GRANDPARENTS FOR GRANDCHILDREN INCORPORATED

The Hon. J.A. DARLEY (15:56): Today I wish to speak about an organisation called Grandparents for Grandchildren Incorporated. I rise today to speak about the organisation and to pay tribute to its members and those whom they represent. The group was formed in 2004 when a small number of concerned grandparents wanted to lobby for better services and access to financial support for grandparents who were caring for their grandchildren. Since then, it has become an incorporated association with own office, staffed by dedicated volunteers, in Victoria Square. It has helped hundreds of South Australian grandparents, and it has been a very strong advocate for better rights and access to services.

Most recently, the association held a very successful forum entitled 'Bridging the gaps through successful partnerships: working towards a better understanding in order to create clearer pathways'. About 70 people attended at old Parliament House. Speakers included representatives from Centrelink, the family and youth courts, and Families SA. They spoke about how grandparents can be represented and how they can seek the help they need from organisations, and how these organisations can work together with grandparents to make sure that children have the best possible care.

It is estimated that more than 35,000 children in Australia are being cared for by grandparents, and 80 per cent of these do so without receiving any financial support. Some of the changes sought by grandparents include receiving the same financial support and having the same legal standing as foster parents, better representation in the family court, the ability to receive legal aid funding, and being able to easily access information and assistance from state and commonwealth organisations.

There was a very powerful story on A Current Affair on Friday 12 September this year, entitled 'Grandparents: carers'. The story can still be heard online for those who are interested. It followed the story of two sets of grandparents who are struggling to make ends meet in caring for their grandchildren. One grandmother outlined her struggle to support herself, her husband and two grandchildren on the pension, and she said that she would sometimes go without food as she would always make sure that the children had food and were clothed before attending to her own needs.

The irony is that, if these children were placed in foster care, that carer would receive an allowance. These grandparents would not hear of allowing their grandchildren to be cared for by a foster carer. They would just like to be recognised by the government and receive some help for what they do. In talking to grandparents, a phrase I hear time and again is, 'We are not seeking changes just for ourselves. It is really all about the children and how we can best protect and care for them.' They just want to ensure that, where possible, children can stay within the family unit with someone who has a close link with their parents and, in some cases, even continue to live in the family home.

State and federal governments need to be reminded of the very real financial and emotional pressure on grandparents who are doing it tough, and take urgent action to assist them for the sake of the children for whom they care.