Supporting grandparent carers
Grandparent carers will be able to share experiences and build their parenting skills through the creation of new support groups. The federal government recently announced the investment of $1.2 million over four years to establish 25 MyTime for Grandparents peer support groups.
Grandparent carers will be able to share experiences and build their parenting skills through the creation of new support groups.
The federal government recently announced the investment of $1.2 million over four years to establish 25 MyTime for Grandparents peer support groups.
Parliamentary Secretary for Community Services, Julie Collins, said the support groups would give grandparent carers a “supportive environment to meet and seek peer support and find out about services and assistance available to them”.
A facilitator provides grandparent carers with information about support services and resources while a play helper provides activities for the children.
About 300 families would be supported by the support groups, with more than 11,000 Australian families comprising a full-time grandparent carer.
MyTime for Grandparents program manager, Gina Sartore, told DPS News the support group was a way to help reduce social isolation among older people as the groups generally meet every fortnight.
“Grandparents probably get the best of both worlds – a straight self-help group as well as counselling education,” Ms Sartore said.
For more information on MyTime for Grandparents, call 1800 889 997 (freecall).
