Every parent has their own goals. For some, it's finding a job. For others, it's gaining new skills, accessing support services, building confidence or simply working out where to begin.
Whatever their goal may be, Parent Pathways mentor Lily Pottinger believes every parent deserves someone who will listen, encourage them and help turn those goals into achievable steps.
One of those parents was 25-year-old Holly Pye, who joined VERTO's Parent Pathways program in Mudgee in November 2025.
After spending the past five years focused on raising her two young children, Holly was ready to start building a career for herself. Motivated to create a brighter future for her family, she had the determination to succeed but wasn't quite sure where to begin.
Rather than telling Holly what she should do, Lily took the time to get to know her – what interested her, what she enjoyed and what she hoped life would look like for herself and her children.
"Every parent's journey is different, so that's where we always begin," Lily said.
"It's about taking the time to understand what's important to them, then helping them create a plan that fits their life, their family and their goals."
Together, they identified opportunities that matched Holly's interests and aspirations. Already holding her RSA and RCG qualifications, Holly wanted to continue growing her hospitality skills, so Parent Pathways funded her Master Barista course and Advanced RCG training to broaden her employment opportunities.
Along the way, Lily continued to check in regularly, celebrate Holly's progress and provide practical support whenever it was needed. Through the program, Holly also accessed food and fuel vouchers, helping remove some of the financial pressures that can make returning to study or work more difficult.
"Knowing I had someone checking in on me and encouraging me made such a difference," Holly said.
"Lily helped me break my goals into manageable steps and always believed in me. Having someone in my corner gave me the confidence to keep going."
While exploring local employment opportunities, Holly came across a Support Worker position with a local community health and aged care provider that immediately appealed to her. To secure the role, she first needed to complete the six-month Careers for Carers program delivered by a local training provider. With guaranteed employment awaiting successful graduates, it was an opportunity she didn't hesitate to pursue.
With Lily's encouragement, Holly enrolled in the program and successfully completed it, an achievement she says she is most proud of.
Today, Holly is working as a Casual Support Worker while gaining valuable experience, with the goal of securing permanent employment in the future. Thanks to the hospitality qualifications she achieved through the program, she also has the flexibility to explore additional employment as she continues building her career.
For Lily, Holly's journey is a reminder of what Parent Pathways is really about.
"The courses and practical support are important because they help remove barriers, but it's the relationship you build with parents that makes the biggest difference," Lily said.
"Watching Holly grow in confidence, back herself and achieve the goals she set is what makes this role so rewarding. She did the hard work. I was simply there to support her along the way."
Looking back, Holly says Parent Pathways gave her much more than qualifications.
"It gave me confidence, direction and someone who genuinely believed in me. I didn't have everything figured out when I joined, but I never felt like I had to do it on my own. I'd encourage any parent who's thinking about reaching out to take that first step. You never know where it might lead."
Holly's story is just one example of the impact Parent Pathways can have. Every parent's journey is different, but with the right support, encouragement and someone who believes in their potential, even the smallest first step can lead to opportunities they never imagined.
For more information about the Parent Pathways program, contact VERTO on 1300 483 786 or visit: https://www.verto.org.au/employment-services/parent-pathways.
