CAMPAIGN
Grandparent carers need changes in government policy.
Our Position Paper can be found below as we continue our drive to support all grandparent carers in WA – the unsung heroes of our society.
WHAT DO WE NEED
Grandparent carers need financial and personal support.
Grandparent carers are raising children that would otherwise be in the foster care system. For grandchildren to flourish, grandparent carers need the support to sustain them in their caring role.
How you can support a Grandparent Carer Subsidy
Add your voice to our campaign. This is an invitation to step up to create a fairer future for grandparent carers and their grandchildren.
STEP ONE
Read our Position Paper to familiarise yourself with the need for grandcarer support in WA.
STEP TWO
Read the Fairer Future report.
The Fairer Future report was a partnership between WANSLEA, GCWA, ECU and Curtin University. It was funded by Lotterywest and the lead researcher was Dr Katrina Stratton.
FAIRER FUTURES REPORT
Grandparent carer statistics
66%
live below the poverty line
The majority of grandparent carers live below the poverty line, and many of these families live on less than $19,000 per year.
70%
are grandmothers
The vast majority of grandparent-headed families have a grandmother as the primary or sole carer.
30%
of kids have mental health issues
More than 30% of grandchildren have a high-needs mental health issue.
THE IMPACTS
Why is this important?
Grandparent carers provide a stable home and research shows that grandchildren do much better in grandparent and kincare which benefits our whole community in the long-term.
Benefits of grandparent carers
- Stable, loving and permanent environment
- Continued family connections to history, culture and spirituality
- Lessens trauma when placed with familiar people rather than a stranger
- Increased positive behavioural outcomes
- Less pressure on the foster care system and government resources
Struggles grandparent carers face
- Physical health due to age
- Limited support for legal and financial issues
- Impact on relationships, mental health and identity
- Difficulty navigating online systems
- Raising some children with mental health issues due to previous trauma
- Long, costly process to receive any benefits