Becoming a parent or carer changes your life.
All parts of your life are impacted by this change – but we won’t always have the solutions by ourselves.
You don’t have to do it alone, there is help available to make life easier, to help you feel like the best parent you can be.
If you’re at a point where you want to find your next step in life, the ParentsNext program has the options to get you to where you want to be.
What’s involved
ParentsNext is not a one-size-fits-all program.
You can get meaningful support for what you need for your family and to be successful in life, whatever that looks like for you.
ParentsNext is a voluntary program which supports parents and carers of a child under six years old.
If you receive the Parenting Payment and haven’t been in paid work in the last six months, you could be eligible.
Support includes help with developing skills, training or work experience, help arranging financial support, job preparation skills and training or connecting to local support services such as counselling, childcare and parent groups.
APM Employment Services delivers ParentsNext in parts of Queensland, South Australia and Victoria.
Five ways you can get the most out of ParentsNext
1. Make the most of your pathway planner
When you successfully register for ParentsNext, you’ll be matched with a parent and family pathway planner.
It’s okay to not know what you want or need straightaway, that’s where they can help.
Your planner is your person to ask questions, explore options, share your concerns, and celebrate your achievements with.
Whatever path you take, they’re there all the way.
2. Set your own timeline
ParentsNext is a voluntary program.
You choose how long you need our engagement to last for, there’s no rush.
Our teams can provide you with intensive support for your short-term goals or help you complete steps towards a bigger goal over time.
However long you need to do what you need, it’s all at your own pace.
Additionally, your planner can help you access funding to support you along the way.
3. Connect with the support you need
When you need support for your family or for yourself to live better lives, you don’t need to add a list of program requirements or conditions to that list.
Which is why ParentsNext doesn’t have any mandatory requirements or outcomes as part of the program.
You can meet with your planner as often as you need, or every three months – they are with you to give what you need to succeed.
When Rebecca and her daughter found themselves without a fixed address and in financial hardship, she turned to ParentsNext.
Her planner Jessica helped her to immediately find stable accommodation, access health services and counselling.
Jessica helped her work towards her career goals, and through her hard work Rebecca is now working as a paralegal.
4. Get professional help to set goals and how to achieve them
As a parent or carer, your goals can change as quickly as your life does.
When you don’t know where to turn, or if support for something exists – that’s where your pathway planner shines for you.
They can help you balance your family life and commitments, while progressing towards what you want.
When APM pathway planner Rhiannon met Kirol, she had begun following her passion for helping people and was studying a Certificate in Community Services.
However, before she could secure employment, she needed to get her driver’s license.
Rhiannon arranged a series of driving lessons for Kirol to make her more confident behind the wheel.
With this seemingly small form of support, Kirol is well on her way to success and a better life for her family.
5. Dedicated employment support for parents
If, after raising your children or dependents to school age you want to return to work – then we want to help you get there.
ParentsNext provides a range of support for parents, and there is a wealth of resources and ways we can support you into to work.
As a parent you bring a range of valuable, transferrable skills to the workplace.
After her youngest child started school, Dakota was scared and uncertain she wouldn’t have anything to offer an employer.
After growing up in a house where money was tight, she wanted to give her kids a happy life.
Her pathway planner referred her to job skills workshops where she received support on writing resumes, job applications and job interview skills which renewed her confidence in herself and helped her secure employment.
Find out more
When you come to APM, it’s your journey, and we’ll work with you, at your pace.
Our Parent and Family Pathway Planners will help you to create and design your personal plan and map out a pathway to achieve your goals.
Whether you want to learn new skills and gain qualifications, you’re thinking about finding a job, or you want to set some meaningful goals - we can help you get to where you want to be.
We understand the challenges facing today’s parents and we’re here for you.
To register for ParentsNext or to find out more, visit apm.net.au/parentsnext or call 1800 276 276.