Media Release
Saturday 30 September, 2006
Child Support Agency supporting grandparents
Grandparents who are primary carers for their grandchildren deserve special recognition during the International Week of Older Persons, beginning 1 October, General Manager of the Child Support Agency (CSA), Matt Miller, said today.
"Sometimes parents are unable to care for their children because of difficult circumstances such as substance abuse, death of a parent, disability or a mental illness,"said Mr Miller.
"Let's recognise and celebrate the valuable contribution many wonderful grandparents make to their families and the community when they step into the parenting role."
Figures from the Council on the Ageing suggest around 1 per cent of families with children aged between 0 to 17 are living with their grandparents.
Mr Miller urged grandparents who are primary carers to contact the CSA on 131 272 to see if they are eligible to receive Child Support.
"Being the primary carer can present some unique challenges for grandparents, including the added financial burden, distress about the circumstances that brought their grandchildren into their care and loss of social contacts as their time is taken up being a carer."
The CSA provides a range of booklets in the 'Me and My...' series which are designed to help parents after separation, but may also provide practical tips and hints to grandparents who become carers or find their grandchildren’s parents have separated.
Further assistance is available from numerous support and community groups through the CSA's Community Services Directory, available on the CSA website at www.csa.gov.au or by calling 131 272.
These resources may also be able to help grandparents who have been denied access to their grandchildren following separation and divorce.
Media contact:
02 6272 8367
0408 032 388
Media enquiries should be directed to media@csa.gov.au
