Being a single mum is one of the hardest jobs in Australia — and one of the least supported, day to day. The good news: there is real help available, you just need to know where to look. This is the practical version.
Money and Centrelink payments
The main Centrelink payments single mums may be entitled to:
- Parenting Payment Single — for mums whose youngest child is under 14.
- Family Tax Benefit Part A — paid per child.
- Family Tax Benefit Part B — extra payment for single-income (and single-parent) families.
- Rent Assistance — if you're renting and on an eligible payment.
- Child Care Subsidy — pays part of approved child care fees.
You apply through your myGov account linked to Centrelink. If you've just separated, you can usually claim straight away.
Housing help
Single mums are one of the most vulnerable groups in Australia's housing crisis. Help that exists:
- Rent Assistance through Centrelink
- Public housing waitlists (apply through your state housing department)
- Community housing providers — often shorter waitlists than public housing
- Bond loans and rent assistance grants in most states
- DV-specific housing through agencies like WAYSS, Safe Steps, DVCS
If you're in housing crisis, call Ask Izzy or 1800 825 955 (national homelessness hotline).
Child care and early learning
- Child Care Subsidy can cover up to 90% of fees for low-income single-parent families.
- Additional Child Care Subsidy is available for families experiencing temporary financial hardship.
- Many councils also run subsidised holiday programs and vacation care.
Education and school costs
- Back to School payments through some state governments.
- The Smith Family Learning for Life program — sponsorship for kids' education costs.
- State Education Maintenance Allowance / Camps, Sports and Excursion Funds.
- Saver Plus through the Brotherhood of St Laurence — matches your savings up to $500 for education costs.
Mental health and wellbeing
Single parenting is exhausting and isolating. Free and low-cost support:
- 13 11 14 (Lifeline) — 24/7 crisis support
- 1300 22 4636 (Beyond Blue)
- 1800 RESPECT — for women experiencing family violence
- PANDA 1300 726 306 — perinatal anxiety and depression
- Medicare-rebated psychology sessions through a Mental Health Treatment Plan (talk to your GP)
Family violence support
If you're leaving or have left an abusive relationship:
- 1800 RESPECT — confidential national counselling
- Safe Steps (Vic) — 1800 015 188
- DV Connect (Qld) — 1800 811 811
- WIRE (Vic), DVNSW, WLSWA — women's information and legal services
- Crisis Payment from Centrelink for those leaving DV
- Escaping Violence Payment — up to $5,000 in financial assistance
Legal help
- Legal Aid in your state — free legal advice for family law matters.
- Women's Legal Services — specialist support, often for DV and family law.
- Community Legal Centres — free local advice.
- Family Relationship Centres — mediation and parenting plan help.
Practical day-to-day support
- The Smith Family, Mission Australia, Anglicare, Salvos and Vinnies all offer food vouchers, bill assistance and no-interest loans (NILS).
- Foodbank and OzHarvest distribute free or low-cost groceries through partner agencies.
- ParentsNext — career and study support for parents on Parenting Payment.
How Bloom can help
The hardest part of single motherhood isn't usually any single task — it's holding all of it in your head at once. Bloom is a quiet, private space to keep track of:
- Custody nights and the parenting calendar
- Appointments, school events and admin
- Mood, energy and how you're actually doing
- Documents you need to keep safe
It's not a replacement for any of the services above, but it's somewhere to let your brain put things down at the end of the day.