Living of one income was getting a bit … it was getting really hard.

I left school before I even finished year 10, so I thought I would just get stuck in

a job that I hated.

I didn't have much confidence.

I needed direction.

[Music]

[Anitha] After getting married to my husband

I just got pregnant, so I didn't try any job.

[Jessica] I dropped out of school early and had my kids at a young age.

Sat around home, just looking after my kids and that's all I would do.

[Amy] I've been thinking for a while, did I want to go back to work.

I didn't feel that I had a pull towards anything, nothing was sparking an interest.

I felt really lost.

[Music]

[Amy] ParentsNext has helped me with organising

my thoughts and trying to find a plan, and to definitely set my goals for the future

for myself and discovering that I do want to study.

So they've definitely pulled me in the right direction with doing that.

[Stephanie] We figured out what I like to do, what hours I was willing to work,

what days I was willing to work, things like that,

and what jobs would be best suited to me.

[Jessica] I have been recently getting into studying, thanks to the ParentsNext program.

I never had a goal before I started going to ParentsNext and now I want to be a Community

Worker.

[Anitha] It was very difficult to get a job here because they are asking for local experience.

ParentsNext they help me in writing my resume, they arranged me for doing a traineeship.

So they really helped me in finding a job in finance.

[Music]

[Stephanie] At the Jobs Queensland ParentsNext

office, there's two toy boxes.

Kids are more than welcome.

There's colouring in for them.

It's very child friendly.

The case workers are always willing to help you.

You can walk in if they're not busy, they'll drop what they're doing.

[Amy] All the coordinators at ParentsNext understand that it is a scary thing coming

into either study or into employment when you've been a parent for so long.

They've made it so very easy and comfortable for me to do that.

[Jessica] I've already seen a change in my kids.

They're excited now to go to school and crèche and they're excited to get involved.

So they're enjoying it.

[Music]

[Stephanie] ParentsNext just showed me what

steps needed to be taken to get where I wanted to go and how to achieve those goals and what

services were out there to help me.

[Anitha] It's very scary to get a driving licence here.

Once I entered into the ParentsNext, I got my driving licence.

So I really want to thank Belinda for encouraging me.

[Amy] Definitely looking for childcare was quite a bit of a concerning thing for me as

well.

So ParentsNext was able to help me with that as well.

[Music]

[Jessica] I'm different now thanks to ParentsNext.

I'm motivated, I'm super keen to go out and do something and before I wasn't.

[Amy] Before I was a bit flat, I knew that I couldn't feel the spark.

But I can feel it now, it's definitely built my confidence.

[Anitha] I'm feeling independent after getting licence and I'm getting my regular income,

so I can buy whatever I want.

Last week I went to the shop with my kids and bought some toys, from my account, so

I felt very happy about that.

[Music]

[Jessica] It could benefit a lot of people

that I know.

Just the changes, the help, the support that you need.

I'm hoping to finish my school and get a job and have a better outcome for me and my

children.

[Anitha] Once I finish the traineeship, they said they will recruit me as a full-time employee.

That will be helpful for me to raise my kids.

So I'm very happy now.

[Amy] The future for me and my children looks absolutely amazing, so many different opportunities

are about to be opened for us and I'm very excited.

[Stephanie] All thanks to ParentsNext, I'm doing my Certificate III in Community Services.

I love working.

I love having adult interaction again, not just watching Giggle and Hoot all day.

I'd like to go to university.

That's the ultimate goal.

Without ParentsNext, I don't know where I'd be.

[Music]