Balga: Young families to benefit from increased funding for Teen Family Centre

MORE than 4000 young families in the Stirling area are set to benefit from $2.4 million in Federal Government funding being awarded to the Teen Family Centre in Balga.

Stirling MHR Michael Keenan and Federal Education and Training Minister Simon Birmingham announced the funding under the Government’s Community Child Care Fund on August 2.

In the past 16 years, the centre supported 475 young parents to complete their secondary education while caring and educating their children.

The centre had a 98 per cent success rate of young parents who completed Year 12, with 20 per cent pursuing further education.

Mr Keenan said the centre allowed young parents to attend school or complete tertiary studies while their children received education and care.

“The centre also offers development programs for local parents, including specialised educational programs in parenting and child development,” he said.

Mr Birmingham said the funding was part of the Government’s $2.5 billion reforms which ensured child care was more affordable for families.

Centre chief executive Carol Lyons said the centre would not have survived without the community support and Federal funding.

“The Teen Family Centre is very much part of the local community working with a number of agencies supporting young parents from all areas of Perth to engage in education and develop positive parenting skills,” she said.