Aussie grandparents care for kids
More than 30,000 Australian children are cared for by their grandparents because their parents are incapable of looking after them, according to a report from the Australian Institute of Family Studies.
This report is backed up by not for profit organization, Mission Australia, which shows that two thirds of grandparents caring for grandchildren are pensioners and almost half are grandmothers providing sole care. One in 10 grandparents cares for three or more children.
Those who are caring for grandchildren but who are not the legal guardians struggle the most as they may not get government support and child payments.
Mission Australia is calling for more government support such as parenting and other support programs specifically tailored to grandparents.
