At Multicultural Australia, we believe that everyone deserves to live in a safe, welcoming community and be empowered to become economically independent to support their family. Our ParentsNext program gives parents with young children the opportunity to develop skills and confidence that enable them to move into employment.
What is ParentsNext?
ParentsNext is a free support program available to help you plan your steps towards study or work:
- Identify your personal goals and what steps are needed to achieve them
- Build your confidence and communications skills
- Access local support and services
To be eligible for the program you will need to:
- Receive Parenting Payment from Centrelink
- Have a child under the age of 6
- Live in the Fitzroy, Townsville or Darling Downs region of Queensland
How does the program work?
Our ParentsNext program gives parents with young children the opportunity to develop skills and confidence that enable them to become employment ready. We link parents with a range of services, including playgroups, job readiness activities, and vocational and non-vocational training.
What we offer:
- Education support
- Driving lessons
- Work experience
- Volunteering opportunities
- Employment opportunities
- Referrals to community services
- Parenting and personal development courses
We work closely with local Indigenous Services to make sure we provide our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participants with culturally informed care. Multicultural Australia can also provide language and cultural support for participants from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
For more information about ParentsNext, Contact Us.
A bright future ahead: Ya-Chi's story
When Ya-Chi joined the ParentsNext program, she was unsure about a career path she wanted to pursue and that would be right for her. The ParentsNext team spent time discussing different career paths, and after much consideration, Ya-Chi decided to work towards becoming a hairdresser.
Ya-Chi was supported to enrol in a Certificate II in Salon Assistant, at TAFE. She completed this certificate in 6 months and went on to enrol in a Certificate III in Hairdressing at TAFE. Ya-Chi has received financial support from the Participation Fund towards her enrolment fees, a laptop and hairdressing equipment to complete her studies.
"While completing this course, I entered a hairdressing competition and received a bronze medal - a proud moment that I never dreamed of achieving," Ya-Chi said.
Taking advantage of study opportunities has helped Ya-Chi develop and advance her English speaking and writing skills in a workplace setting.
By July 2023, Ya-Chi will be a trade qualified hairdresser and ready to start a new career.
