The Department of Jobs and Small Business has launched a national rollout of the ParentsNext program following its successful trial.
Minister for Jobs and Innovation, Senator Michaelia Cash said ParentsNext was designed to prepare participants for future study or employment and in the 10 trial locations had already helped more than 23,000 parents find employment.
She said the Government would now expand the initiative nationally, aiming to reach around 68,000 parents every year who had young children and were at risk of long-term welfare dependency.
“ParentsNext helps eligible parents to prepare for employment by the time their children go to school,” Senator Cash said.
“Providers work with parents to help them set education and employment goals, and link them to support services in the local community so they can achieve those goals.”
She said the program connects parents to a range of services including education, mentoring, health, housing, parents’ groups, affordable childcare, domestic violence support and work experience.
Senator Cash said it was expected approximately 96 per cent of participants would be women, including 10,000 Indigenous women, so the program would complement other initiatives to increase female participation in the workforce and meet the employment Closing the Gap target for Indigenous Australians.
The Minister said the expanded program would give even more parents a chance to get the skills and help they needed to get back into the workforce.
