Grandparent Support Organisations

The State and Territory seniors information services can help you get in touch with appropriate government departments and other organisations.

Australian Capital Territory

• ACT Grandparents Support Group
  Ph (02) 6287 4255
• Marymead Grandparents Support Project
  Ph (02) 6162 5800
• Non Custodial Parents Association
  Ph (02) 6292 1121
• ACT Seniors Information Service
  Ph (02) 6282 3777

New South Wales

• Grandparents Raising Grandchildren
  Ph (02)9284 3860 or 1800 449 102
• Grandparenting
  Ph (02) 9286 3860
• Grandparents and Grandchildren Society Australia Incorporated (G.A.G.S.)
  Ph (02)6652 5545
• Grandparents Support Group
  Ph (02) 4341 7640
• GRANS
  Ph (0418) 622 120 Western Sydney Grandcarers
  Ph (02) 4721 4410

• Bowral
  Ph (02) 4883 4375
• Moss Vale
  Ph (02) 4869 4680 (AH)
• Tallong
  Ph (02) 4841 0350
• Wollongong
  Ph (02) 4229 1079
• Woodenbong
  Ph (02) 6635 1373

Northern Territory

• Child Support Action Group
  Ph (08) 945 0106
• NT Seniors
  Ph (08) 8941 1004

Queensland

• Parentline
  Ph 1300 30 1300
• Seniors Inquiry Line
  Ph 1300 135 500 or (07) 3250 1919 (outside Qld)

Grandparents and Grandchildren Society

• Cairns
  Ph (07) 4054 4129
• Crows Nest
  Ph (07) 4698 1772
• Gympie
  Ph (07) 5482 9012
• Hervey Bay and Maryborough
  Ph (07) 5483 1212
• Toowoomba
  Ph (07) 4698 1772
• Townsville
  Ph (07) 4774 0742
• Wooloowin
  Ph 0401 969343
• Beaudesert
  Ph (07) 3359 1020

Off Our Rockers:

• Brisbane
  Ph (07) 3359 1020
• Gold Coast and Lismore
  Ph (02) 6635 1373

South Australia

• Grandparents Raising Grandchildren
  Ph (08) 8305 9200
• Seniors Information Service
  Ph (08) 8232 1441 (metro) or 1800 636 368 (country)

Tasmania

• COTA Tasmania
  Ph(03) 6228 1897
• Grandparents Raising Grandchildren
  Ph (03) 6223 2937
• Off Our Rockers
  Ph (03) 6272 6239

Victoria

• Grandparents Support Group
  Ph (03) 9568 3306
• Grandparents Victoria
  Ph (03) 9372 2422
• Grans Victoria
  Ph (03) 9796 5442
• Mirabel Foundation
  Ph (03) 9527 9422
• Seniors Information Service
  Ph 1300 135 090

Western Australia

• Grandcare (Wanslea Family Services Inc)
  Ph 1800 008 323
• Grandparents Support Group
  Ph (08) 9332 5469
• Grandparents Support Groups Referral Service - COTA (WA)
  Ph (08) 9321 2133
• Grandpower for Grandkids
  Ph (08) 9309 3462
• Western Australia Seniors Information Service
  Ph 1800 199 087 (metro) 1800 671 233 (country)

Notes:
Grandparenting (NSW) is a service of Council On The Ageing (NSW) to provide grandparent support.

Grandparents and Grandchildren Society Australia Incorporated (G.A.G.S.) aims to help alleviate the feelings of loneliness, isolation and isolation from one's peer group. This is achieved through promoting regular social interaction via meetings, functions and general get-togethers where people can share information. A database of phone contacts and a regular newsletter are available. GAGS offers telephone support and access to Group Leaders in times of crisis. GAGS are also able to link or refer you to appropriate people or resources who are best suited to provide the right help, advice or assistance.

Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Group was established in 1999 by a group of grandparents with the support of the Anglicare Family Support Team and the Onkaparinga Council. These grandparent carers became aware of a range of difficulties unique to grandparents when they took on the full-time care of their grandchildren. The main objective of the group is to provide a friendly, informal and confidential venue where grandparents can support each other in this role.

Marymead Grandparents Support Project is a partnership between Marymead Child and Family Centre, Canberra Mothercraft Society and Relationships Australia. The program has been developed to help grandparents who are raising or who play a significant role in raising their grandchildren, for whatever reason. Some grandparents are caring for their grandchildren informally; others have an order from the Family Court and others are "kinship carers", caring for their grandchildren by arrangement with the local child protection authorities.

The Mirabel Foundation assists children who have been orphaned or abandoned due to parental illicit drug use. Currently Operating in Victoria and NSW, The Mirabel Foundation has published a book When the children arrive... - A Resource Book for Kinship Carers which is available online at this FACS page.

Seniors Information Services and the Seniors Inquiry Line are operated by the State divisions of COTA and can provide information about support groups and support services for grandparents raising their grandchildren.

Western Sydney Grandcarers meet twice a month in Penrith, NSW. The group was established in September 2002 and provides a venue for support and information sharing between grandparents raising their grandchildren in a safe, confidential and non judgmental environment. Childcare for pre school children is provided, allowing grandparents to sit and have a cuppa and a chat with others in their situation.