When you join Parent Pathways, you will be supported by a mentor who will work with you to achieve your personal, study or work goals.
On this page:
First appointment
Your mentor will contact you to arrange an appointment at a time that suits you.
Building trust can take time. You do not need to know everything or share any information that feels uncomfortable. Your mentor will explain the process and help you connect to the services and support you may need.
At all times, you choose your goals, the support you receive and the timing that works for you and your family.
At your first appointment, your mentor will:
- talk you through how Parent Pathways works and the support available, including financial support
- work with you to understand what you want to achieve and complete your Parent Snapshot
- provide you with a copy of the Service Guarantee
- offer you an Engagement Support Voucher.
At your next appointment, your mentor will work with you to develop your Goal Plan.
Parent Snapshot
The Parent Snapshot helps you and your mentor understand your strengths, experiences and circumstances. The Parent Snapshot is completed during your first meeting and updated every 12 months, or if your circumstances or goals change.
It covers:
- language, literacy, and numeracy skills
- digital literacy and internet access
- education and qualifications
- employment and work history
- transport
- living arrangements
- your caring arrangements and personal circumstances.
You only need to share this information once.
Financial support – Parent Funds
Parent Pathways provides access to financial support through Parent Funds to help you achieve your goals. Parent Funds include the Individual Fund and the Pooled Fund.
Individual Fund
When you join Parent Pathways, you will receive an Individual Fund. Every 12 months, you will get $1,250 GST inclusive to help you achieve your goals agreed in your Goal Plan. To use your Individual Fund you must have an agreed Goal Plan.
Your Individual Fund can help pay for:
- education and training courses
- laptop, phone, or other technology
- driving lessons and driver’s licence costs
- Engagement Support Vouchers
- non-vocational support, such as financial counselling or parenting courses
- transport costs to attend appointments and activities
- work-related licences and tickets.
You can check your Individual Fund balance any time through your Workforce Australia Online account. You can also see:
- how your fund has been spent
- which goal the purchase is linked to
- your completed goals.
The Individual Fund factsheet provides more information on how to view your balance.
Pooled Fund
Your mentor can also work with you to access additional financial support from the Pooled Fund to help you achieve your goals, including:
- waitlist fees and bond fees for childcare
- short-term crisis support
- work-related items such as professional clothing or personal protective equipment for a job.
Engagement Support Vouchers
Engagement Support Vouchers can help with everyday essentials like groceries, petrol, education or training costs.
At your first appointment, you can get a $100 voucher and a $50 voucher at ongoing appointments. To receive an Engagement Support Voucher, your appointments should be in-person.
Engagement Support Vouchers are capped at $250 per year and funded from your Individual Fund. You do not have to take a voucher if you would rather use your Individual Fund to support you to access funding for other goals.
Goal Plans
Your Goal Plan is your personal plan for what you want to work toward while you are in Parent Pathways. It reflects your goals, priorities, next steps and timing. Your mentor will use your Parent Snapshot to support you to create your Goal Plan, but your goals are always your choice and you have the final say when agreeing to the Goal Plan.
Your Goal Plan aims to:
- help you focus on what matters to you
- allow you to see your progress
- build your confidence as you move towards achieving your study, work, or personal goals.
Your Goal Plan is generally developed during a follow up discussion with your mentor. You will likely talk about:
- what you want for yourself and your family
- things happening in your life right now
- support needed to help you move forward
- steps that feel achievable for you right now and into the future.
You can update your Goal Plan at any time during check-in appointments with your mentor or at your 12 month review.
When you are ready and want to proceed with working towards your goals, you can agree to your Goal Plan by signing in to your Workforce Australia Online account, going to Your tasks on your homepage and selecting Review your Goal Plan or asking your mentor to record your agreement.