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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.

Position Paper

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.

Position Paper

Three grandchildren playing on a playground slide smiling.
A grandmother navigating a computer with her granddaughter next to her and a GRGWA member assisting her.

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.

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

GET INVOLVED

For more information