24 December 2022, Guardian Australia, Luke Henriques-Gomes. Access the full article here.
Human Rights Commission says aspects of ParentsNextA "pre employment" program targeting single parents with children under the age ... program have the ‘effect of penalising parents, overwhelmingly mothers’
Job agencies running the contentious ParentsNext program have called on the Albanese government to scrap compliance from the scheme, with one suggesting the current system is “morally questionable”.
In submissions to a parliamentary inquiry looking at the employment services system, the Human Rights Commission has also argued stopping social security payments under the program was “contrary to Australia’s human rights obligations”.
The parliamentary inquiry examining the new Workforce Australia services system is currently investigating the $110m-a-year ParentsNext program, which is mostly aimed at single parents, most of whom are mothers, who receive parenting payments.
The threat of removing money from parents and their children – even if not executed – is morally questionable and not conducive to a collaborative, positive relationship between provider and participant
– ParentsNext provider, Campbell Page
Employment services survey
The Punishment for Profit report is based on hundreds of responses to surveys conducted by the Antipoverty Centre. This research is ongoing. If you are in Workforce Australia, Disability Employment Services or a similar program, we welcome any information you are able to share about your experiences.