Finding a job can be a challenge when you haven’t worked, or you’ve been away from the workforce for a while. Having the right support can make all the difference. We help you by providing a tailored and personalised service that caters to your own individual needs to start preparing for the future you.
What is ParentsNext?
ParentsNext is a free Australian Government program to help eligible parents plan and prepare for employment by the time your child starts school.
We work with you, on your individual goals, to help you get where you want to be in the future.
We can support you with career guidance, financial support to study, and help you better understand how your transferrable skills can aid your future goals. We also connect you to other parents and local support services, including wellbeing support, and much more, depending on your individual circumstances. The best part? ParentsNext is a free Australian Government program to help eligible parents plan and prepare for employment.
How does ParentsNext work?
We work with you at your pace for the future you. Parents meet in person with an atWork Australia ParentsNext consultant in our family-friendly office space. We’ll personally help you create a tailored participation plan and complete activities for future employment, personal development or further education.
As a provider, we will speak to you about your study or work goals and plan how to help you get there.
Providers will talk to you about your study or work goals and plan how to get there. They will also find local services that might help you with anything that is getting in the way of you reaching your goals.
We’re part of your community and will always be available to guide, support and address your concerns. We’ll connect you to local services that might help you with anything this is getting in the way of you achieving your goals. You’ll meet with us at least once every three months, and you can drop into the office at any time to use our Wi-Fi, computers and other facilities.
Benefits of ParentsNext
ParentsNext clients will get help to:
- Identify education and employment goals
- Connect you to other parents and local support services
- Develop a pathway to achieve your goals
- Assist with resume writing and job interview practice
- Find a training course or work experience
- Find a volunteer or paid work that fits with your goals and family
- Provide accesses to counselling
- Financial support to help you meet your education goals
We also help parents:
- Gain their Driver’s Licence
- Access childcare
- Help you balance work and care commitments as a single parent
Are you eligible for ParentsNext
ParentsNext is for parents and carers who:
- Live in a Workforce Australia Employment Region
- Have been receiving Parenting Payment (partnered or single) continuously for the last six months
- Have a child who is at least nine months and under six years of age
- Have not worked in the previous six months
- Are under 55 years of age, and
- An Early School Leaver: that is, under 22 years of age; and have not completed the final year of school (or equivalent level of education), or
- 22 years of age or over and have not completed the final year of school (or equivalent level of education); and have been receiving income support continuously for at least two years, or
- Have been receiving income support continuously for at least four years.
Getting back into the workforce with ParentsNext
Are you looking to return to the same role? Or are you interested in working in a different industry? Perhaps you had your children young and you haven’t yet discovered your passion.
We provide a tailored plan to support you with whatever your goals are:
- Like Jessica, who before becoming a mother was living with an addiction. She was anxious about entering the workforce, an unknown world to her. With her Job Coach, they looked at a variety of different roles and industries to discover what would make her happy. She is now a swim instructor.
- Or Cassia, who went from a parent fleeing a toxic relationship, to starting her own business and being financially independent.
- Or Ikram, a Culturally and Linguistically Diverse client who is a single parent of six children. She migrated to Australia from Somalia in her teenage years. As a first port of call, her Job Coach, Anne, worked with Ikram on redefining her employment goals. One of these goals was for her to enter the aged care sector once her youngest child starts school. With this goal in place, Anne enrolled her into the SEE program with Centacare to build her language skills and give her confidence when attending interviews.
Support with education
ParentsNext client, Tamara, had recently experienced a relationship breakdown and she was living with low self-esteem and low confidence.
She found it challenging to reach even the smallest of goals, which contributed to her low confidence and negative thought patterns.
When she met atWork Australia’s Job Coach, Anne, in the Mandurah, WA, office, she had an idea of her future employment goals which included completing training.
She is now enrolled in a Certificate IV in Education Support, and with the continued support of atWork Australia, she is progressing well through the course.
“Tamara now has a more positive outlook on her future. She said atWork Australia was very supportive, helpful, offered suggestions and ideas, and utilised positive reinforcement. This helped her to be able to achieve her personal and professional goals,” said Anne.
Tamara’s confidence and self-esteem continues to increase with ongoing support from ParentsNext.
“I didn’t believe I would have been able to enrol into training in a million years, without the support of my Job coach, Anne, and the ParentsNext program,” said Tamara.
“The support from Anne has been amazing. I couldn’t ask for a better person.”
Tamara is achieving her goals and stated she is looking forward to achieving more of her goals in the future.
Work’s for everyone
You can self-refer if you feel you might be eligible. One of our dedicated team members will talk you through the eligibility and can support you to register.
Call us on 1300 080 856 or live chat to us via our website atworkaustralia.com.au.