Parent Pathways

Parent Pathways is a voluntary service that provides personalised assistance and financial support to eligible parents and carers of children up to the age of 6 years.

Parent Pathways is about parents and carers and their individual needs. With the help of a qualified mentor, parents and carers can receive flexible support to assist with any personal, study or work goals.

The service will offer a range of support options, including working with a mentor to find activities, services and/or training that meet the needs of each parent or carer who is participating. Some services on offer include:

• language or literacy programs

• support to find a childcare place for your child

• financial support, for example to help with the cost of training courses or to purchase a computer

• referral to supports such as financial information services and family and domestic violence support services

• training, such as a short course at your local TAFE

• career guidance.

Service features include:

• voluntary participation

• a flexible service that values parents’ caring role

• support by suitably qualified and experienced mentors

• ‘Meets parents where they are at’ – both in location and in their lives

• clear information and choice about support services that are available

• support for parents to make their own choices in deciding their future

• practical financial support to parents, including:

  • The Individual Fund assigned to the parent, to assist them to engage in the new service and build their capability, and

  • The Pooled Fund, which will provide financial assistance for pre-employment supports and will be administered by service providers in consultation with parents.

If a parent or carer chooses to participate, they can also choose to leave, take a break or come back at any time. The service is focused on parents and their individual needs.