Becoming a grandparent or kinship carer
Becoming a grandparent or kinship carer gives you many opportunities to teach, nurture and encourage a growing child. You can share family values and traditions, and give the child a stable home through the ups and downs of life.
But looking after children at any age takes time, patience and energy. Only you can decide if taking full-time care of a child will be right for you and the child.
If you’re finding it difficult to decide, or need help getting your family together to talk about the care of a child, you could talk to a local family counsellor. Relationships Australia also provides a range of counselling, family mediation and support services that can help.
Grandparents and kinship carers: tips for getting started
When you’re a new carer, there’s a lot to organise. It can be hard to know where to start. If the child has been placed with you by your state or territory child protection authority, case workers will usually help you. Your case worker will also let you know about the decisions you can make about the child, and the decisions that need the authority’s agreement.
Here are a few ideas to help you get organised.
Contact services
National, state and local services for carers can give you advice and information on the support they offer. Australia-wide and state-based services might offer different support, so it’s a good idea to contact all the ones that might be able to help you. There’s a list of services below.
Arrange medical check-ups
When the child comes to live with you, it’s a good idea to make an appointment for a general check-up for her with your GP, plus dental and eye checks. These check-ups are a chance to identify any health issues that you might need to take care of when the child comes into your care.
Also keep in mind the child’s mental health and whether he needs counselling. If you’re worried about the child at all, talk with your GP, who’ll be able to tell you about local counsellors or psychologists.
Organise clothing and other equipment
You might need to get clothes, school uniforms, car seats or prams for younger children, furniture like a bed and desk, and so on. Local support agencies can help you with new or used clothing, furniture and payments for families in need. You could start with your local Vinnies or Salvation Army.
Think about child care and school
Child care might be important for you if you’re still working or if you want to give yourself a bit of a break each week. For a school-age child, you’ll need to think about enrolling the child at school.
Tell people what you need
Case workers, courts, schools, doctors and other services are there to help you. It’s important to be clear with them about your needs and the needs of the child. Also ask for their advice on getting the best support for yourself and the child.
Getting your paperwork organised can help you keep track of things. You might like to keep a folder, diary or computer file or spreadsheet. You can use it to write down:
- who you’ve talked to
- when you talked to them
- what you talked about.
Also keep copies of any document or letters. If it all seems too much, ask a friend or family member to help you get organised.
Look into support for the child
Organisations like the Create Foundation, the Mirabel Foundation and the Pyjama Foundation provide support to children who can’t live with their parents. They hold events where children can meet others who are in the same situation.
Ongoing support for carers
Even if you’ve had the care of a child for some time, you still need information and support. If your situation changes – for example, because of retirement or illness – you can contact Centrelink for information about government payments. Or there might be an issue with the child’s parent that needs mediation or advice.
Taking a break
Caring for a child can be demanding, and everyone needs a break. In fact, taking a break from caring for your child is an important part of taking care of yourself.
You can get different kinds of respite. For example, you might be able to ask family or friends to care for the child so that you can have a weekend away. Some carer families find that they can take it in turns with the families of their grandchild’s friends for the children to sleep over. This can give everyone a break.
If the child was put into your care by a child protection authority, you’ll need to talk to the case worker before organising respite care for the child. To find out more about respite options in your area, call your local family support service or the child protection authority in your state or territory.
Joining a support group
You can find support groups for kinship carers all over Australia. Grandparents and kinship carers say that support groups are a ‘brilliant source of support and information’, and a great way to ‘get a lot of advice and suggestions’.
If you have the care of a child with a child protection order, you can also contact the foster care association in your state or territory. These associations sometimes also help grandparent and kinship carers who have the care of a child without a child protection order.
Australia-wide services
Carer Gateway
This Australian Government website has information about services and support for carers. Look for information on the website, use the service finder or call the national helpline:
- Phone: 1800 422 737
- Hours: 8 am-6 pm, Monday-Friday
Family Relationships Online
This national telephone service can provide information and advice on family relationships, including parenting arrangements after separation.
- Phone: 1800 050 321
- Hours: 8 am-8 pm, Monday-Friday; 10 am-4 pm Saturday (local time), except national public holidays
Services Australia – Grandparent Advisers
Grandparent advisers can give you information about payments and support services for grandparent and kinship carers. They can also refer you to community service providers in your area. Call the Grandparent Adviser Line:
- Phone: 1800 245 965
- TTY: 1800 810 586 (for callers with hearing or speech impairment)
Services Australia – Multicultural Service Officers
Multicultural Service Officers help can help grandparent and kinship carers with migrant and refugee backgrounds connect with government services like payments and other forms of support.
Services Australia – Support for non-parent carers
You can use this webpage to find out about the government payments and benefits you can get when you’re a full-time grandparent or kinship carer.
Australian Capital Territory: services
Marymead
This organisation supports grandparents raising grandchildren. It offers information and runs group meetings.
New South Wales: services
Aboriginal Child, Family and Community Care State Secretariat (NSW)
This community organisation provides a free telephone advice and advocacy service for the carers of Aboriginal children – phone 1800 888 698. It also helps carers to start support groups.
Centacare Southwest NSW – Grandparents ‘Doing it Tough’
Grandparents ‘Doing it Tough’ offers a monthly support group for grandparents caring for or seeking access to their grandchildren. The group offers understanding and friendship, shared experiences and knowledge, social activities, support, education and guest speakers.
Central Coast Family Support – Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Program
This program supports grandparents in the Central Coast region who have full-time care of and responsibility for their grandchildren. The program runs camps, picnics and seminars, and offers one-on-one family support, professional help, referral and counselling.
Mirabel Foundation
The Mirabel Foundation helps children who are orphaned or abandoned because of parental illicit drug use and who are now in the care of extended family. Mirabel runs kinship carer support groups in New South Wales and Victoria.
My Forever Family NSW
My Forever Family is the first point of contact for potential carers and guardians in New South Wales. It connects children with carers and provides training, information and support for foster, kinship and relative carers.
Samaritans Kinship Care – Grandparents and Relative Carers
This service is run by the Samaritans in the Newcastle, Hunter and Manning areas of New South Wales. It provides support groups and information for kinship carers.
Springwood Neighbourhood Centre
This community centre in the Blue Mountains hosts several support groups including Raising Kin, a support group for grandparents, relatives and kinship carers who care for a child who is a relative.
Northern Territory: services
Foster and Kinship Carers Association NT
This not-for-profit agency provides information and support and advocates for the rights of foster and kinship carers in the Northern Territory.
Northern Territory Government – Territory Families – Guide for kinship and foster carers
Territory Families is the government agency responsible for child protection and foster care placements in the Northern Territory. This guide helps carers create a loving and supportive home environment for children coming into their homes.
Queensland: services
Grandparents Information Queensland
This website has information about support groups and other services for grandparent carers across Queensland.
Queensland Government – Foster and kinship care
This government website has useful information for grandparent and kinship carers in Queensland, including the Foster and kinship carer handbook. You can also call the Foster and kinship care support line for parenting tips, information and counselling after hours:
- Phone: 1300 729 309
- Hours: 5 pm-11:30 pm, Monday-Friday; 7 am-11:30 pm, weekends
South Australia: services
Anglicare SA
This agency provides support and information in Southern Adelaide. Phone (08) 8131 3400.
Grandparents for Grandchildren SA
This community service organisation provides a range of services to grandparents who are worried about the welfare of their grandchildren. Grandparents for Grandchildren also supports grandparents by providing practical and emotional support and referral services.
Tasmania: services
Department of Communities Tasmania – Grandparents (and other relatives) caring for children
This government department runs the Supporting Grandparent Carers Program, providing support for grandparents and other relatives caring for children in Tasmania. For more information about the Program, contact the Advice and Referral Line on 1800 000 123.
Victoria: services
Bethany – Kinship care
This organisation provides support groups and advice for kinship carers in south-west Victoria.
Grandparents Victoria
This is a support and advocacy network for grandparents in Victoria. Contact them for help finding a grandparent or kinship carer support group near you. Phone (03) 9372 2422.
Kinship Carers Victoria
This organisation provides information and support to kinship carers in Victoria.
Mirabel Foundation
The Mirabel Foundation helps children who are orphaned or abandoned because of parental illicit drug use and who are now in the care of extended family. Mirabel runs kinship carer support groups in New South Wales and Victoria.
Western Australia: services
Wanslea Grandcare
This agency provides information and support to grandparent carers in Perth and southern Western Australia