Post by Banjo on Nov 9, 2011 15:50:19 GMT 7
Playford's teen parents face benefit test
TEENAGE parents in Playford who are not studying will lose their parenting payments unless they meet new requirements from January 1.
The trial scheme, part of the Federal Government’s last Budget, aims to encourage young parents back to school or training.
Teen parents with a child over six months old who have not completed Year 12 or the equivalent will have to attend interviews with Centrelink every six months until their youngest child turns six.
The Centrelink interviews will arrange plans for parents to complete Year 12 and track study progress.
Parenting payments of up to $641 a fortnight will be suspended for those who do not comply with the new rules.
Teen parents will receive assistance to cover child care costs while they are studying.
Wakefield MP Nick Champion (ALP) said Playford was one of 10 areas across the country selected for the trial because of its high rate of teenage parents and jobless families with young children.
“The trial will help teenage parents finish school or complete vocational education so they have the required skills and training to access paid employment when their child begins their education,” Mr Champion said.
“It will help break the cycle of welfare dependency and help provide the dignity and self-respect to people that employment brings.”
Mr Champion said the Government would look to extend the program if the trial was successful.
A similar trial scheme will be introduced for jobless families in Playford from July 1, 2012.
Teen mum Chloe Carr is determined not to let becoming a mother curtail her dreams of a career helping wildlife.
The Elizabeth Grove 17-year-old’s life has changed dramatically since she fell pregnant last year while studying Year 10 at Craigmore High.
“Your life changes but I think you’ve just got to have the willpower to do something,” Ms Carr says. “I really want to work with animals.”
She is hoping to enrol in a Vocational Education and Training animal studies course next year after being involved with the Bubs ‘n’ Me and Young Mums programs at Para West Adult Campus this year.
Raising six-month-old Leo provides Ms Carr and fiance Ben Riddle, 19, with many challenges.
“I always had plans to go back to studying and you’ve got to work around a lot things and it’s hard but you manage to do it,” she said.
Ms Carr said young mums needed help with transport and child care and flexibility when they were studying. “Getting back into study habits has been tough,” she said.
Anglicare SA’s Communities for Children program provides support for young parents in Playford to participate in work and study.
It received an additional $1.1 million in Federal Government funding last month to take the total to $3.7 million over three years. Anglicare SA chief Dr Lynn Arnold said: “This program allows us to look at families with particular challenges and help them get back on track.”
news-review-messenger.whereilive.com.au/news/story/playfords-teen-parents-face-benefit-test/
TEENAGE parents in Playford who are not studying will lose their parenting payments unless they meet new requirements from January 1.
The trial scheme, part of the Federal Government’s last Budget, aims to encourage young parents back to school or training.
Teen parents with a child over six months old who have not completed Year 12 or the equivalent will have to attend interviews with Centrelink every six months until their youngest child turns six.
The Centrelink interviews will arrange plans for parents to complete Year 12 and track study progress.
Parenting payments of up to $641 a fortnight will be suspended for those who do not comply with the new rules.
Teen parents will receive assistance to cover child care costs while they are studying.
Wakefield MP Nick Champion (ALP) said Playford was one of 10 areas across the country selected for the trial because of its high rate of teenage parents and jobless families with young children.
“The trial will help teenage parents finish school or complete vocational education so they have the required skills and training to access paid employment when their child begins their education,” Mr Champion said.
“It will help break the cycle of welfare dependency and help provide the dignity and self-respect to people that employment brings.”
Mr Champion said the Government would look to extend the program if the trial was successful.
A similar trial scheme will be introduced for jobless families in Playford from July 1, 2012.
Teen mum Chloe Carr is determined not to let becoming a mother curtail her dreams of a career helping wildlife.
The Elizabeth Grove 17-year-old’s life has changed dramatically since she fell pregnant last year while studying Year 10 at Craigmore High.
“Your life changes but I think you’ve just got to have the willpower to do something,” Ms Carr says. “I really want to work with animals.”
She is hoping to enrol in a Vocational Education and Training animal studies course next year after being involved with the Bubs ‘n’ Me and Young Mums programs at Para West Adult Campus this year.
Raising six-month-old Leo provides Ms Carr and fiance Ben Riddle, 19, with many challenges.
“I always had plans to go back to studying and you’ve got to work around a lot things and it’s hard but you manage to do it,” she said.
Ms Carr said young mums needed help with transport and child care and flexibility when they were studying. “Getting back into study habits has been tough,” she said.
Anglicare SA’s Communities for Children program provides support for young parents in Playford to participate in work and study.
It received an additional $1.1 million in Federal Government funding last month to take the total to $3.7 million over three years. Anglicare SA chief Dr Lynn Arnold said: “This program allows us to look at families with particular challenges and help them get back on track.”
news-review-messenger.whereilive.com.au/news/story/playfords-teen-parents-face-benefit-test/
