Grandparents dominate the world of unpaid child care and many do it with good will and love in their hearts, according to Queensland Seniors Minister Craig Crawford.
Announcing almost $1 million in funding for the Time for Grandparents scheme, Mr Crawford said one in every four carers was aged over 65 with many providing informal child care and some being the primary carers of their grandchildren.
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But, he said, the caring can also come at a personal cost of lower wellbeing, higher psychological distress and poorer physical health.
Heart and soul
"Grandparents - mostly baby boomers - are the heart and soul of our communities,'' he said.
"They are the unsung heroes who provide significant emotional support for family members, some also provide financial and practical assistance.
"We know that being a carer is not an easy job."
The Time for Grandparents Program provides advice and support to unpaid carers who have primary responsibility for raising their grandchildren.
The program operates a Queensland-wide confidential telephone information service that provides information, support and referrals to grandparents on 1300-135-500; and free or low cost activities across the state to give children of eligible grandfamilies some fun and respite and down time for grandparents; it may be able to assist with the cost of weekly fees, term fees, membership fees, and in some cases uniform costs for sporting and recreational acivities.
www.grandparentsqld.com.au 1300-135-500
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