The Turnbull Government’s ParentsNext program is helping parents with young children to move into work once their children are at school.
In the 2017–18 Budget the Turnbull Government announced the expansion of the successful ParentsNext program from July 2018 to help more parents experience the benefits of having a job.
From this, the Government is announcing the 57 organisations that have been chosen to deliver the expanded program, with eight of these service providers in the electorate of Forde.
Service providers in Forde include:
- Access Community Services Ltd
- Brisbane South Division Ltd
- Mission Australia
- OCTEC Ltd
- SYC Ltd
- The Uniting Church in Australia Property Tryst (Q.)
- Workways Australia Ltd
- YFS Ltd
ParentsNext providers will deliver early intervention assistance such as identifying education and employment goals, developing a pathway to achieve them and links to activities and services in the local community.
Participants meet regularly with their ParentsNext provider, develop a tailored Participation Plan and complete activities to help prepare them for employment.
With approximately 96 per cent of participants expected to be women, including about 10,000 Indigenous women, the program will complement other Government initiatives to increase female participation in the workforce.
Minister for Jobs and Innovation Senator Michaelia Cash said this would help about 68,000 parents every year who have young children and were at risk of long-term welfare dependency.
“The best form of welfare is a job but for many parents, particularly women, caring for young children, it means long periods out of the paid workforce and it can be hard to get back into it,” Minister Cash said.
“The successful ParentsNext providers are experienced in delivering services that meet the needs of parents, especially Indigenous parents, in their communities.”
Federal Member for Forde Bert van Manen MP said it was fantastic that families in Queensland’s South-East would benefit from the expanded program.
“I am thrilled that the program is being expanded nationally. It will help parents in my electorate of Forde to prepare for employment and be able to put their best foot forward,” Mr van Manen said.
“This program really helps parents with the skills and assistance they need to get into to the workforce, leading to better outcomes for their families.”
The program has been successfully operating in 10 locations across Australia since April 2016 and the Government is investing $263 million in its expansion.
For more information visit: www.jobs.gov.au/parents-next.