To be eligible to join the program, you must have at least one child under the age of five and a half and be receiving Centrelink Parenting Payment.

If you’re eligible, you can either be referred to us by Centrelink or you can join voluntarily.

If you’re referred to us by Centrelink, it’s really important for you to keep in regular contact with your Wesley ParentsNext consultant and that you attend all your appointments and activities.

If you join voluntarily, you’ll have access to all the benefits and support we offer to help achieve your future study and employment goals.

Contact us and we’ll connect you to your local consultant who will walk you through the next steps.

Wesley Mission has a long history of working with children and families in many different areas of support.

We offer over 120 programs, and by joining Wesley ParentsNext, through our wraparound service we can help connect you and your family with our other specialised services to suit your needs and to help you achieve your goals.

We offer Wesley ParentsNext from 28 sites across NSW – from Murwillumbah in the far north of NSW and Maitland in the Hunter, to Campbelltown in south-west Sydney and Penrith in Sydney’s west – and we offer a wide range of activities for you to choose from.

To support parents to make progress towards their goals, the Wesley ParentsNext team:

• speaks to parents regularly, in person, over the phone, and in writing
• supports parents to attend in-between appointments, workshops and group work activities
• gives parents flexibility to adapt their plans when personal circumstances or goals change
• supports parents to identify and set goals that are meaningful to them
• responds when parents identify that they need to access other services to support their goals.
• provides you with financial support for items such as:
  • a laptop for courses
  • licenses for work
  • CTP Green Slip Insurance renewal for a vehicle used to produce income
  • counselling fees
  • driving lessons
  • accredited training.

From 1 July 2021, any Parenting Payment recipient with a child under five and a half years can volunteer to participate in Wesley ParentsNext. Volunteer participants will receive tailored support and have access to financial assistance through the Participation Fund, to help you achieve education and employment goals.

For more information about voluntarily participating in Wesley ParentsNext, here or call 1300 911 486.

No, we won’t make you go to work.

ParentsNext is a pre-employment program, not an employment program so there are no requirements or expectations for you to work. The goal of the program is to help you and your family get ready for the time when you choose to go to work.

You can stay in the program until your youngest child turns six and goes to school, or until you choose to work and have secured work on an ongoing basis.

We work closely with you and support you on your journey and the choices you make based on your needs and circumstances.

We understand that family comes first and there are times you may not be able get to an appointment or activity. Don’t worry, if this happens we can easily reschedule your appointment, but you do need to let us know beforehand.

If you’re not able to make any of your appointments or activities, or if you have any concerns or questions, call your consultant directly or Wesley ParentsNext on 1300 911 486.

When you join voluntarily, your attendance at appointments and in activities are not subjected to compliance framework, but if you don’t participate in the agreed activities, you may be asked to leave the program.

If your payment is suspended temporarily for missing an appointment or activity, please contact us immediately and we’ll help to resolve this.

We understand the challenges for parents and carers who experience anxiety and/or depression. If you don’t enjoy group-based activities, you can always choose different types of activities. We’ll work with you to find the activities that suit you and we’ll make sure you feel comfortable and safe.

No you don’t. It’s your choice if, and/or when you enrol your child in childcare and we won’t ask you to put your child in care if you decide not to.

No, you don’t. You will need to choose an ongoing activity and it’s up to you which activities you do. We can help you decide which activities will support your goals.

You have the right to provide feedback or request a change of ParentsNext provider if you’re unhappy with our service.

Here are some ways you can do that:

• speak with your Wesley ParentsNext consultant or ask to speak with a team leader
• fill out a Wesley Mission ‘Raise your voice’ form which can be found in your welcome pack or at any Wesley ParentsNext office
• attend a Wesley ParentsNext feedback session where you can share your experience, connect with other parents and offer suggestions to improve our services
• complete a survey at any Wesley ParentsNext office or make a request via email, which you can submit anonymously if you prefer not to leave your contact details
• contact the Department of Employment Skills, Small and Family Business National Customer Service Line on 1800 805 260 (free call number) or email nationalcustomerserviceline@jobs.gov.au.