Parenting Today 
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Parenting Today gives parents and carers across Australia a direct way to share what parenting feels like today
This research matters because understanding how parents and carers are faring is important for children, families and communities. When parents feel supported, connected and confident, they are better placed to navigate the everyday demands of raising children.
Parenting Today brings parents’ experiences into policy, practice and research conversations. It helps identify where families are doing well, where pressures are emerging and where services, systems and communities may need to respond.
What the survey explores
Parenting Today explores key areas of parenting and family life:
- parent wellbeing
- parenting experience
- parent support
- parenting practices
- parenting in the digital age
- environmental and social impacts
- demographic and social context.
Together, these areas help build a clearer picture of where families are doing well, where pressures are emerging, and where stronger support may be needed.
Building evidence over time
The 2025 national survey builds on Parenting Today in Victoria surveys conducted in 2016, 2019 and 2022. Together, these surveys provide a foundation for examining how parenting experiences and support needs change over time.
Further national survey waves are planned, with the next currently expected in 2028.
Who leads the research
Parenting Today is led by the Parenting Research Centre, an independent Australian not-for-profit organisation working to help children and families thrive through the better use of evidence.
The Parenting Research Centre is responsible for the survey design, methodology, analysis, interpretation and reporting, drawing on expertise in parenting research, implementation, evaluation, ethics and policy.
The first national survey was made possible with foundational support from Minderoo Foundation and the Victorian Government.
Using the findings
Parenting Today is designed to support better decisions about policies, services, research and investment affecting parents, children and families. Published resources are freely available, and the Parenting Research Centre may also be able to provide tailored briefings and analysis.
Explore all findings
See the areas Parenting Today is examining and discover what findings are available now and what is coming next.