More than 500,000 Australian families have turned to the Triple P—Positive Parenting Program as household stress reaches boiling point in the lead-up to the federal election. Amid rising living costs, natural disasters, and growing mental health concerns, parents are leaning on free, government-backed support to steady family life and better manage the demands of raising children.
Triple P, a free online service funded by the federal Department of Health and Aged Care, is now accessed by parents and carers across the country seeking to improve home life, better understand their children, and reduce their own stress.
Carol Markie-Dadds, Country Director for Triple P International, says the latest findings from the organisation’s 2024 National Parenting Survey are “a wake-up call”. The survey polled more than 8,000 parents and carers and paints a picture of families stretched thin and grappling with emotional fatigue.
“Parental stress levels are at an all-time high,” she said. “The pressure is relentless. Four in ten parents say the cost of living is stopping them from being calm or present, and over 80 per cent admitted to raising their voice at their kids.”
She added, “That’s not a failure on their part—it’s a reflection of how much strain they’re under.”
With high-profile economic pressures dominating the headlines—from interest rate hikes to the lingering effects of extreme weather—parents are reporting that home life feels increasingly difficult to manage. Many say they feel overwhelmed and unsupported in their role as caregivers.
Triple P offers online programs to suit a range of parenting stages and situations: from early parenthood to managing anxiety in children, supporting kids with disabilities, and helping separated parents navigate co-parenting. The programs are available at no cost and can be accessed 24/7 through the Triple P website.
Among the most used are:
- Triple P Online for parents of children under 12,
- Fear-Less Triple P Online for kids aged 6+ experiencing anxiety,
- Triple P Online for Baby for those expecting or caring for infants,
- Family Transitions Triple P Online for separated or divorcing carers,
- and the new Stepping Stones Triple P Online, tailored for children with disability up to age 12.
Markie-Dadds says feedback from families who’ve taken part has been overwhelmingly positive, with many reporting a calmer household and stronger communication with their children.
“One of the biggest outcomes is that families are talking to each other differently. They’re listening more, reacting less, and understanding each other better,” she said. “These might sound like small changes, but they have a big effect.”
The program’s evidence base is a central part of its appeal. Designed with input from psychologists and family experts, Triple P gives parents practical tools rather than just theory, offering structured advice in bite-sized, digestible formats.
Markie-Dadds said the government’s support for programs like Triple P needs to continue, especially as families juggle multiple challenges at once.
“We have to remove the stigma around asking for help,” she said. “This isn’t about fixing broken parents—it’s about strengthening families who are facing very real pressures.”
As the political spotlight intensifies ahead of the election, support for family wellbeing could become a talking point, with policymakers under increasing pressure to show how they are addressing cost-of-living pain, mental health concerns, and support for parents and carers.
Triple P is available nationwide, and its flexible delivery means parents can get support in their own time, from their own homes—no waitlists, no judgment.
To access the full suite of free parenting programs, visit: triplep-parenting.net.au
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