MDA
Multicultural Development Australia
MDA is committed to delivering a welcoming Queensland where all new arrivals have the opportunity to fully contribute to and participate in a multicultural society. Queensland’s diversity is our strength.
We are an independent organisation committed to achieving the best settlement outcomes for our clients. As one of Queensland’s largest multicultural agencies, we work with refugees, international students, people seeking asylum and migrants, as well as their local communities.
In metropolitan and regional Queensland, MDA works in partnership with our clients, other service providers, government agencies and the private sector, to achieve quality service delivery through advocacy, client service delivery, community development and multicultural sector development.
ParentsNext is an Australian Government support program to help you plan your next steps towards study or work.
There are many benefits for you by participating in ParentsNext. ParentsNext consultants work with parents and carers to help build confidence, develop skills and access local support and services to plan for the future.
Parents and carers don’t need to start looking for a job while in the program. Taking part in ParentsNext will put them in a better position to act on opportunities when the time is right.
Who takes part in ParentsNext?
ParentsNext is for parents and carers who:
-
have received Parenting Payment for the last 6 months
-
care for a child over 6 months and under 6 years of age
-
have not reported paid work to Centrelink in the last 6 months.
Centrelink will contact parents and carers, and if they are eligible, will refer them to ParentsNext. For more information on eligibility please refer to the ParentsNext Eligibility, Referral, Direct Registration and Commencement guideline or contact the National Customer Service Line on 1800 805 260 (free call from landlines).
How does ParentsNext support parents?
Support through ParentsNext might include:
-
help with finding a course or work experience
-
putting you in touch with other parents
-
help with arranging financial support for childcare and study, and if available, access to wage subsidies
-
help with skills such as writing a resume and job interview practice
-
connecting you with local services including for domestic and family violence, counselling and emotional support.
What do participants do in ParentsNext?
There are four main things you are asked to do while in ParentsNext to keep receiving the Parenting Payment.
-
Attend appointments with your ParentsNext provider – this is a chance to talk to your provider about your education and employment goals and your progress against these. After the first interview, appointments can be face to face or by phone. Appointments need to be held at least once every 3 months.
-
Choose activities – parents in ParentsNext are asked to do activities to help prepare them for work. You will be asked to choose an activity that is a suitable fit with your family life and education/employment goals. If an activity doesn’t suit or stops working for you, please let your provider know.
-
Make and agreed Participation Plan – the plan records your education and work goals. It outlines the activities, reporting requirements and appointments you have agreed to do. When you make new plans with your provider, you have 10 days to think about whether it suits before you sign it.
-
Reporting – parents in ParentsNext may be asked to do two kinds of reporting: to Centrelink via myGov or Express Plus Centrelink app and to ParentsNext via the job seeker app. Your ParentsNext Participation Plan will record what you need to do to report. If you don’t report by close of business on reporting day your payments will be put on hold and you will need to contact your provider to reinstate it.