This report assesses the national expansion of the ParentsNext pre-employment program from 2018 to 2021. The program targets early intervention support to disadvantaged parents with children under six, helping them identify and achieve education and employment goals, improve work readiness, and connect with local support services to reduce long-term welfare reliance.

The evaluation uses a mixed methods design combining qualitative and quantitative data, including departmental administrative records, provider and participant surveys and a two-stage longitudinal impact analysis utilising logistic regression models against non-participant comparison groups.

The evaluation found ParentsNext successfully improved work readiness, human capability, and subjective wellbeing. The impact analysis confirmed significant increases in education outcomes, most notably for early school leavers. The Targeted Compliance Framework effectively drove appointment engagement but resulted in payment suspensions that disproportionately impacted Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander parents. Persistent non-vocational barriers identified include childcare affordability, domestic violence, transport constraints, and psychological distress.

The evaluation and subsequent programmatic updates highlight the necessity of consolidating the intensive and targeted eligibility streams into a singular service model to eliminate regional funding inequities. Key operational changes implemented include raising the minimum eligibility age of the youngest child to nine months, providing uniform access to the Participation Fund, expanding wage subsidies and introducing a two-business-day resolution grace period to minimise immediate compliance-induced payment suspensions. Continued optimisation should focus on addressing structural childcare gaps, enhancing initial service messaging via Services Australia, and developing specialised support structures for parents or children living with a disability.