A leading child expert claims one in five Australian mums and dads are unfit to be parents.
Professor Fiona Stanly, an adviser to Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, said many parents lack life skills and spend too much time at work.
Joe Tucci from the Australian Childhood Foundation said her comments highlight the need for more support for parents.
"We have found that parents feel under a lot of pressure to get their parenting right.
"They feel the community has high expectations of them but aren't providing enough support or resources."