Support for parents returning to work starts right where you are
It's quite rare to have it all figured out in life, especially when you're a (tired) new parent. And somewhere between school runs, sleep schedules and everything else that comes with raising young children, personal goals tend to get pushed down the list. That's not a failure of planning; it's just what happens when your days belong to someone else for a while.
Many parents assume they need a clear career goal, an updated resume, and childcare fully sorted before they're "allowed" to reach out for support. In reality, that expectation is often what keeps parents in limbo for longer. Nobody expects you to know exactly where you're headed, and that's where the Parent Pathways Program comes in – an Australian Government-funded program delivered by Enterprise & Training Company (ETC) to support parents and carers returning to work, study or personal development, no matter where they're starting from.
At ETC, our trained Mentors understand that there are far more complexities at play than simply 'getting a job'. Read on to hear more about the parent-led program that helps your career, study or general life goals feel achievable. One step at a time!
Available to parents and carers of children under six, find out if you're eligible for the Parent Pathways Program.
Every parent's starting point looks different
Uncertainty is normal, particularly while raising young children, and Parent Pathways is built for exactly that reality. Support for parents returning to work looks different for every family we meet, and across the Gold Coast, Brisbane and Somerset Region, our ETC Mentors have helped thousands of parents work toward their goals, no matter their situation.
Some examples of parents we've helped before include:
- A parent who hasn't worked since before their youngest was born, and isn't sure their skills are still relevant. They don't have a plan – just that they want to feel like themselves again, professionally as well as personally.
- A parent juggling multiple young children with very little family support nearby, who knows they'd like to work eventually but can't see how it would fit around school pick-ups, appointments and everything else on the calendar.
- A parent who's interested in exploring new career pathways rather than returning to previous employment, but they haven't had the time or headspace to figure out what they'd rather do instead.
- A parent who'd love to return to study and build new skills, but worries about course fees, textbooks, or simply making ends meet while they're not earning.
- A parent who feels ready in theory but keeps putting off the first step, because reaching out feels too hard.
Parent Pathways is a Carers and parent-led program, which means your ETC Mentor works around what matters most to you - your needs, your family, and your own goals – helping you navigate barriers as they come up rather than following a fixed script. It's realistic, steady support built for the long game rather than a quick win.
Employment support for parents with young children without the pressure of a fixed pathway
The Parent Pathways Program is open to parents and carers of children aged 0-6, and it's built around one-on-one employment support from an ETC Mentor rather than a fixed program structure. There's no set order of steps and no assumption that every parent is working toward the same outcome.
The role of an ETC Mentor starts with listening. Rather than moving straight into job searching or course enrolments, Mentors take the time to understand each family's situation, including what's realistic given work, money, transport, and support networks. From there, a Mentor might help a parent research local study options, talk through what flexible work could look like, or simply check in regularly while a parent works out what they actually want. For some parents, an early "goal" is as simple as leaving the house for a coffee catch-up or attending a local playgroup to rebuild a sense of connection before anything else.
That flexibility extends to how the program itself runs. Appointments can be in person, online or by phone, and children are always welcome, so support fits around family life rather than the other way around. Parent Pathways also goes beyond mentoring alone, connecting families with practical community support such as financial assistance, family programs and local organisations. This is what support for parents returning to work looks like in practice. It isn't just about work readiness, it's about strengthening the wellbeing of the whole family along the way.
Returning to work after having children means working through real barriers first
The obstacles parents face rarely show up one at a time, and an ETC Mentor works through them alongside you, not just around them. Depending on your situation, that support might include:
- Feeling unsure about future career or study options – exploring interests and possibilities together, without any expectation of landing on an answer straight away.
- Low confidence after time away from work – starting with small, low-pressure wins that rebuild a sense of capability before job searching even comes into it.
- Balancing parenting responsibilities with personal goals – shaping a plan around school hours, nap times and family routines, rather than expecting family life to bend around it.
- Childcare concerns – working through what childcare actually needs to look like before other steps become realistic.
- Financial pressures – helping parents understand what financial support they may be eligible for, so cost isn't the reason a goal stalls.
- Limited local support networks – connecting parents with local groups, services and organisations so they're not figuring things out alone.
- Transport or accessibility challenges – factoring practical logistics into the plan from the outset, rather than treating them as an afterthought later.
- Returning to study after having children – identifying courses and training that build on existing strengths and fit around family commitments.
- Exploring new career pathways rather than returning to previous employment – giving parents room to consider what they'd like to do next, not only what they did before having children.
Because the program is parent-led rather than checklist-led. Mentors take the time to understand the full picture before suggesting next steps. Goals get built in pieces small enough to actually manage, and those goals are free to shift as life does.
Personalised employment support, whenever you're ready
If there's one thing worth taking from this, it's that there's no ideal moment to reach out to Parent Pathways. Support for parents returning to work doesn't come with a deadline. It's there whether you're newly navigating parenthood or years into it, certain of your next move or nowhere near it, and your goals are allowed to change as priorities shift and family life evolves.
If you're a parent or carer in Brisbane, the Gold Coast or the Somerset Region turning over what's next, an ETC Mentor can help you work it out at a pace that actually fits your family.
> Learn more about Parent Pathways and register your interest today, or find your nearest ETC location.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to know what career I want before joining Parent Pathways?
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 if I'm not ready to work yet?
Of course. Support for parents returning to work isn't only about the moment someone starts a job. It's just as much about everything that happens before that. Plenty of parents join Parent Pathways wanting to focus on wellbeing, confidence, or simply figuring out what feels right for their family, with work not yet part of the conversation. An ETC Mentor meets you exactly where you're at, with no pressure to have employment as an immediate goal.
What if my goals change while I'm in the program?
Totally normal, and genuinely expected. Support for parents returning to work is complex, and Parent Pathways is built to move with you as things change. Your ETC Mentor checks in and revisits your goals regularly, so the plan always reflects where you actually are.
Can Parent Pathways help me explore study instead of work?
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.
Can Parent Pathways help if childcare is stopping me from working?
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. 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.
Is Parent Pathways personalised to my family's situation?
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. There's no set pathway parents are expected to fit into - support is shaped around each family individually.
