About the program

The Skills for Education and Employment (SEE) program contributes to building Australia’s productivity and inclusiveness by providing high quality training to help job seekers address language, literacy and numeracy barriers with the expectation that such improvements will enable them to obtain sustainable employment and/or undertake further education and training.

On this page:

The SEE program, formerly known as the Language, Literacy and Numeracy Program, has operated since January 2002 when the Literacy and Numeracy program was amalgamated with the Advanced English for Migrants Program to provide a more integrated management approach to addressing language, literacy and numeracy (LLN) needs among job seekers at the national level.

The SEE program has been operating in this capacity since 2010 with contracted providers offering LLN training as part of accredited courses across the country in metropolitan, regional and remote locations. In 2012 the Australian Government reviewed elements of the program to be incorporated into the subsequent contract period beginning on 1 July 2013.

Following the review, the department released the LLNP Discussion Paper, Creating a more flexible LLNP in 2013-16 which sought feedback on program policies and how the program could be improved for the future.

Key criteria in assessing the value of possible changes were the extent to which the change would:

  • improve efficiency by reducing administrative and compliance burdens
  • enhance the capacity of the program to respond to change
  • better articulate the Government’s expectations for providers in relation to contractual requirements for the delivery of the program
  • improve the targeting of resources and measurements of outcomes to ensure the greatest benefits are achieved within the funding envelope.

An overwhelming number of high quality responses to the discussion paper were received resulting in a number of program changes.

Program evaluation

To ensure that the SEE program continues to meet the Australian Government’s objectives, the Department engaged ACIL Allen Consulting in 2015to conduct an independent evaluation of the program.

The evaluation examined current funding arrangements, and the quality of program outcomes, as well as program appropriateness, effectiveness and efficiency. Stakeholder consultation and feedback played a vital role in informing the outcomes of the evaluation. ACIL Allen Consulting engaged with stakeholders through surveys, focus groups, and in-depth interviews.

New business model for SEE from 1 July 2017

The revised business model for the SEE program is designed to maximise learning outcomes for clients, allow greater program participation, allow flexible training delivery to best meet clients’ needs, and allow greater focus on innovative practice.

Features of the new business model include:

  • increasing flexibility and innovation in service delivery and allowing providers to become more responsive to economic and labour market demand
  • introducing Australian Core Skills Framework (ACSF) Pre-Level 1 to reflect the clientele participating in the SEE program
  • aligning the teacher and assessor qualifications with the Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) 2015
  • strengthening linkages with the Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP) through a common client assessment model with greater focus on further education and / or employment outcomes
  • aligning service provider regions to the Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS). Provider regions will be referred to as Contract Regions.

For details on the new contract regions, please visit SEE contract regions and service providers.

Further information can be found in Improving learning opportunities for migrants and job seekers, Ministers' Media Centre, Australian Government.

Does the program provide good quality training?

The SEE program is structured to provide flexibility in delivery, while achieving clear, measurable outcomes and improvement in participant language, literacy and numeracy competencies. It is supported by a robust performance management and quality assurance framework, including:

  • Key Performance Indicators to be met by providers which relate to participation,attainment, accurate assessment, quality training and data timeliness
  • an IT system which confirms participant skills against the ACSF, improvements, participant training plans, participant status and attendance
  • a network of Department of Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business state office staff who undertake site monitoring visits to ensure that, among other things, appropriate records management protocols are being followed and suitable accommodation and resources are available to participants.
  • quality assurance undertaken by a quality assurance provider. The quality assurance provider role includes:
    • conducting on-site and off-site verification of participant portfolios and claimed outcomes
    • providing professional development to trainers through moderation workshops and the provision of constructive feedback to trainers following participant portfolios verification
    • providing advice to trainers on the development of assessment tasks and other resources.