The Hester Hornbrook Academy’s Young Parents Classroom Program offers vital educational opportunities to young parents striving to complete their studies while raising young children. However, the cost of childcare remains a significant barrier, even after government subsidies that cover 80–90% of expenses. Students still face weekly out-of-pocket costs of $65–$130 per child, unaffordable for many. ...
Melbourne City Mission
Young Parents Classroom – Childcare Subsidy Fund
GOAL
$136,527
Australia > VIC > Metro
Field of Interest
- Education/training and employment
- Individual/family services and support
Target Population
- Young people (6-25)
- People experiencing socio-economic disadvantage or vulnerability
Melbourne City Mission
Established in 1854, Melbourne City Mission (MCM) is a leading non-profit community service organisation in Victoria that uplifts and empowers the most vulnerable and disadvantaged members of the community through a broad range of support in: Homelessness, Disability, Mental Health, Early Childhood and Secondary Level Education, Child and Family Services, and Palliative Care.
MCM Group, comprising of MCM Services, Hester Hornbrook Academy, and MCM Housing, work together to disrupt disadvantage and create positive change for Victoria's most vulnerable individuals.
Our focus is on creating new possibilities for children, young people, and adults experiencing disadvantage. We do this by addressing the needs of the whole person through a holistic Healing-Oriented Approach in order to drive lasting systematic change in their lives. Our services, presence, and advocacy efforts across Victoria continue to expand, exploring ways to dismantle barriers, address gaps, promote social justice, and foster equal opportunities for all.
Project Summary
The Hester Hornbrook Academy’s Young Parents Classroom Program offers vital educational opportunities to young parents striving to complete their studies while raising young children. However, the cost of childcare remains a significant barrier, even after government subsidies that cover 80–90% of expenses. Students still face weekly out-of-pocket costs of $65–$130 per child, unaffordable for many. The Childcare Subsidy Fund has been established to remove this barrier by covering these out-of-pocket childcare expenses and associated transportation costs.
This targeted fund will ensure young parents can continue their education, improve school attendance rates, and provide their children with access to safe, enriching childcare environments. It also fills a funding gap, as private schools like Hester Hornbrook are ineligible to use government funding for childcare under the Australian Education Act 2013.
The Fund will subsidise childcare fees, daily Myki transportation costs, and cover childcare during illness or school holidays, providing crucial continuity. Payments will be made via food and gift vouchers, freeing up the young parents’ budgets to meet childcare payments directly.
Targeting approximately 66 young parents and their children, the Childcare Subsidy Fund aligns with broader objectives of the Hester Hornbrook Academy, supporting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for quality education, gender equality, and reducing inequality. This initiative applies a strong gender lens, recognising the systemic challenges faced predominantly by young mothers, and provides a tangible, sustainable solution to educational and social disadvantage.
Project Outcomes
The Childcare Subsidy Fund is expected to deliver transformative outcomes for young parents enrolled at Hester Hornbrook Academy and their children. By removing the financial burden of out-of-pocket childcare expenses and transportation, the Fund will significantly improve school attendance rates and reduce the risk of disengagement due to financial stress.
Improved attendance will, in turn, enhance students’ educational attainment, supporting their long-term employment prospects and financial independence. This outcome is vital for disrupting intergenerational cycles of disadvantage, where young parents’ lack of education often leads to poor economic and social outcomes for their children.
Children will also benefit directly, accessing high-quality, licensed childcare environments that support early learning, socialisation, and development. Continuity of care, including coverage during illness and holidays, ensures children experience stable, nurturing early childhood education settings, promoting better developmental outcomes.
Beyond education, the program will reduce parental stress, improving mental health and wellbeing, and increasing young parents' engagement with learning. Impact will be measured through attendance data, surveys on parental stress and engagement, and child development milestones tracked with childcare providers.
Strategically, the Fund strengthens MCM’s commitment to addressing systemic gender inequality, given that the majority of young parents are women. It fosters greater gender equity by enabling young mothers to remain in education and build pathways to self-sufficiency.
Ultimately, the Childcare Subsidy Fund will not only assist individual students and their families but will contribute to broader societal goals of inclusivity, equality, and community resilience.
Budget Breakdown
TOTAL BUDGET: $274,732
FUNDING
| Funding source | Amount |
|---|---|
| Organisational Cash | $18,190 |
| Private Philanthropy | $120,000 |
| Funding Gap | $136,527 |
EXPENSES
| Expense item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Subsidised Childcare Services | $223,080 |
| Transportation assistance | $18,190 |
| Administration costs | $33,462 |
Support Melbourne City Mission
Got a question about this organisation or ready to contribute? Contact us.
Are you an ACF Fundholder? Log in to your Fund Portal to request a grant from your Fund.
Add your organisation to the Funding Platform
Is your not-for-profit organisation seeking funding? Add your organisation to the Funding Platform or upload your funding needs for a project.
Is this your organisation profile? You can request updates by resubmitting a Funding Platform Submission.