Careers and training
Studying as part of an Activity Agreement
Parenting Payment recipients are able to fully satisfy their participation requirements with approved full-time study. However, this study must be approved and included as part of an Activity Agreement, once the person has participation requirements.
Principal carer parents who are completing approved full-time study while on Parenting Payment are able to continue to complete this course of study when they move onto Newstart Allowance when their children are six or eight (depending on whether they are partnered or single). Full time study that is approved and included in an activity agreement will fully satisfy participation requirements until the parent finishes, or breaks, their course of study.
Principal carer parents on Parenting Payment Single may also receive further assistance to undertake education. Pensioner Education Supplement (PES) assists with some of the ongoing costs of education and encourages target groups to gain qualifications to improve their competitiveness in the labour market. Single parents receiving PES while on Parenting Payment who move to Newstart Allowance when their youngest child turns eight are able to keep receiving PES until they finish, or break, their course of study.
In addition, Education Entry Payment is available to Parenting Payment recipients to assist with the initial cost of commencing education and is paid once per year. This payment is designed to provide incentive for eligible recipients to improve their skills and qualifications by helping to offset the costs of education related expenses such as books and fees. Centrelink can provide further information about these payments.
Careers
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