The Brave SEPT (Supporting Expecting and Parenting Teens) Program is an unique and personalised program which matches a pregnant or parenting young person with a SEPT mentor working from a local hub sites, community organisations or via outreach. Virtual mentors are also available for rural and remote participants and those experiencing isolation due to mental health or other complexities.
Our mentors walk alongside their participants throughout the pathway program – from referrals and first contact, to setting goals and working to achieve them, to celebration of their achievements and graduation from the program.
We work together with the pregnant or parenting young person on what is important to them including (but not limited to):
We can also provide support or help refer participants on:
Brave Foundation also partners with and promotes existing pregnancy and parenting support services and educational opportunities.
All participants must have an interest in preparing for education, training or employment.
Primary criteria for eligibility are:
We also consider referrals from:
The SEPT Pathway Plan is an interactive tool created with participants to identify and keep track of the goals they would like to achieve while working with Brave. The Plan includes steps they will take to achieve these goals.
Our mentors work with participants to create an Pathway Plan to ensure they are connected to parenting support, life support and educational opportunities in their local communities.
Participants individual Pathway Plan is regularly reviewed with their mentor to see how they are tracking towards goals and identify further areas of support to maximise their learning as a parent.
To find out more about the SEPT Program or submit a referral, contact us at: enrol@bravefoundation.org.au or 0448 088 380
Self or family referrals
Self / Family Online Referral and Application Form
Self / Family Digital Delivery Online Referral Form
Self / Family Referral Guidelines and Form – PDF (download)
Service Providers
Service Provider Online Referral and Application Form
Service Provider Digital Delivery Online Referral Form
Service Provider Referral Guidelines and Form – PDF (download)
The Brave Pathway Plan has been developed through the research delivered from the Brave Expecting and Parenting Teen Support and Education Working Group and Co-Development Phase with DSS for the TTL trial.
The Brave Pathway Plan is based on the First 1,000 Days theory and evidence spanning conception to two years of life. The plan also reflects anecdotal feedback from the Expecting and Parenting Teens Support and Education Working Group (2015–16) findings and research demonstrating that pregnant and parenting young people have aspirations of high hopes and dreams of their families and careers.
Data shows that there were 3,760 parents aged 18 years and younger who were receiving parenting payment during 2015-16 and this group has an expected lifetime cost to the welfare system of $648,000 per person. If nothing changes, we can expect that 79% of parents aged 18 years and younger will still be receiving income support payments in 10 years, with 57% still receiving income support in 20 years.
Pregnant and parenting young people also experience a high level of disapproval in their communities and alienation from their peers and family, negatively effecting their self-esteem. Moreover, community distractions such as the choice debate and the glamorisation of teenage pregnancy diminish efforts to provide support to pregnant and parenting young people. Evidence suggests that 23.6% of pregnant and parenting young people did not complete Year 10 (excluding those who had left before pregnancy) and only 2.3% of that group had completed tertiary education by the age of 30. The issue of teen parenthood is not just restricted to young women, as teen fathers and children of young parents are also ‘at risk’ for the social and educational impacts of teen pregnancy.