Grandparents Support Network

About this program

The Grandparents Support Network has been developed to help grandparents who are raising or who play a significant role in raising their grandchildren. Almost 50% of out-of-home care placements in the ACT at present are with kin carers and the number is growing. Grandparents raising grandchildren are included in this group.

Monthly support and information sessions are held at Marymead between 12.00pm and 2.30pm on the second Wednesday of each month. Guest speakers are invited to give information and answer questions on topics the group has identified as being of special interest. Everyone brings a plate to contribute toward lunch and it is an ideal chance to catch up with other grandparents. There is no cost to attend the meetings or be part of the Network.

The program also offers individual support for grandparents such as counselling and assistance in emergency situations (assessed on each individual circumstances). All grandparents receive the monthly newsletter, Grandview.

This project is a partnership between Marymead Child and Family Centre, Canberra Mothercraft Society and Relationships Australia. The partnership is known as GrandParents ACT and Region. Funding for the Network has been totally provided by Marymead Child and Family Centre.

Who we work with

If you are a grandparent raising or playing a significant role in raising your grandchildren and live in the ACT or surrounding region, you are able to access the services offered by the Network. Some grandparents will be caring for their grandchildren informally; others will have an order from the Family Court and others will be "kinship carers", caring for their grandchildren by arrangement with the local child protection authorities, either ACT Family Services or NSW Department of Community Services. We provide support for all grandparents caring for or significantly involved in caring for their grandchildren regardless of the nature of the caring arrangement.

If you want to use the program

The Co-ordinator of the Grandparents Support Network is happy to provide further information or answer questions about the Network’s services and book you in come to one of the support and information meetings or to access other services. Mary can assist with referrals to additional services if your needs are outside the scope of our program.

Ways to help

You can support the work of Marymead by asking to be put on our mailing list, which will keep you informed about our activities, including fundraising and volunteering.

How to contact us

For further information contact us or visit the website at www.grandparents.org.au

Phone:02 6162 5872

Fax: 02 6295 9944

Email: grandparents@marymead.org.au

Links

Canberra Mothercraft Society

Relationships Australia

Grandparents Information Pack

The Grandparents Information Kit is not intended to give all the answers as every family has its own set of complex and unique circumstances. What it hopes to provide is a starting point – some contacts and basic information about what to do and where to begin asking questions to find some of the answers and services grandparents raising grandchildren need.

Some of the key issues faced by grandparents addressed in the kit are:

• What to do when the children arrive

• Health

• Education in the ACT

• Legal Issues

• What to do in unplanned circumstanced e.g. what happens if I get sick?

• Your grandchild’s past

• Financial issues

• Loss and Grief issues

• Self care

• Getting help for your grandchild.