It is sad that so many do abuse the welfare system and take so much for granted, and then ruin things for others doing it tough and doing the right thing. The government set up the Welfare system to help those in need. Having said that in terms of Welfare and how much it can help those in need, especially single parents and those with a disabilty, I'm curious to know what others think of the governments welfare to work policy that came into affect in 2005? Meaning once a sole parents (who is on welfare benefits) youngest child turns 6 the parent is forced to undertake a min 15 hrs work per week, and are shifted to a lesser rate of payment. As a single mother who is currently studying for higher education this policy has great impacts. The government encourages people to obtain higher education to better themselves and get into the workforce, but such policies can greatly restrict this and cause greater issues for already struggling families. Does anyone else feel the same? Or do people think the policy is fair? Or is there a better way the government could've handled this? I am really curious of people's views on this one :) thanks so much..

young_mum87, good luck with this thread. An interesting topic.

My girlfriend has had to deal with those changes and it's been a mixture.

The frustration of trying to find a job that allowed for the realities of single parenting which would not be soul destroying for someone of her experience. Trying to juggle out of hours care, the need to use public transport to get to work (I can get her home most days) and the correspondingly longer day that results. Issues around homework etc.

On the plus side she is back in the workforce in a responsible position and most days enjoying it.

I did single parenting for quite a few years and had many of the same issues and just needed to do it because I didn't seem to have a lot of options. I had a mortgage and no financial support from my ex.

I see the benefits of study but as someone who has recently gone back to paying child support I've been repeatedly reminded of my responsibilities to support my son when I've objected to paying double what it cost to keep him here to have him living with his mum.

Like anything exemptions seem to create loopholes for avoidance of responsibility.

If you are studying who's funding the care of your kids in the meantime and will they ever see a pay off from that. If I as a payer went back to study so I could earn a higher income in the future (and could not support my son while that occurred) would that seem as reasonable as a single mum studying rather than working. If not why not? BTW CSA would not as I understand it allow me that option.

R0bert

What do you expect, that they stay on welfare until they retire.

It's only fair that they get out, get a Job, and allow someone else to benefit from the system.

i understand education is an option
[so i wouldnt sweat too much re your situ]
realise that mothering is a thing..that dont last for life

no man[or mother]..is an island
why be content with a little..when by getting smart[you can get so much more][money..not mother credits...]

the egsample seems to be
the more money[usually]..the less mother

but education..thats forever

The reason why governments get away with paying single parents a pittance, while at the same time trying to force them off payments, is NOT because governments care 2 hoots about single parents. It's because single parents are NOT a powerful voting force, therefore there won't be repercussions against the government. They just want to save as much money as possible, by paying less ..... and THAT'S their motivation.

Thank you everyone for your comments and insights on this topic..I really appreicate it :) I really hope to hear and read more of what other people have to say about this topic :)

RObert, you mentioned that you did single parenting for a few years, I am curious to know whether you felt the brunt of stimga etc as much as single "mothers"? It's is such a common sterotype that a single parent is a mother..just wondering, having been there your self, what your views on this were??

And rehctub,

Sounds like you agree with policy and that without such policies then you believe sole parents will stay on welfare until they retire..just wondering why you have this opinion? and what do you think about the barriers in place to sole parents from doing higher education in order to better themseleves and obtain better employment poistions? Do you think its fair to assume that ALL sole parents stay on welfare and only find jobs when such policies force them to or that just because someone is a sole parent then they have no desire to work? Thats a pretty big judgement to make, dont you think??

The government seems to forget that when people are studying they are setting themselves up for the future (in terms of work). I have had friends who are "unemployed" and have had to fill in their looking for work centrelink forms despite being enrolled in full time study. I know there is Austudy but I'm not sure exactly how that works, I think there is some kind of limit on it.

I can only imagine how it feels when you are single parenting and studying full-time and you are forced to look for work or risk losing your payment.

I am on a disability pension due to chronic illness and when I consider that in the future I might have my payment cut it makes me feel pretty worried.

young_mum87, I worked all through that so never had that part of the stigma. Could not have afforded not to.

I did get a sense with one school where I was treated as less than a full parent. A bit like a woman looking to buy a car and the salesman wanting to speak to her husband.

A different school and a shift in how many dads were doing drop offs and pick ups etc and that changed over time. I did get a sense of stigma where most playmates mums insisted on plays being at their place, never spoken directly but I got the impression that men were not trusted with kids. Not everyone but enough to be a little reminder of thensuspicion that men ar treated with around children. Having said that I think there are some parents who are like that regardless of the gender of the other parent.

Now I get the invisble, you don't matter bit where it does not matter how unjust the CSA formula is I'm risking being labelled as a dead beat dad for objecting to the amount I'm being stung with that and finding that no one in government cares less about fairness in that system. Strangly enough my ex does not seem to risk any stigma as a dead beat mum for choosing not to contribute while our son was in my care.

R0bert