Deciding if suitable place at Teen Parent Unit available

Where there is a Teen Parent Unit in the area, generally the service provider or Work and Income 'in-house' service will investigate this education option first for a young partner.

A place in the Teen Parent Unit is considered suitable if:

• the Teen Parent Unit and approved Early Childhood Education or other suitable childcare is a reasonable travel distance for the young partner taking into account their transport options
• there is a suitable approved Early Childhood Education place available or other suitable childcare that meets the child's needs
• the Teen Parent Unit is considered the best learning option for the young partner and
• there is a place available for the young partner

If there is a suitable place available, and the young partner has reasons for not wanting to attend the Teen Parent Unit, you must consider whether special circumstances exist that justify the young partner not being subject to the obligation to be education, training or work-based learning until a later date.

Where there are no special circumstances that justify the delay in the obligation for the young partner to return to education at a Teen Parent Unit, the young partner will be required to attend.

If there is no suitable place available in the Teen Parent Unit, the obligation to be in education, training or work-based learning applies from when:

• a suitable place becomes available
• the young partner's youngest dependent child reaches the age of 12 months

whichever is earlier.

For more information see:

• Special circumstances justifying delay in activity obligation
• Teen Parent Unit