An intervention program designed to get young parents back to work will be extended to 20 disadvantaged areas around the country, the Turnbull Government has announced.
The $260 million funding boost will see young parents get access to training programs so they are ready for a job by the time their children start primary school.
"It's good for their future, and it's great for their kids too," Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said.
"They can see that Mum and Dad are engaged with the workforce."
The ParentsNext program is already running in 10 locations but will be extended to another 20 from July, reaching another 68,000 parents every year.
The 20 locations were chosen for their economic disadvantage and high Indigeous populations.
"We're targeting them into the locations where they need the help," Treasurer Scott Morrison said.
More than one in ten of the parents reached by the expanded program is expected to be Indigenous.
The expanded rollout will also coincide with an increase in the Indigenous wage subsidy for jobseekers, from $6,500 to $10,000.
"We're also targeting them into locations where there also happens to be a high Indigenous population, because we know that's a real issue in Indigenous communities," Mr Morrison said.
Employers will also get extra payments as an incentive for hiring young parents.
"Where young people find themselves having kids early... they can get themselves into a bit of stress and a bit of hardship, and sometimes these things aren't planned," Mr Morrison said.
"That's the nature of life."
The government estimates 96 per cent of the participants in the program will be women.
Labor is yet to express its opinion on the expansion of the program.
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