Adult Migrant English Program opens doors for Elly Council votes to move forward on Byron Shire rail trail

Byron Shire Council this week moved a step closer to creating a rail trail in the Byron Shire that will link to the Tweed Shire rail trail in the north and Booyong, at the Lismore Local Government Area border.

Council resolved to proceed with the planning, approval process and preparation of an application for funding after considering investigative reports on the rail corridor in the shire.

were investigating the feasibility of rail on a multi-use corridor and since then, we haven’t been able to meaningfully advance the case for trains on our tracks in the Byron Shire.

“Whereas the business case for the rail trail is concrete and real and it’s on show in the Tweed Shire and it’s been funded by government,” he said.

Elly (Xiaona) Fu completed the AMEP at TAFE NSW Lismore, leading her to a role at Lismore City Council.

New residents who have migrated to the Northern Rivers region are accessing a unique program to learn English, fnd employment, and transition to their new life.

TAFE NSW delivers the Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP) which provides free English lessons and childcare to eligible migrants and refugees, to assist with their transition to Australian life.

For Elly (Xiaona) Fu, a Chinese migrant who arrived in Australia in 2016, the program has been life-changing, enabling her to achieve the dream she thought was out of reach — to work full-time and gain a qualifcation in Australia.

“I’m from a small rural village in China. Back home I worked as a travel consultant, but when I moved to Australia, I wasn’t confdent enough to work in the sector as I didn’t know the language and culture well,” said Ms Fu.

“I couldn’t speak fuently or fully understand a conversation. It was isolating and meant I couldn’t participate in the Australian lifestyle. That’s why I chose to enrol in the AMEP at TAFE NSW.”

“My life has changed so much since I started studying in 2021. It helped me build my understanding so much that I am now working in Lismore City Council’s Finance Department and I’m much happier,” said Ms Fu.

While working full time, Elly is also completing a Diploma of Accounting through TAFE Digital. On her decision to continue studying, she said “The AMEP gave me the confdence to face everyday challenges and create a better life for myself in Australia. I want to keep improving and enjoying my life.”

“I’d recommend the AMEP to anyone that was in my position. TAFE NSW teachers are so encouraging and supportive, and my class felt like one big family from around the world,” Ms Fu said.

TAFE NSW Lismore Head Teacher Career Pathways and Employability Skills, Kim Blake, said the AMEP program helps students learn vital skills that most of us take for granted.

“Learning how to open a bank account, access healthcare, fnd work or further study, reading and writing skills, as well as Australian society and culture knowledge are just some of the everyday skills students learn,” said Ms Blake.

“Elly is the perfect example of how the AMEP is helping people achieve their goals and become active members of society and our local workforce, which not only is a beneft to her, but also the community as a whole.”

“This was an historic decision of Council, and it was a tough and long debate as many of us support, or have supported, a multi-use rail corridor in the past to keep the possibility of rail returning to our tracks for public transport,” Byron Shire Mayor, Michael Lyon said.

“However, as I said in my speech, it was four years ago that we

“We owe it to our community to deliver on something now that can happen, that can be used by our residents and their families and that can be optimised to bring a whole raft of other benefts to our community.

“I think it’s time we take the opportunity before us to deliver something meaningful for our community,” Mayor Lyon said.

As well as resolving to proceed with the planning and approval process for a rail trail on the railway tracks, the resolution sets out to seek a lease over as much of the corridor as possible to help: a. Ensure the corridor remains in public hands. b. Enable investigation of options for diverse housing within the corridor. c. Enable the activation of unused space, infrastructure and buildings for community use. d. Allow council to receive income for trail maintenance. e. Allow environmental rehabilitation, including wildlife corridors. f. Other options for public transport. The resolution also sets out that Council receives an update and the Northern Regional Railway Company degradation study and reiterates Council’s ongoing support for multi-use of the rail corridor between Byron Bay and Mullumbimby.