Intergenerational caring: Current trends in Australian custodial grandparenting

1. Intergenerational caring: Current trends in Australian custodial grandparenting Prof Susan Dann Head of Research, NSPAC Adjunct Professor, USC Jean Shepley Senior Research Assistant NSPAC

2. Grandparent Families “families in which the guardians of children aged 0-17 are the grandparents of the children” Guardians “a person aged 15 years and over who is reported as being the guardian or main carer of any child aged 0-17 years, regardless of the existence of any legal arrangement” Definitions

3. Grandparents head 22,500 Australian families accounting for 31,100 children are less likely to be in workforce only a third are in the labour force 63% receive government benefits Key characteristics Older on average than other primary carers Half as likely to care for children under 4 Twice as likely to care for 12 -17 year olds Are more likely to experience financial difficulties ABS Grandparent Statistics 2005

5. Policy Environment • Federal system allows for inconsistencies • State and Territories – Children’s Court • Federal – Family Law Act • Western Australia exception – State and Commonwealth dealt with under Family Court of Western Australia

6. State Provisions • Not consistent – vary across states and territories • Difficult for grandparents to know if they are entitled to assistance • Delivery of benefits varies between jurisdictions • Need to be granted custody to receive same benefits as foster parents

7. Consistent Issues for Grandparents in Australia and Internationally • Financial • Legal • Housing • Education • Respite care • Communications • Special needs • Social isolation

8. Legal arrangements for care • Commonwealth Family Court Parenting Orders • State Children’s Court • Ad hoc, informal family arrangements

9. Financial Implications • Lack recognition as a distinct category of carers • For the most part treated as parents • Financial help means tested • Government housing cost increased if extra money obtained • Legal cost – not subsidised through legal aid • Reduction of Centrelink pension

10. Reasons for children coming into care of Grandparents • Major reason parental substance abuse • Teen pregnancy • AIDS • Unemployment • Incarceration

11. Value of Grandparents as Caregivers • Maintain a relationship with extended family • More likely to have contact with birth parents • Are with familiar people rather than strangers

12. Equity and Access to Support • Foster parents taking on similar role have financial support • Grandparents financial support means tested • Departmental support for foster parents and foster children

13. Downstream Perspectives • Downstream programs relate to grandparents on an individual level eg • Approaches to discipline • Modern parenting techniques • Contemporary approaches to discipline • Stress management for grandparents • Respite care

14. Upstream Approaches • Focus on societal level changes e.g. • Grandparents become a separate category of carers • Grandparents are treated the same as other alternative care givers e.g. foster parents

15. Conclusion • Custodial grandparents take on a vital role they need support from governments in terms of : • Greater financial security • Equity with other non-parental care givers

16. 2 Key principles • Recognition of grandparents as a special category of careers for issues of access and the normalisation • Mainstreaming, of grandparents as carers when it comes to access to financial and other support to ensure equity with other carer groups.