Dream to work now possible for solo mum

By STUART DYE

Vanessa Hopotoa dreams of going back into full-time work.

The 30-year-old was earning $800 a week working at Fisher and Paykel, but that wage meant she received no subsidy to pay for early childhood education.

It soon became obvious that with the crippling cost of childcare for daughter Jessica, Ms Hopotoa would be better off leaving work and using the benefits and subsidies that came her way.

"It made the fees affordable," said Ms Hopotoa. "Having to depend on others is not a good feeling but it makes ends meet."

Jessica is now eight, but Ms Hopotoa's second daughter, Leilani, is four and so the solo mum from Papatoetoe has never gone back to work. Instead, she is a full-time volunteer at a community training and budgeting service.

"Thinking about the job I've lost and the associated life makes me angry and can be demoralising. I want to go back to work; would love to be in full-time employment, but it is not worth it under this system."

Ms Hopotoa said it was a constant battle to find what benefits she was eligible for due to untrained and unskilled Work and Income staff.

As a working parent under the new system announced in yesterday's Budget, an $800 weekly wage would mean Ms Hopotoa was eligible for the maximum subsidy of $2.84 per hour - possibly up to $142 a week.

After several bad experiences, Ms Hopotoa remains sceptical about the Budget but said last night she would be contacting Work and Income to see how the changes applied to her.

"If the free childcare and subsidies are good enough I would go back to work tomorrow."

Robina Edwards, a 22-year-old solo mum, said 20 hours' free education a week would make a "huge difference" to thousands of people.

Her son, PJ, 4, attends a centre for 35 hours a week. Under the new system, Ms Edwards would pay for only 15 hours, with 20 free.

"It would have made life much easier for me if I knew there was some free, but good-quality care available."