Action research 2000-2005 section on –
The reality of grandparenting       Back to Reports

While most of this section of the OPSO Action Research Report applies specifically to grandparents who are raising their grandchildren in lieu of parents, some of the following recommendations apply to grandparenting in general; some important matters are touched on below. They require attention.

Early intervention into dysfunctional families can reduce child abuse. Parent training for grandparents caring for grandchildren and a cohesive intergenerational community can reduce the need for child protection agencies. This should be the chief aim in the new Child Protection Department.

At the same time, legislation should recognise that grandparents have rights of access to their grandchildren, not only that grandchildren have rights of access to their grandparents.

Research into grandparents looking after grandchildren for long hours while their parents work has shown a higher rate than normal of heart and back problems. For these grandparents and for full-time relative carers there needs to be appropriate and affordable child-minding facilities to give them respite. Leaving children with grandparents for long hours beyond their mental and physical coping strength, with little or no time for themselves, could be regarded as elder abuse.

Emphasis needs to be placed on parent training and updating of parenting skills of grandparents involved in the parenting role.

Grandparents bringing up grandchildren outside the Department of Child Protection need legal recognition of their status and an allowance equal to the Foster Care Allowance. They need such benefits as will guarantee specific education for children with special needs and access to trauma counselling. Funding needs to be given to research into the emotional needs of these children and their grandparents, and appropriate services set up to deal with the results and findings.

Issues that remain unaddressed:

1. Peter Wellington MP is raising a private member’s Bill to try to get similar payments for grandparents who are raising grandchildren full-time as those currently available to foster carers. This payment would assist grandparents to maintain a suitable standard of care for their grandchildren. There still appears to be no movement from the state or Commonwealth departments towards addressing this issue.
2. Some Legal Aid issues may be resolved under changes to the federal Family Law Act, which is under review. There has been no indication in it that special assistance would be made available for grandparents, though closer study of the final document may have some indicators.
3. The setting up of a helpline for grandparents was considered in 2002 during consultations, but so far nothing has been done about it. Some projects have received some funding from the Commonwealth Government for information strategies, but these have largely had a purely local focus.
4. Crisis care and access to respite areas is needed. In larger centres precedence is given to existing clients and there is a certain reluctance to acknowledge that grandparents need respite, especially when raising children with challenging behaviours that result from parental drug and alcohol abuse.
5. The development of a network of peer support groups for grandparents has been hindered by the total lack of resources in most areas. The formation of a statewide peak body specifically for grandparents should be a primary focus for government. The existing Council of Grandparents should be resourced to take on this role as it has been working collaboratively with a number of groups and services to establish itself without resources over the past 18 months. It meets once a month and has the capacity to distribute a newsletter by email, which would be used to inform grandparents about assistance and resources available to them There is little evidence of a concerted effort by the State Government to develop a network of professional service providers to assist grandparents.
6. The development of two departments to address children’s issues has further disadvantaged families who do not fit the category of reported abusers but who still need support from the department as primary providers. A case in question is the issue for older parents and grandparents who need support to care for their disabled children; the department response has been to deem them unfit and take over the whole role instead of providing the requested support.
7. Fear of losing their grandchildren if grandparents seek assistance from government services is widespread. These carers are also adversely affected by long waiting lists for much needed general health services provided by the State Government.