Parent Pathways is a free and voluntary support service that can help you meet your personal, study or work goals. You can work with a qualified mentor to choose from a range of support options. The service offers:
- financial support, for example to help with the cost of getting a licence, training courses, textbooks or to buy a computer
- referral to support services such as health, family and domestic violence or financial information services
- support to find a childcare centre and help with childcare costs
- training, such as a short course at the local TAFE
- career guidance
- language or literacy programs.
Parent Pathways is voluntary and flexible. You can choose to join, leave, take a break and come back at any time without your payment being affected.
Who’s eligible
To be eligible, you’ll need to meet all the following:
- have or care for a child aged under 6 years
- are not in paid work
- live in an area where there’s a Parent Pathways provider.
You’ll also need to be getting one of the following payments:
- Parenting Payment
- Carer Payment
- Special Benefit.
You may be eligible if you’re not getting a Centrelink payment, and are one of the following:
- under 22 years old
- an early school leaver (didn’t finish year 12 or get a year 12 qualification)
- a First Nations parent or carer.
How to find out more
A Parent Pathways provider can tell you more about how the service can help you.
You’ll be able to send your details to a provider online if you’re eligible for Parent Pathways and get one of the following payments:
- Parenting Payment
- Carer Payment
- Special Benefit.
You can do this if your Centrelink Online account is linked to myGov.
To do this you need to:
- Sign into myGov.
- Select Go to Centrelink.
- Select My details from the homepage.
- Select Manage consent details.
- Select Parent Pathways.
You can also use the Express Plus mobile app.
If you don’t get an eligible payment from us and want to learn more about the service, you can contact your local Parent Pathways provider directly. Find out more information about your local Parent Pathways provider on the Workforce Australia website.
Learn more about Parent Pathways on the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations website.
What other support you can get
Child Care Subsidy
You’re eligible for at least 36 hours of subsidised childcare per fortnight if you meet both of the following:
- you’re taking part in Parent Pathways
- you’re getting an income support payment.
Find out more about Child Care Subsidy.
Program of Support
A Program of Support (POS) helps people with a disability to prepare for, find and keep a job. You may need to show you’ve participated in a POS before you claim Disability Support Pension (DSP).
We recognise Parent Pathways as a POS if you’re claiming DSP.
Find out more about Program of Support.