Tamworth new location for ParentsNext programme

18 May 2017

 

Tamworth has been selected as one of the 20 locations as part of the expansion of the Turnbull/Joyce Government’s successful ParentsNext programme, which provides disadvantaged parents of young children access to the training and support they need to become work ready.

 

Deputy Prime Minister and Member for New England, Barnaby Joyce, said since launching in April last year, ParentsNext has made a real difference in the lives of young parents and their families, and this successful programme would soon be available for parents in the Tamworth district.

 

“The best form of welfare is a job and we are focused on helping more parents of young children into work and off welfare,” Mr Joyce said.

 

“After successful pilots, the Government is rolling out ParentsNext nationally, to connect more parents of young children with personalised support to improve their work readiness by the time their children start school.”

 

ParentsNext participants receive personalised assistance, including advice on relevant education and qualifications, and training to improve numeracy and literacy.

 

“When mums and dads take time out from work to raise small children it can be difficult to find a way back into the workforce when their children start school,” Mr Joyce said.

 

“It can be even more daunting and difficult for those parents who may not have worked previously and don’t have the skills or experience that employers are looking for.”

 

“Here in the New England Electorate we have many families receiving Parenting Payment. ParentsNext will be a real opportunity for many of those parents to get the assistance they need to get work ready,” he said.

 

The Turnbull/Joyce Government will invest $263 million to provide training and support to assist thousands of Australian parents return to the workforce.

 

ParentsNext currently operates in 10 locations across Australia and has already helped more than 10,000 parents into training and education, community services such as counselling, or paid work.
 

The national expansion will see approximately 68,000 parents each year receive assistance under the program. The 20 new locations where the more intensive stream of the programme will operate are:

  • New South Wales: Dubbo; Tamworth; Mid Coast; North Coast; Inner Sydney; Orange
  • Queensland: Townsville; Cairns; Mackay; Toowoomba
  • Western Australia: Geraldton; Broome; Perth South; Perth East
  • South Australia: Port Adelaide; Port Augusta-Whyalla
  • Northern Territory: Darwin-Palmerston; Alice Springs
  • Victoria: Mildura
  • Tasmania: Brighton

Further information about ParentsNext is available at www.employment.gov.au/parents-next

 

 

 (ENDS)

 

 

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