RELATED | Multicultural Council of Griffith wants to see more support for new migrants

The International English Language Testing System or IELTS as it's commonly known, is one of a small number of highly specialised English tests in Australia used to certify English proficiency level.

However, a vacuum of test preparation courses in the Riverina could be forcing highly skilled and aspirational migrants from seeking employment and further study in regional towns like Griffith.

"Recently we have had a number of people asking about classes to prepare for IELTS tests and unfortunately there is no where for them to study anywhere in the region and the city is too far for them to go," Carmel La Rocca, president of Multicultural Council of Griffith said.

"The courses offered in the city are very expensive which is uneconomical for people living and working here to access classes in the city.

"They shouldn't have to miss out because of no services out here."

Tests like IELTS are the gateway to higher education, permanent residency and other Australian visas as well as achieving registration for many overseas trained professionals to practise in Australia.

Griffith TAFE has offered free English lessons through the Adult Migrant English Program since 2014. However this program stops short of teaching the language skills necessary to pass an exam such as the IELTS.

Test preparation courses typically cover essay writing skills, data interpretation, verbal discussion skills and are all developed over a 12 week long course for the nearly four hour long English test.

"Sitting for these tests gives people the opportunity to move forward with their lives here and contribute in the community and in their employment," Mrs La Rocca said.

"Why miss out on that opportunity because we can't offer that service here, there should be one."

MORE NEWS