Grandparent carers and kinship carers: services

Australia-wide services for grandparent carers and kinship carers

Carer Gateway
This Australian Government website has information about services and support for carers.

Phone: 1800 422 737
Hours: 8 am-5 pm, Monday-Friday (24 hours, 7 days for emergency respite)

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, Foster and Kinship Carer Advisers
Grandparent advisers can give you information about payments and support services for grandparent, foster and kinship carers. They can also refer you to community service providers in your area.

Phone: 1800 245 965
TTY: 1800 810 586 (for callers with hearing or speech impairment)

Services Australia – Multicultural Service Officers
Multicultural Service Officers can help grandparent and kinship carers with migrant and refugee backgrounds connect with government services like payments and other forms of support.

Phone: 131 202 (for calls about Centrelink payments and services)
Phone: 131 450 (for calls about child support and Medicare services)
Hours: 8 am-5 pm, Monday-Friday

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 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.

MacKillop Family Services – Foster and kinship care
This organisation provides information and support to foster and kinship carers across New South Wales, Victoria and Western Australia. Contact the New South Wales office on (02) 8881 4800.

Mirabel Foundation
The Mirabel Foundation helps children who are orphaned or abandoned because of parental drug use and who are now in the care of extended family. Mirabel runs kinship carer support groups in New South Wales and Victoria.

Phone: (03) 9527 9422
Hours: 9 am-5 pm, Monday-Friday

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.

Phone: 1300 782 975
Interpreter service: 131 450
Hours: 9 am-5 pm, Monday-Friday

Samaritans – Kinship care
This service is run by the Samaritans in the Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Hunter and Port Stephens areas of New South Wales. It provides support groups, training and workshops, play sessions and information for kinship carers.

Phone: (02) 4922 1508
Hours: 9 am-5 pm, Monday-Friday

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.

Phone: (02) 4751 3033
Hours: 9.30 am-3.30 pm, Monday-Thursday

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.

Phone: 1300 352 268
Hours: 8 am-4 pm, Monday-Friday

NT Government Department of Territory Families, Housing and Communities – Guide for kinship and foster carers
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.

Phone: 1300 135 500
Hours: 9 am-5 pm, Monday-Friday

Queensland Government – Foster and kinship care
This government website has useful information for grandparent and kinship carers in Queensland. You can also call the Foster and kinship care support line for parenting tips, information and counselling.

Phone: 1300 729 309
Hours: 24 hours, 7 days

South Australia: services

Anglicare SA – Family support
This agency provides support and information in Southern Adelaide. Phone (08) 8131 3400.

Grandcarers 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.

Phone: (08) 8212 1937
Hours: 9.30 am-4 pm, Monday-Thursday

Tasmania: services

Tasmanian Government Department of Communities – 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:

Phone: 1800 000 123
Hours: 8.30 am-5 pm, Monday-Friday

Victoria: services

Bethany – Kinship care
This organisation provides support groups and advice for kinship carers in south-west Victoria. Contact the Bethany information and advice line on 1300 557 611.

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
Hours: 9 am-4.30 pm, Monday-Friday

Kinship Carers Victoria
This organisation provides information and support to kinship carers in Victoria.

Phone: (03) 9372 2422
Hours: 9 am-4.30 pm, Monday-Friday

Phone: (03) 9527 9422
Hours: 9 am-5 pm, Monday-Friday

Western Australia: services

Kinship Connections Aboriginal Corporation
This organisation provides programs, support and training for kinship carers of Aboriginal children under the care of the Department of Communities Child Protection and Family Support.

Phone: (08) 9478 3656
Hours: 9 am-4 pm, Monday-Thursday

Uniting WA – Intensive family support
In partnership with Kinship Connections, Uniting WA provides support and assistance to carers in Western Australia.

Phone: 1300 663 298
Hours: 8.30 am-4.30 pm, Monday-Friday

Wanslea – For parents and grandparent carers
This agency provides information and support to grandparent carers throughout Western Australia. Wanslea also helps eligible grandparent carers apply for an annual payment from the Department of Communities to assist them in the care of their grandchildren.

Phone: 1800 794 909
Hours: 8.30 am-4.30 pm, Monday-Friday