This paper draws on policy analysis and interviews with 27 Victorian women to propose a multidimensional framework for understanding and achieving economic security for low-income single mothers and their children.

This paper investigates the effects of young parenthood on the following years of labour market and educational participation, using data from the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) survey.

This research examines how young Australian mothers (i) compare to older mothers in levels of social support and personal resources, and (ii) perceive and experience the quality and type of social support available to them.

Motherhood is commonly viewed by contemporary society as a time of great joy, when ‘good mothers’ effortlessly bond with their newborns and adapt to their new role with ease. However, for many women and their partners, pregnancy, birth and early parenting do not meet these expectations.

This literature review considers New Zealand and international literature on the experiences of younger mothers, their perceptions of the issues they face as well as their views on what would work best to improve their situation.