When parents are supported, families thrive
Returning to work after having children is a significant step and for many parents and carers, it can feel like navigating an entire life shift rather than a single decision. Who will look after the kids, can we afford it, and what if it feels like too long since we last worked? There is so much to consider as a family, whether that's financial, childcare or even just the mental load of it all. And when the right support for parents returning to work isn't available, the idea of change can feel overwhelming and out of reach.
Parent Pathways exists to change this. An Australian Government?funded program delivered by Enterprise & Training Company (ETC), it supports parents and carers of children under six as they work toward personal, study, and employment goals - in a way that fits around family life.
Find out if you're eligible for Parent Pathways here.
Support that involves the whole family
Parent Pathways isn't just about providing support for parents returning to work; it's designed to support the whole family.
The program is built on the understanding that every family's situation looks different. Some are managing shift work, others are balancing school routines, and many are navigating financial pressure alongside childcare responsibilities.
This family-centred approach includes:
- Flexible appointments - children are welcome, and sessions can be held in person, online, or over the phone.
- Family-inclusive conversations - ETC Mentors can meet with family members to talk through goals and options together.
- Childcare support and guidance - helping families explore childcare options, subsidies, and local services, making childcare and returning to work more manageable.
- Financial support referrals - connecting families with services that may ease cost-of-living pressure.
- Personalised planning - goals, timelines, and steps are shaped around family responsibilities and priorities.
How ETC Mentors help overcome barriers
For many parents, returning to work after having children can feel like starting over. Time away from the workforce may leave people questioning their skills, confidence, or career direction.
For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander parents, these challenges can also sit alongside additional barriers, including access to culturally safe support for parents returning to work and workplaces that truly understand community and culture.
ETC Mentors take the time to understand each family's situation and help identify practical solutions that make the transition back to work or study feel more achievable. Common barriers include:
Childcare
Finding suitable, affordable childcare is one of the most common obstacles parents face when considering a return to work. It's also one of the most stressful and confusing to navigate.
ETC Mentors help parents explore childcare options, understand subsidies, and connect with local services so that childcare and returning to work feel more achievable and less overwhelming.
Financial pressure
For many families, financial stress can make it difficult to focus on future goals. The idea of studying, training, or looking for work can feel risky when budgets are already stretched.
Parent Pathways acknowledges these realities. ETC Mentors can help connect families with relevant services and support options, making it easier to take the next step with confidence.
Confidence
Many parents underestimate the skills they've developed while raising children. Organisation, problem-solving, communication, resilience, and adaptability are all strengths that employers value. ETC Mentors help parents recognise these strengths and rebuild confidence at a pace that feels manageable for them and their family.
When a parent rebuilds confidence after a career break and moves toward meaningful work or study, children grow up seeing goals being set and achieved - creating a lasting impact that goes far beyond a job or qualification.
Education and employment: opening doors for the whole family
There isn't a single pathway back to work. Some parents are ready to start job hunting, while others want to build skills, complete a qualification, or explore a new career direction altogether. Parent Pathways provides flexible employment support for parents, helping them identify opportunities that align with both their career goals and family responsibilities.
As a Registered Training Organisation (RTO 6998), ETC also delivers nationally recognised qualifications in areas including Community Services, Hospitality, Business, and Retail - giving participants a direct pathway from goal-setting to gaining credentials, without the family having to put life on hold.
Through dedicated Indigenous employment support, ETC works directly with employers across Queensland to build more inclusive and culturally safe workplaces. This ensures that support for Indigenous parents and carers is not just about preparing for work, but about creating genuine, supported pathways into employment that last beyond the initial placement.
And the benefits don't stop with the parent. When a parent pursues education or employment, children see what that looks like - and the possibilities it opens for them too. For First Nations families, that modelling carries particular weight: parents who work toward and achieve their goals contribute to a broader story of community strength and self-determination that reaches across generations.
Community connection: stronger parents, stronger communities
Raising young children can sometimes feel isolating, particularly for parents who have stepped away from work or study. That's why Parent Pathways offers more than education and employment support. ETC Mentors can help participants access family services, specialist supports, and local community organisations, creating a broader network of support around each household.
Take the First Step
Parent Pathways is available to parents and carers of children under six across Brisbane, Gold Coast, and the Somerset Region. The program is free, flexible, and built around the realities of family life - because that's exactly where change begins.
Whether a parent is ready to return to work after having children, exploring study for the first time in years, or simply wondering what might be possible, an ETC Mentor is there to help the whole family take that next step.
> Learn more about Parent Pathways and register your interest today: https://etcltd.com.au/parent-pathways/
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I join Parent Pathways if I'm not ready to work yet?
Yes! This is an important part of how the program provides support for parents returning to work. There's no requirement to have a clear job goal before joining.
Many parents begin Parent Pathways while still working things out. Some already have a direction, while others are just starting to think about returning to work after having children and what that might look like for their family.
An ETC Mentor provides personalised employment support for parents, starting from where each person is at. That might mean building confidence, exploring options, or simply having conversations about what's possible in a way that feels manageable.
Can Parent Pathways help me return to study?
Absolutely. Returning to study is a key part of many parents' journeys, and Parent Pathways provides flexible support for parents returning to work and study pathways that fit around family life.
For many people, returning to work after having children starts with building skills or confidence through education first. An ETC Mentor can help identify suitable courses, explain training options, and support enrolment steps, so families don't have to navigate it alone.
As a Registered Training Organisation (RTO 6998), ETC also delivers a range of nationally recognised qualifications, as part of broader employment support for parents.
What support is available for parents with children under 6?
Parent Pathways is designed specifically to provide support for parents returning to work during the early years of parenting, when balancing family needs and personal goals can feel most complex.
The program offers flexible appointments, in-person, online, or by phone, and children are always welcome.
Beyond mentoring, ETC's Parent Pathways program provides community support for families, connecting parents with practical services such as financial support, family programs, and local organisations.
This ensures that employment support for parents is not just about work readiness, but about strengthening the wellbeing of the whole family.
Can Parent Pathways help with childcare-related goals?
Yes, and for many families, this is one of the most important parts of support for parents returning to work.
Childcare is often the first practical step when thinking about returning to work after having children, and it can also be one of the most challenging to navigate.
An ETC Mentor can help parents explore childcare options, understand available subsidies, and connect with local services. This practical childcare and returning to work support helps reduce barriers and gives families more confidence to plan their next steps.
