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More flexible participation requirements for parents

A range of Budget measures for families will modify existing participation requirements for parents to make them more responsive to individual family circumstances.

The following measures have been announced in the 2009-10 Budget and are subject to the passage of legislation:

  • more flexible study rules and new allowable combinations of activities for parents
  • new ‘breaks in activity‘ rules during long school holiday periods
  • respite and emergency foster carers will receive extended exemptions between foster care placements
  • eligibility for the exemption for 16 week domestic violence will also be expanded to allow customers to remain in the relationship in which they have/are experiencing domestic violence
  • more flexible methods for parents to report their earnings and participation efforts to Centrelink using facilities such as Interactive Voice Response (IVR) and online reporting.

A new Training Supplement will also be introduced for eligible Newstart Allowance and Parenting Payment job seekers.

More information


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