As Australia heads into the federal election, families are grappling with cost-of-living pressures, the aftermath of natural disasters, and an escalating mental health crisis. 

To help reduce the impacts of these challenges, over half a million parents and carers have found support through Triple P – Positive Parenting Program, a free, evidence-based service funded by the Australian Government that assists families to manage parental stress and raise resilient kids.

Triple P International Country Director, Carol Markie-Dadds, said Triple P’s 2024 National Parenting Survey of more than 8,000 parents and carers exposed the depth of this struggle, revealing concerning trends in both family dynamics and

children’s wellbeing, with no rest in sight for fatigued families who are still living with rising living costs and the impacts of extreme weather events.

“Parental stress levels are at an all-time high, the pressure is relentless, and parents are feeling it – the survey revealed that approximately 4 out of 10 parents reported that the rising cost of living has negatively impacted their ability to be calm, loving partners or parents, and over 8 out of 10 parents admitted to yelling or raising their voice at their kids,” Ms Markie-Dadds said.

“This is a clear sign of the strain these families are under. The need for support has never been more evident,” she said.

"It’s critical to provide families who are at the coalface of these issues with the evidence-based support they need to look after themselves as parents and feel confident in their parenting skills so they can raise happy and resilient children.

“We need to normalise seeking help, so parents and carers view services like Triple P as a positive, reassuring opportunity that will help them raise happy, confident, resilient children,” Ms Markie-Dadds said.

Every parent and carer in Australia currently has free access to Triple P’s online programs, including:

• Triple P Online (for children aged under 12)
• Fear-Less Triple P Online (for children aged 6+ years experiencing anxiety)
• Triple P Online for Baby (for expectant parents/carers with or those with babies under 12 months)
• Family Transitions Triple P Online (for divorcing or separating parents/carers), and
• Stepping Stones Triple P Online (for parents/carers of children with disability aged up to 12).

“The feedback from families who have used Triple P’s programs is overwhelmingly positive. Parents and carers tell us they feel calmer, more confident, and better supported in understanding their children's needs,” Ms Markie-Dadds said. 

“Families are experiencing a quieter, more positive home environment as a result of actively listening to one another and breaking the escalation traps.

“With the challenges that many families are facing right now, having a resource like Triple P can make all the difference in helping to feel more in control and better able to manage stress, benefitting the entire family,” she said.