Permanency Support Program
The Permanency Support Program aims to give every child and young person the chance to have a loving, permanent home for life, whether that be with his or her parents, extended family or kin, or through open adoption or guardianship.Where children and young people cannot remain with their family, it is important to find them a stable, nurturing and safe home. Guardianship and open adoption give them this opportunity if it is not possible to return to their birth family or live with extended family. The role of foster, kinship and relative carers is more important than ever to support each child or young person’s pathway to permanency.
Grandparent carers
Becoming the carer for a grandchild can be a challenge – especially when it’s an unexpected development in your life. Sometimes grandparents haven’t been aware of the issues that have led to this situation. At first, they may experience feelings of shock, grief and even shame. If this describes how you are feeling, don’t worry: you’re not alone. Grandparents are the primary carers for grandchildren in thousands of families across Australia.
It might be a big lifestyle change but, over time, many grandparent carers come to enjoy the experience of raising a grandchild and take pride in providing a safe and caring home.
Support for grandparents
The Grandparent, Relative and Kinship Carer Alliance (GRaKCA) is an advocacy group run by The Council of the Ageing (COTA) that can put you in touch with support services and with other grandparent carers.
Some grandparent carers need a lot of support from their caseworkers as they get used to looking after a child or young person again. Others are very confident in their role, and feel they need very little assistance. Some grandparents like to apply for guardianship.
If you are a grandparent carer, it’s important to discuss your needs and circumstances with your caseworker, especially when raising pre-teens and teenagers. Think about joining a local grandparent carer support group or attending a parenting course if you feel you want to build your confidence.
If you don’t step in and do it, what would happen to the kids that you intend to care for? Do it with love. Do it with a lot of patience. I don’t claim that I’m the best carer, but I certainly do it with love.