Turnbull government targets cycle of teen pregnancy, youth unemployment and welfare reliance
EXCLUSIVE: KIDS having kids will be targeted by the Turnbull government under an intensive plan to end welfare-driven, nappy valley hot spots.
NSW
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KIDS having kids will be targeted by the Turnbull government under an intensive plan to end welfare-driven, nappy-valley hot spots.
Twenty intervention zones, including six sites in NSW, will be revealed today by Malcolm Turnbull in a bid to help end the cycle of teen pregnancy, youth unemployment and intergenerational welfare reliance.
Under the $263 million ParentsNext program starting in July next year, those on parenting payments in struggling regions will receive intensive one-on-one training, education, parenting courses and guidance to help them get a job.
There will also be money in the program to help disadvantaged young parents pay for things they cannot afford, such as a licence to get to work or cash for a uniform.
It will be compulsory for eligible parents on the parenting payment in Dubbo, Tamworth, Mid Coast, North Coast, inner Sydney and Orange. Mr Turnbull will today outline details of the further 20 areas in Australia that will receive intensive help, plus another stream of assistance for disadvantaged parents in 51 sites.
TEEN PARENTS TARGETED BY ‘FIREBOMB’
About 68,000 young parents each year will receive the extra support to help get them into work. “Helping more parents of young children into work will support more families, reduce welfare dependency and decrease child poverty,” Mr Turnbull said.
The latest statistics show that in 2014-15, there were 4370 parents under 18 years across Australia receiving the parenting payment — and 77 per cent of them were single.
Eighty per cent of those young mothers entering the welfare system for the first time had a parent or guardian who also received income support during their upbringing.
Government data has predicted that those parents are likely to have further children and remain on parenting payment for long periods of time.
The government has estimated that the total future lifetime welfare cost for the 4370 young parents is $2.4 billion.
If nothing changes for those parents, 12 per cent of them will access income support in each year for the rest of their lives.
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