Petition Tag - sole parent

AMENDMENT 1/09/12: Lone Parent Family Support has closed however the fight continues. We have set up & Incorporated a new Association in NSW called FRIENDS OF SOLE PARENTS to take over this vital role and are applying for Premises in the CBD, Government & Corporate Funding. Website coming soon at www.friendsofsoleparents.org.au. Your signatures and comments on this petition are still important in support of our new Association and to comment on the closure of the historic entity that was Lone Parent Family Support. Please spread the word. Thank you.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

- Lone Parent Family Support Service was set up in the 1960's and was national with 50 branches.

- At the time of closure there were 3 branches remaining, all in the Sydney Metropolitan Area; in Dee Why, Parramatta and Sydney CBD.

- Funding was through the Department of Family and Community Services.

- There are increasing needs for the service due to multiple pressures on sole parent families. All costs of living are increasing, including food, electricity and childcare. The median rent for an apartment in Sydney is now $460 per week.

- Post separation, there are a often a multitude of agencies to navigate through as well as the Family Court.

- The transfer of recipients from Single Parenting Payment and onto Newstart in January 2013 will result in further financial stress.

- The service is free to sole mothers and sole fathers.

- The organisation has no political or religious affiliation and supports parents from all backgrounds and ethnicities.

- A new funding model has created challenges for this small-scale organisation. The closure occurred 24th August 2012.

View petition