pathways to Employment and Training (SLPET) course at Wyndham Community and Education Centre in Werribee in April 2024.
The SLPET course is a ten-week program designed to help adult migrants create pathways to work or further training in Australia. SLPET covers topics such as job search strategies, resume and cover letter writing, job interview preparation, understanding workers’ rights in Australia, and career pathway planning. SLPET also includes two weeks of work placement with an Australian employer.
Through the SLPET program, Alice significantly improved her English communication skills, reducing her fear of conversing with people in Australia. She gained confidence in tailoring her resumes and cover letters and preparing for job interviews. In her first week of work placement Alice assisted in the landscape design for a retreat aimed at providing a peaceful space for traumatised service people. She produced beautiful hand-drawn sketches and professional designs. Her work was acknowledged on social media by her employers, highlighting her valuable contribution. In the second week, she worked with a city-based professional landscape organisation, creating high-quality designs and learning about the landscape design process in Australia.
Both employers were impressed with Alice’s skills and dedication. She gained knowledge about the professional vocabulary used in architecture in Australia and improved her English, especially regarding plant names. Alice now has a potential job opportunity with the city-based landscape architectural firm when a vacancy arises, marking an exciting outcome for her.
Alice feels that the SLPET program, with its eight weeks of classes and two weeks of work placement, has been instrumental in helping her understand how to apply for local jobs and adapt to the expectations of landscape architecture in Australia. Without the support of this AMEP class, achieving these milestones would have been much more challenging.