With the full implementation of Welfare-to-Work legislation taking effect from 1st July 2007, we believe that the Australian Federal Government has a responsibility to provide appropriate child care services for tweens and young teens aged between 12 and 15 years old. Parents, particularly single parents, already struggle with the difficult job of raising teenagers, and this job is made considerably more difficult if children of this age are left unsupervised on a regular basis so that parents can return to work and fulfil participation requirements. Youth services should be provided with funding to provide teenage orientated after school and vacation care to ensure young people have suitable supervision and age appropriate activities while their parents are working. These services should be eligible for Child Care Benefit funding at the same rate as for primary school aged children. We believe that the lack of care for children this age poses significant concerns and barriers to parents who want to return to work, and that the lack of supervision of children in this age group will create considerable family and community problems if not addressed. We will present this petition to Federal Members of Parliament, Federal Cabinet Ministers and other Government officials who are responsible for relevant policy.

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