Specific Communities

Young Parents

bubs, dads, education, mums, Parent, Pregnancy, Young Parents

Table of Contents

Image of a young parent is provided by the Brave Foundation

Introduction

Parenting has its ups and downs. Being a young parent can have its own specific challenges, including finishing your education and accessing help. Support and planning can help overcome these challenges.

Being a new parent

Being a new parent is an exciting time and there are a lot of things to learn. You are not expected to do it completely on your own. There are a lot of services to help you as a young parent.

Here are a few things you can think about to help you be ready and supported for your parenting journey:

Look at your Centrelink options:  Pregnancy Birth and Baby  and Centrelink: Having a Baby have information about what Centrelink supports may be available for young parents both before and after the birth of the baby. Once your baby is born, you may be eligible for the Parenting Payment. You will need to contact Centrelink to tell them that you have had a change of circumstances, and you now have a dependent child. When you contact Centrelink, you will be able to find out if you are eligible for more support and apply. It’s best to allow a couple of months for this process. 
Contact your local community centre for support groups: Some support groups include young parents groups or services that help younger parents. You can chat to your doctor, child and family health service, a youth worker or contact your local council to find out about community supports in your area. You can use the NSW Child and Family Health Services map to find your nearest support service.
SMS4Dads: A free text messaging service that supports men in their role as fathers by helping them to connect to the baby and their partner with wellbeing checks, professional support and information. Your partner can register from when the mum is 12 weeks pregnant.
You may be able to access parenting classes through your NSW Health maternity services and Child and Family Health Services.
Parent Line is a free service which has information about what to look for in a parenting class, so it suits your needs. If you have any questions about your health during pregnancy, or your child’s health, give Parent Line a call on 1300 1300 52 from 9am to 9pm weekdays and 4pm to 9pm on weekends. They can help with anything from questions about pregnancy, to your child’s development and managing behaviour.
 Relationships Australia have resources including online and face to face parenting workshops and courses across NSW.  
Raising Children Network – Raising children as a teenage parent  has great information for care of your new baby, up until they are teenagers, including information for you about how to raise your child as a teenager.

For more information visit the Parent Line website.  

Friends, family, youth workers, Child and Family Health Services and doctors can be good supports. Online support networks and information can help as well but it’s important they are from trusted sources. When participating in social support groups, consider whether the shared information is helpful to your own experience.

Remember, you don’t have to do this alone, so reach out to people you trust and make some new connections.

Looking after yourself as a parent

When you become a parent for the first time, it can be exciting and exhausting all at once. While it’s important to look after your child, it’s also important to look after yourself as a new parent.

Take time for yourself: Even if it’s only for a few minutes a day, do something nice for yourself. Rest when you can, eat nutritious food that will keep your energy levels up, and don’t be afraid to ask for help.

Support: Support for yourself and your baby is very important. You are not expected to learn how to be a parent on your own. Support could come from your partner, family, friends, from a health professional (such as your GP or child and family health nurse), or from a service. There are support services such as The Brave Foundation that are specific for young parents.

Support can also look like talking to a friend after a long day, having a family member or friend cook food for you to freeze, or having a service come to you for medical appointments.   

It’s important to reach out for help when needed. If you think you need extra help speak to your GP or child and family health practitioner.

Baby Blues and depression

It’s common to go through a period of adjustment after having a baby. Your hormones are changing, and you may feel more emotional and anxious than normal.

This is known as the baby blues. For most people, this is temporary.

If the baby blues lasts longer than 2 weeks, it may be a sign of depression or other emotional distress. It can affect either parent.

Depression affects up to 1 in 10 birthing parents during pregnancy (antenatal depression) and 1 in 6 during the first year after birth (postnatal depression).

It’s important you speak to your doctor or health professional if you feel down, worried or distressed for more than two weeks. There is support available.

You can also find out more information about depression during pregnancy and after birth at:

For more resources about mental health in general, you can head to our fact sheet: Mental Health

Being the partner

All new parents need to look after their wellbeing; this includes the partners of the person who carried the baby. Becoming a parent can be a big change and non-birthing partners may need support to adjust to their new role too.

Depression affects 1 in 10 partners
Anxiety affects up to 1 in 6 partners

For more information for partners visit Beyond Blue, or A guide for dads: Caring for everyone during perinatal mental illness. SMS4dads is a service where you can receive free text messages, support, info & tips, especially for dads & dads-to-be. You can also visit the mental health page for more resources.

Your babies safety

If are struggling to take care of your baby, or have concerns about your baby’s safety or wellbeing, it’s very important for you to seek support.

There are a number of services available that can provide support and assistance:

Parent Line NSW 1300 1300 52
Tresillian 1300 272 736
Karitane Careline 1300 227 464
PANDA National Helpline 1300 726 306
Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800
Lifeline Australia 13 11 14

Your safety as a new parent

Women and girls are at greater risk of experiencing domestic violence from their partner when they have a new baby. You may experience this abuse for the first time, or it may get worse when you have a baby.

Domestic and family violence includes any behaviour in an intimate, family or domestic relationship that is violent, threatening, coercive or controlling, or causes fear for your safety or wellbeing.

If you are experiencing domestic violence, you are not alone, and it is not your fault. Domestic and family violence is never okay, and the person being violent is the only one responsible for the violence.

You have a right to be safe and supported, and there is help available. You can seek free and confidential support 24/7 from:

NSW Domestic Violence Line: 1800 65 64 63
1800RESPECT: 1800 737 732
Kids Helpline: 1800 55 1800

Resources for young parents

Raising Children Network have videos about pregnancy and parenting
Youth Links have resources and community links for young parents
Brave Foundation are a support service for young parents
Pregnancy Birth and Baby have information on all stages of parenting
Young Pregnant and Parenting Network have a list of services including rural and regional services
Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Australia (PANDA) are a support organisation for parents experiencing perinatal anxiety and depression (Mon to Fri, 9am – 7.30pm AEST/AEDT) Call 1300 726 306.
Pregnancy, birth and the first 5 years information about pregnancy and the first 5 years of your child’s life, plus the NSW Health services that can help you along the way.
Baby Map – Early Childhood Educational Videos | STARTTS this animated video series has been developed for parents and caregivers from refugee communities and features 6 short, animated videos exploring the importance of play, joy and attachment for healthy development of 0-3 year olds. It is available in 13 community languages.

Frequently asked questions

Got more questions? We’ve got you covered. Here are some commonly asked queries about this topic to help you understand it better. Remember, no question is too small or too big – we’re here to help!

What challenges do young parents face?

Young parents face specific challenges, including finishing education and accessing support. Planning and support are crucial in overcoming these challenges.

What services are available to help young parents?

There are various services to support young parents, such as Centrelink for financial assistance, local community centres for support groups, and parenting classes from organisations like Parent Line.

How can young parents access information about Centrelink support?

Young parents can find information about Centrelink supports for them and their baby through Pregnancy Birth and Baby, allowing a couple of months for the application process.

What resources can help young parents with parenting classes?

Parent Line provides information about what to look for in parenting classes, Relationships Australia have resources including online and face to face parenting workshops and courses across NSW.

How can parents get information about health during pregnancy and child development?

Parents can call Parent Line at 1300 1300 52 from 9 am to 9 pm on weekdays and 4 pm to 9 pm on weekends for information about pregnancy, child development, and managing behaviour.

Where can young parents find additional resources and support?

Raising Children’s Parents Like Me, Youth Links, Brave Foundation, Pregnancy Birth and Baby, and Young Pregnant and Parenting Network provide various resources and support for young parents.

What is the contact information for Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Australia (PANDA)?

PANDA can be contacted at 1300 726 306, Monday to Friday, 9 am – 7.30 pm AEST/AEDT, for support related to perinatal anxiety and depression.

Why is it important for new parents to take care of themselves?

It’s important for new parents to take care of themselves to balance the excitement and exhaustion that comes with parenthood. Rest, nutritious food, and seeking help when needed are essential.

Where can new parents find support?

Support for new parents can come from partners, family, friends, health professionals, or various services. It’s crucial to reach out for help when needed.

What are some common feelings after having a baby?

It’s common to experience emotional and anxious feelings, known as the baby blues, due to hormonal changes. If these feelings last longer than 2 weeks, it may indicate postnatal depression or emotional distress.