Some schools are mass child caring institutions.A school that can implement discipline i.e. there must be real consequences for bad behaviour,can also instill values,create a loving and caring environment for children to thrive.Unfortunately many of of our public schools are no longer able to discipline;hence many teachers have given up and are only there for the pay and the holidays.

I send my children to an excellent school and have to pay for the priviledge,but it well worth the expenditure.

I'm a single Mum and my child turns 6 next year. I am an external university student and I work here and there teaching IT and designing websites...it's not a regular income though.

Am I expected to, once again, give up dreams of acheiving more with my life to go and work a menial job?

I do worry about the impacts of the new budget, but I can see how the single-parent situations are increasing and causing valid concerns for those who pay their taxes (and yes, I voluntarily pay my taxes).

Still, there are some of us who hate relying upon welfare, but we need it as we make continued efforts to better ourselves and our lives.

I worry that I won't pass their criteria and will be forced to give up my dreams, once again, because my child's father took off the moment two blue lines appeared on a stick.

This is where Government continually gets it wrong. 'It' thinks that the only 'real' job/work is 'working for someone or something'! Not so.

If it wasn't for all the creative people out there, we would have no culture to enjoy; no music to relax to, no TV for child carers to stick our children in front of and no 'world famous markets' to visit.
Yep. The Government is 'so proud' of all these cultural achievements us dreamers have made, but do they allow and encourage it? No.

That's the sad thing..

not all single mums are bludgers.
i own my own business as a health professional and am a single mum to a toddler (father walked out on us)

i work full time in my 2 clinics. toddler goes to childcare 2 days per wk & is looked after within my clinic the rest of the time. i dont ask for handouts, father doesnt pay child support - i am happy doing it myself. its tough but can be done. i know i am probably in the minority, but dont label all single mums as bludgers. i started fulltime work when bub was 8 wks - took breaks to breastfeed... he was breastfed til 12 mths - child hasnt missed out on anything by me working - if anything education has been enriched by being surrounded by constant positive stimulation of a preventative health care environment!

just a thought

dynamite

Actually Dynamite
You are indicative of most single mothers. They're only on parenting payment single for two years on average before heading off into full time work, unlike their married counterparts, who receive Parenting Payment Partnered, Family Tax A & B for many years, and for many more children. Single parents usually only have one or two children.

It's a manufactured crisis.