Knowing grandparents are at higher risk during the pandemic, our team from the Grandparents Raising Grandchildren program immediately moved their in-person group to an online Facebook page. 

Fred, one of the founding members of the Grandparents Raising Grandchildren group, has loved supporting and connecting with others online. 

Fred Grandparents raising grandchildren

“We are unable to meet in person due to COVID-19 restrictions, so the Mission Australia team created a Facebook group for us. I had not used Facebook before and was at first quite reluctant,” says Fred. 

“I have enjoyed being a part of the group, engaging with the others and sometimes making cheeky comments.”

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Many members were not familiar with technology but have become involved online through the support of the Mission Australia team, with some of the grandchildren themselves teaching their grandparents. 

“At this time and over the years, I would have been lost without the Mission Australia team and all the people at Grandparents Raising Grandchildren. I am very grateful and want to do what I can to help other grandparents.”

This Facebook group is one of the many ways our services are adapting to the pandemic and using technology to reduce loneliness and keep people connected. 

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