[EBeditor]

Australia's families face different pressures —from balancing the weekly budget to making sure the kids have the things they need for school—and at times, it can be hard to make ends meet. As kids grow from newborns to teenagers, the needs of families and the challenges they face vary. Some families face extra pressure, due to disability or additional needs.

Earlier this year, Essential Baby had a chance to meet with the Prime Minister and tell her the most important issues in your life right now. Off the back of that, OurSay and the Federal Minister for Families, Jenny Macklin, want to hear from you about your specific concerns using OurSay's question and answer tool.

It’s your chance to ask Jenny about the Schoolkids Bonus and other assistance to support families. Where do you need help? Do measures like the Schoolkids Bonus, Family Tax Benefit, Paid Parental Leave and Dad and Partner Pay help? What do you want to know more about?

People with the top five winning questions will be invited to discuss their questions over morning tea with Minister Macklin.

If you’re passionate about the issues, OurSay invites you to also attend one of two family-friendly workshops in Melbourne on 19 November 2012 and Sydney on 21 November 2012. You can register your family’s attendance for the Melbourne or Sydney workshops, which will be facilitated by OurSay.

We're excited to be a media partner for this innovative and collaborative event. We'll bring you regular updates on the voting process as well more from Jenny Macklin and the family workshops.

Ask your questions here!

[EBeditor]

Just a reminder that spots are still available for the Sydney and Melbourne workshops.

OurSay.org and The Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA) invites parents to attend a workshop on building your own campaign around issues concerning your family as part of the All About Families OurSay forum.

These workshops will prepare interested parents for online campaigning and give full guidance in using the OurSay.org platform to directly access Australia's leaders, with specific focus on the Federal Minister for Families Jenny Macklin.
Over the course of two hours, attendees will learn how to turn their personal story of being a parent in Australia into an effective question to be put to Minister Jenny Macklin. Guidance will be given in both traditional and new campaigning tools such as social media, to drive their own story into the heart of Canberra.
These workshops will be an opportunity to ensure your question to Minister Macklin is given all the support it needs to be in the top 5 winning questions.

Tea, coffee & light refreshments will be provided. As these are family friendly workshops, children are also welcome.

There will also be a lucky door prize drawn at the conclusion of the workshop for 3 x Coles Gift Cards.

Visit oursay.org to see which questions are currently ranking, and to ask your own.

[JJ]

I got an invitation to the workshop on Sunday (although it said they were Woolies gift cards! ), unfortunately I can't make it this weekend. It sounds like a great opportunity, I would have loved to go.

[EBeditor]

Shame you couldn't make it JJ

So far we've had over 65 questions and more than 2000 votes, but time is running out! If you haven't had your say yet, now's the time.

You can also find out more about Minister Jenny Macklin.

[EBeditor]

Four months later I'm pleased to bring you an exclusive video interview with Minister Macklin.

She spoke to me about preschool access, Tony Abbott, the NDIS, same sex marriage and more.

http://www.essentialbaby.com.au/life-style...0326-2grbc.html

Yeah, and I know my hair looks bizarre, not sure what was happening that day!