Job Services Australia

If you are a parent looking for work, there is help available to assist you update your skills, create a resume, and prepare for job interviews. You may also be eligible to receive ongoing support once you are in a job.

Job Services Australia providers can give you job search support, advice and training to help you find the right job.

To find a Job Services Australia provider, go to find a provider.

Parenting Payment

Principal carers receiving Parenting Payment whose youngest dependent child is under six years of age, do not have any participation requirements.

Those with a youngest dependent child aged six and over are required to undertake or look for work of 15 to 25 hours per week.

People who were granted Parenting Payment prior to 1 July 2006 do not have participation requirements until their youngest dependent child turns seven.

For more information, visit the Centrelink website.

Changes to Parenting Payment

In the 2009-10 Budget, the Australian Government announced changes to parents’ participation requirements that will come into effect in July 2010.

The changes were announced in response to the Report of the Participation Taskforce, which examined parents’ participation requirements to see how they could be made more flexible.

To read the report, or for more information on the changes to parents’ participation requirements, visit the DEEWR website.

Further information

Child care support

Child Care Access Hotline 1800 670 305

To help parents return to the workforce the Australian Government has established the Child Care Access Hotline.

The Hotline helps you choose a child care service that meets your needs. Hotline operators provide you with information about:

• child care services in your area
• types of child care available
• quality issues
• government financial assistance with the cost of childcare.

Various child care options such as long day care, family day care, in-home care, outside school hours care and occasional care will be explained so that you can make an informed choice.

Child Care Benefit 

Child Care Benefit is a payment to help families who use approved and registered child care. All eligible families can receive some Child Care Benefit - find out if you are eligible and how much you will get paid.

For more information, visit the Family Assistance Office website.

mychild.gov.au

mychild.gov.au provides information to families about Australian Government early learning and care initiatives and other issues that affect children.

For more information, visit www.mychild.gov.au.

Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs

FaHCSIA helps to support families through their programs and services, including benefits and payments to eligible families.

To find out the types of support offered, visit the FAHCSIA website.