Raising your grandchildren on a full-time basis, while very rewarding, can also be incredibly challenging. It’s a tough assignment to be one-on-one with a toddler in your 50s or 60s or 70s. Research shows that grandparents who are responsible for the care of grandchildren are more likely to be depressed or have health problems compared to peers who enjoy time with grandchildren but don’t have to get them to school every morning, chase them around every afternoon and tuck them in every night.
It is common for Grandparents to feel physically and emotionally drained and, as many parents also experience, question their ability to keep coping.
Being the carer of grandchildren is parenting for the second time around. Often grandparents feel socially isolated and have difficulties maintaining friendships with their peers due to the pressures and constraints of raising their grandchildren.
There is support available.
The Time for Grandparents program organises free day activities and camps for children, giving Grandparents a break. They also organise free overnight support and respite camps for you and your grandchildren.
The overnight ‘grandfamily’ camps for children and their grandparents provide:
- fun, safe, enjoyable, and interesting recreational activities run by qualified instructors
- an opportunity to meet other grandparents to share information and family experiences
- information sessions on parenting issues, finances, and legal matters as well as a range of individual and group counselling sessions
- information about local support systems and services available in your community.
Combined grandparent and grandchildren camps are also available.
The program is for:
- grandparents who are the primary carer of their grandchildren and are not receiving the fostering allowance
- relative / kinship carers approved by the Department of Communities, Child Safety, and Disability Services.
Phone the Grandparents Information Line on 1300 135 500, Monday to Friday 9-5pm for information and bookings.
