Helping out with the kids a grand idea

Media coverage - The Goulburn Post, 2 November 2011

More and more grandparents are sacrificing their retirement to take care of their grandkids as divorce and family breakdown take an increasing toll on the community, writes David Butler in
The Goulburn Post.

While most grandparents love their grandkids and are happy to take them in, the constant challenge of looking after kids can be stressful at a time of life where retirees are looking to enjoy a more relaxed lifestyle.

Mission Australia's local support group for grandparents caring for their grandkids is helping to ease the strain by providing a regular opportunity for grandparents to catch up and share their own parenting challenges, and find support from those in a similar situation.

The group is still in its early stages and is keen to hear from more grandparents who have suddenly found themselves the primary carers of their grandkids. Group members Trish Anderson and John O'Connor have been caring for their 11-year-old grandson for most of his life, and told the Post that they found a lot of support within the group.

"Having a group allows you to share information and helps you to break the isolation," Mrs Anderson said. "People are thrust into this situation suddenly and they're not aware of the help that's out there and available to them."

Mr O'Connor added that the information available within the group was an asset for all grandparent carers. "This group gives for the ladies in particular a chance to get together in a closed group and talk about the problems they're having, as well as providing us with information on all the support that's available," he said.

Mrs Anderson and fellow group member Mel Salmon shared a laugh about returning to a parenting role again. "You've got to learn the names of all the dinosaurs again and all of the Wiggles' songs," she said.

The grandparents' group meets fortnightly at the Mission Australia Community Services building, located at 142 Sloane Street. Those interested in joining the group are invited to contact Natalie Pearman on 0488 609 726 or John O'Connor on 0408 440 093.

Do you need support?

Shoalhaven region - New South Wales
Mission Australia provides support through its Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Program, which is run by Mission Australia in Nowra in partnership with the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs.

For more information call (02) 4824 4000.

Tasmania
Mission Australia also operated two grandparent support services in Tasmania, delivered by our Gateway Services. The Tasmanian services also provide support to grandparents and other relatives, such as aunts and uncles, who have assumed the role of primary carers of their grandchildren or related children.

For more information call (03) 6282 2700 (South East) or (03) 6420 6800 (North West).