YMTP
Young Mothers Transition Program
Overview
The best thing any young person can do is to get a good education – more knowledge, better choices, a satisfying and worthwhile career, a good income, and eventually, to become resourceful and independent. A young person who is pregnant or parenting has a right to all these things too. They just need the support, encouragement, flexibility and people who can help them do it.
Being a young parent is not easy, on top of the need to learn and acquire skills, a young mother or father must be educated in being a good parent. It is not easy for young parents to find this help to engage or re-engage in education; in fact this help does not exist at all in vast areas of Australia. In June 2024, there were 1,444 secondary schools in Australia and only 28 provide inclusive education for young parents (AYPPN, DSD Conference 2024, Brisbane).
The Young Mothers Transition Project aims to bridge the gap for young mothers to accessing education and the labour market through qualified and highly skilled Transition Coaches that assist and support them to complete post compulsory education, develop foundational parenting skills, build knowledge of industry, employment, training and life skills to equip them to compete equitably in the employment market and sustain work.
There is intermittent and fragmented support for young mothers to engage with education and employment, making transition to the labour market highly challenging or often, nonexistent.
The YMTP works alongside young mother’s to help them identify pathways, goals and strategies that enable them to obtain Year 12, industry certificate qualifications and transition smoothly to further education, training or employment.
The Transition Coach then provides ongoing advice and guidance to young mothers and their employer for long term benefit.
The Research & Evaluation of The Young Mothers Transition Program by Monash University presents overwhelming evidence of the essential elements the program has in supporting this vulnerable population of young mothers and their children to re-engage with education and complete Year 12, creating an equitable foundation for successful transition to further education or training, an apprenticeship or traineeship or employment.
Since April 2022, the Young Mothers Transition Program registered 160 young mothers (aged 14 to 22 years of age) with 100% retention in the program and all young mothers having clear pathway plans and support to action them. Young mothers that have graduated with Year 12 have destinations that include further study i.e. TAFE or other, an apprenticeship or traineeship or secure employment.
YMTP Example Case Study
Kylie has a child at 17; she lives with her grandmother and has no other family support. The father of the child is not involved.
The YMTP engages with Kylie and her baby, helping her to consider her current circumstances, what is working well, what could improve, what her goals and ambitions are, this is all mapped out into an easily understood plan that Kylie has full responsibility for.
YMTP helps Kylie to enrol in Narre Warren YPEP. Kylie is assessed and it is determined she has a learning requirement; the YMTP works with the YPEP teacher to build in specific education inclusions and a program of early parenting skills that meet Kylie’s learning needs.
Over the course of 14 months, Kylie completes Yr 12 and graduates with all other Year 12 completers. She has also completed an industry Certificate 2 qualification in Horticulture and is keen to get an apprenticeship. The YMTP links Kylie with the Skills & Jobs Centre to complete Jobs Skills Training which includes developing her resume, interview preparation, writing application letters and applying for apprenticeships.
Kylie secures employment and is supported by YMTP, together with her employer, with ongoing information and knowledge. YMTP provide ongoing pastoral care for Kylie that ensures she has support with learning to be in the workforce.
Research & Evaluation of the
Young Mothers Transition Program
Undertaken by Dr Penny Round in the Faculty of Education at Monash University, the report explores how successful the role of the Wellbeing & Transition Coach has been in supporting the needs of young mothers, enabling them to reengage with their formal education and secure employment.
YMTP is generously funded by The Brian M Davis Charitable Foundation, an anonymous funder and the Besen Family Foundation.
The first point of contact for all interested, enquiring and enrolling young parents is Jen on 0474 546 382 or Kirstie on 0405 941 437.
Please forward all referrals and/or enquires regarding YMTP to Transition Coaches:
