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Help and Support

Australia-wide Resources

The Services Australia Grandparent, Foster and Kinship Carer Advisers (GFKCA) provide tailored help for all non-parent carers including grandparent carers and other kinship carers whether formal or informal. Benefits include assistance with child care costs, health care, Medicare, Double Orphan Allowance and other allowances. Phone: 1800 245 965. See GFKCA Fact Sheet.   Quick Codes will take you to other Fact Sheets about specific benefits and helpful tips.

State Resources

The mission of Kinship Alliance Australia is to achieve proper recognition and support for kinship care families, particularly informal kinship care families.

No one service in any State or Territory provides this yet. The following State-based services offer assistance to particular groups of grandparent/kinship care families. Their websites provide much useful information.

Grandparent and other kinship carers are eligible for a range of benefits in different States and Territories. Eligibility varies even within each State/Territory, e.g. some benefits are only for formal kinship carers, some are for informal kinship carers, and some are only for grandparent carers. Kinship Alliance Australia is pushing for ALL benefits to be available to ALL grandparent and other kinship carers.

Helping children in kinship care because of parental substance abuse reach their potential and carers to cope, and advocating for kinship families. Mirabel operates in Victoria & NSW.

Visit website

Victorian carer card

This card is available for all Victorian grandparent and other kinship carers, both informal and formal. A particular benefit is concession fares and free weekend travel on public transport. Informal kinship carers will need to complete this Statutory Declaration  as well as the Carer Card form.

Advocating for, and supporting grandparents, siblings, other relatives and family friends raising children in out-of-home care in Victoria.

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Helping children in kinship care because of parental substance abuse reach their potential and carers to cope, and advocating for kinship families. Mirabel operates in Victoria & NSW.

Visit website

Providing information, personal support, financial assistance and advocacy for informal grandparent and kinship carers in South Australia. 

Visit website

Representing the views of formal and informal grandparent/kinship carers, raising public awareness, and providing referrals to services in Tasmania 

Visit website

A peer-led organisation providing information, practical and personal support and advocacy for formal and informal grandparent carers in WA. 

Visit website

WA Grandcarers Support Scheme Informal grandparent carers in WA are eligible for an annual payment of $1,000 per child in their care, and for a range of support services. Visit website
Uplyft (formerly Wanslea) Grandcarers Support Scheme provides an annual payment for each child in informal grandparent care in WA, support & guidance to carers, and information about other resources & services. Visit website

Formal kinship carers in the Northern Territory can access placement leave and parental leave for kin children.

Read More

Grandparent/Kinship Carer Support Groups

These groups are all run independently of Kinship Alliance Australia. 

  • > Select your state by clicking on the buttons above.
  • > Click on your region to show a list of support groups and contact details in that region. If your region is missing, it means we don’t yet know of any support groups in that region.
  • > Please let us know of any support groups that we have not listed.
Narrabundah
Charlestown (Kahiba)
  • Convener – Glenrock Anglican Parish
  • Contact – Glenrock Grandparents & Kinship Group
  • Location – Glenrock Anglican Church
  • Open to – Kinship carers, formal and informal
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Gosford
  • Convener – Central Coast Family Carers (Independent)
  • Contact – Grandparents and kinship raising grandchildren groups
  • Location – Showgrounds Clubhouse, Gosford
  • Open to – All kinship carers 
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Kariong
Toronto
 
Wyong
Cessnock
  • Convener – Cessnock Anglican Church
  • Contact – Church parish office
  • Location – St Johns Anglican church, Cessnock
  • Open to – Kinship carers
East Maitland
Raymond Terrace
Raymond Terrace
  • Convener – Raymond Terrace Grandparents (Independent)
  • Contact – Phone: 0411 019 995
  • Location – Raymond Terrace
  • Open to – Grandparent and other kinship carers
Raymond Terrace
  • Convener – (formerly GAPs)
  • Contact – Turn up at a meeting any Friday 10:30 am
  • Location – St John’s Anglican Church, Sturgeon St, Raymond Terrace
  • Open to – Anyone raising non-birth children
Singleton
Nowra
  • Convener – Mission Australia
  • Contact – Phone: 0477 300 259, Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Family Support Worker
    • Phone: (02) 4448 2300, Nowra office
  • Location – Nowra
  • Open to – Grandparents only
 
Shellharbour
  • Convener – Mission Australia
  • Contact – Phone: 0477 300 259, Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Family Support Worker
    • Phone: (02) 4448 2300, Nowra office
  • Location – Shellharbour
  • Open to – Grandparents only
 
St Georges Basin
  • Convener – Mission Australia
  • Contact – Phone: 0477 300 259, Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Family Support Worker
    • Phone: (02) 4448 2300, Nowra office
  • Location – St Georges Basin
  • Open to – Grandparents only
Ulladulla
  • Convener – Mission Australia
  • Contact – Phone: 0477 300 259, Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Family Support Worker
    • Phone: (02) 4448 2300, Nowra office
  • Location – Ulladulla
  • Open to – Grandparents only
Wollongong
  • Convener – Mission Australia
  • Contact – Phone: 0477 300 259, Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Family Support Worker
    • Phone: (02) 4448 2300, Nowra office
  • Location – Wollongong
  • Open to – Grandparents only
Ballina
  • Convener – Blue Sky Community Services
  • Contact – 
  • Location – Masonic Hall, 56 Cherry Street, Ballina
  • Open to – Grandparents carers (formal and informal), other kinship carers welcome.
Goulburn
  • Convener – Mission Australia
  • Contact – Phone: 0477 300 259, Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Family Support Worker
    • Phone: (02) 4824 4000, Goulburn office
  • Location – Goulburn
  • Open to – Grandparents only
Sutherland
Darwin
  • Convener – Northside Uniting Church, (Andergrove) Mackay
  • Contact – Annette Sutton
    • Email:  suttonannette@hotmail.com
  • Location – Northside Uniting Church, Andergrove
  • Open to – Grandparent carers, other grandparents welcome. 
Caloundra
  • Convener – Caloundra Community Centre (07) 5491 4000
  • Contact – Grandparents as Parents (GAP) group.
  • Location – Caloundra Community Centre
  • Open to – Grandparent carers, other kinship carers welcome. 
Hervey Bay
  • Convener – Anglicare Sthn Qld
  • Contact – Grandparents Support Group, Phone: (07) 4120 5100 or 1300 610 610
  • Location – Hervey Bay, Sandy Straits State School 
  • Open to – Grandparent carers, other kinship carers welcome.  
Aldgate
Christies Beach
Golden Grove
Para Hills
Port Adelaide
Somerton Park
Nuriootpa
Port Lincoln
Murray Bridge
Berri

 

Loxton
Kadina
Yorketown
Hobart
  • Convener – Baptcare Hobart
  • Contact – Community Kinship Program, local area intake. Phone: (03) 6283 5700
  • Location – Chigwell, Bucaan Community House
  • Open to – Informal kinship carers

 

Hobart
  • Convener – Mission Australia Hobart (Rosny Park)
  • Contact – Community Kinship Program, local area intake. Phone: (03) 6212 6850
  • Location – Rosny Park, Mission Australia office
  • Open to – Informal kinship carers
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  • Convener – Baptcare Launceston (Mowbray)
  • Contact – Community Kinship Program, local area intake. Phone: (03) 6323 6700
  • Location – Ravenswood, Zion’s Hill Church
  • Open to – Informal kinship carers
Burnie
  • Convener – Mission Australia Devonport, (03) 6420 6800
  • Contact – Community Kinship Program, Kinship Connection Morning Teas
  • Location – Burnie Community House, Last Wednesday of month, 10-12
  • Open to – All kinship carers
 
Devonport
  • Convener – Mission Australia Devonport, (03) 6420 6800
  • Contact – Community Kinship Program, Kinship Connection Morning Teas
  • Location – Devonport, The Don Centre, Last Tuesday of month, 10-12
  • Open to – All kinship carers

 

Ulverstone
  • Convener – ACD Devonport (03) 6424 7025
  • Contact – MyTime Program
    • Grandparents Raising Grandchildren
    • Phone: 0408 649 457
  • Location – Ulverstone Uniting Church
  • Open to – All kinship carers

 

Bellarine Peninsula
  • Convener – Bellarine kinship carers (Independent group)
  • Contact – Springdale Neighbourhood Centre
    • Phone: (03) 5253 1960
  • Location – Drysdale, Springdale Neighbourhood Centre
  • Open to – All kinship carers
Colac
  • Convener – Meli
  • Contact – Phone: 1300 557 611
  • Location – Christian Family Church, 33 Cants Road, Colac
  • Open to – All kinship carers
Geelong
  • Convener – Meli
  • Contact – Phone: 1300 557 611
  • Location – Meli office, 1-12 Waratah Street, Geelong West
  • Open to – All kinship carers
Portland
  • Convener – Brophy Family & Youth Services
  • Contact – Phone: (03) 5561 8888 and ask for Kinship Advice & Information Worker
    • or direct to 0481 278 786
  • Location – Brophy office, 33 Otway St, Portland
  • Open to – All kinship carers
Warrnambool
  • Convener – Brophy Family & Youth Services
  • Contact – Phone: (03) 5561 8888 and ask for Kinship Advice & Information Worker
    • or direct to 0481 278 786
  • Location – Brophy office, 210 Timor St, Warrnambool
  • Open to – All kinship carers
Bairnsdale
  • Convener – Berry Street Victoria, Gippsland (Morwell)
  • Contact – Community Development Worker – Kinship
  • Location – Bairnsdale East, The Hub
  • Open to – All kinship carers

 

Baw Baw
  • Convener – Berry Street Victoria, Gippsland (Morwell)
  • Contact – Community Development Worker – Kinship
  • Location – Baw Baw (contact program worker)
  • Open to – All kinship carers
 
Leongatha
  • Convener – Berry Street Victoria, Gippsland (Morwell)
  • Contact – Community Development Worker – Kinship
  • Location – Leongatha Community House
  • Open to – All kinship carers
 
Morwell
  • Convener – Berry Street Victoria, Gippsland (Morwell)
  • Contact – Community Development Worker – Kinship
  • Location – Morwell Library
  • Open to – All kinship carers

 

Morwell
  • Convener – Mirabel Foundation
  • Contact – Phone: (03) 9527 9422
  • Location – Morwell
  • Open to – Kinship carers where there has been a parental drug or alcohol misuse issue. Carers must be involved with the Mirabel program first.
 
Phillip Island
  • Convener – Berry Street Victoria, Gippsland (Morwell)
  • Contact – Community Development Worker – Kinship
  • Location – Ventnor Recreation Reserve
  • Open to – All kinship carers
 
Warragul
  • Convener – Berry Street Victoria, Gippsland (Morwell)
  • Contact – Community Development Worker – Kinship
  • Location – Warragul Community House
  • Open to – All kinship carers
 
Ararat
  • Convener – CAFS Ballarat
  • Contact – Phone: (03) 5337 3333 or 1800 692 237
  • Location – Ararat Hotel
  • Open to – Kinship carers

 

Bacchus Marsh
  • Convener – CAFS Ballarat
  • Contact – Phone: (03) 5337 3333 or 1800 692 237
  • Location – Bacchus Marsh, Skinny Dippers Café Maddingley
  • Open to – Kinship carers

 

Ballarat
  • Convener – CAFS Ballarat
  • Contact – Phone: (03) 5337 3333 or 1800 692 237
  • Location – Ballarat, Lake View Hotel
  • Open to – Kinship carers

 

Daylesford
  • Convener – CAFS Ballarat
  • Contact – Phone: (03) 5337 3333 or 1800 692 237
  • Location – Daylesford (venue on inquiry)
  • Open to – Kinship carers
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Seymour
  • Convener – Berry Street Victoria, Hume 
  • Contact – Hume region office
  • Location – Seymour, Berry Street Office
  • Open to – Kinship carers

 

Seymour
  • Convener – Mirabel Foundation
  • Contact – Phone: (03) 9527 9422
  • Location – Seymour
  • Open to – Kinship carers where there has been a parental drug or alcohol misuse issue. Carers must be involved with the Mirabel program first.

 

Shepparton
  • Convener – Berry Street Victoria, Hume 
  • Contact – Hume region office
  • Location – Shepparton, Berry Street Office
  • Open to – Kinship carers
Bendigo
  • Convener – Mirabel Foundation
  • Contact – Phone: (03) 9527 9422
  • Location – Bendigo
  • Open to – Kinship carers where there has been a parental drug or alcohol misuse issue. Carers must be involved with the Mirabel program first.
Mildura & Swan Hill
  • Convener – Catholic Care
  • Contact – Phone: (03) 5337 8999
  • Location – Catholic Care, 136 Lime Ave, Mildura
  • Open to – All kinship carers.
Epping
  • Convener – Uniting
  • Contact – Phone: (03) 8470 5000 or 1800 002 992
  • Location – Epping, Uniting VicTas office
  • Open to – All kinship carers

 

Frankston

 

Highett
Melbourne East
  • Convener – Mirabel Foundation
  • Contact – Phone: (03) 9527 9422
  • Location – Melbourne Metro East
  • Open to – Kinship carers where there has been a parental drug or alcohol misuse issue. Carers must be involved with the Mirabel program first.
  •  
Melbourne North
  • Convener – Mirabel Foundation
  • Contact – Phone: (03) 9527 9422
  • Location – Melbourne Metro North
  • Open to – Kinship carers where there has been a parental drug or alcohol misuse issue. Carers must be involved with the Mirabel program first.
  •  
Melbourne South
  • Convener – Mirabel Foundation
  • Contact – Phone: (03) 9527 9422
  • Location – Melbourne Metro South
  • Open to – Kinship carers where there has been a parental drug or alcohol misuse issue. Carers must be involved with the Mirabel program first.
  •  
Melbourne West
  • Convener – Mirabel Foundation
  • Contact – Phone: (03) 9527 9422
  • Location – Melbourne Metro West
  • Open to – Kinship carers where there has been a parental drug or alcohol misuse issue. Carers must be involved with the Mirabel program first.
  •  
Mornington Peninsula
  • Convener – Mirabel Foundation
  • Contact – Phone: (03) 9527 9422
  • Location – Mornington Peninsula
  • Open to – Kinship carers where there has been a parental drug or alcohol misuse issue. Carers must be involved with the Mirabel program first.

 

Rosebud
Online support
  • Convener – Mirabel Foundation
  • Contact – Phone: (03) 9527 9422
  • Location – On-line
  • Open to – Kinship carers where there has been a parental drug or alcohol misuse issue. Carers must be involved with the Mirabel program first.
  •  
Mandurah
  • Convener – Wanslea
  • Contact – Grandcarers Program, Phone: (08) 9245 2441 or 1800 794 909
  • Location – Mandurah
  • Open to – Informal grandparent carers who meet the program criteria.

 

Mandurah
Mundaring
Armadale
  • Convener – Wanslea
  • Contact – Grandcarers Program, Phone: (08) 9245 2441 or 1800 794 909
  • Location – Armadale
  • Open to – Informal grandparent carers who meet the program criteria.

 

Bentley
  • Convener – Wanslea
  • Contact – Grandcarers Program, Phone: (08) 9245 2441 or 1800 794 909
  • Location – Bentley
  • Open to – Informal grandparent carers who meet the program criteria.

 

Gosnells

 

Kwinana

 

Midland
  • Convener – Wanslea
  • Contact – Grandcarers Program, Phone: (08) 9245 2441 or 1800 794 909
  • Location – Midland
  • Open to – Informal grandparent carers who meet the program criteria.

 

Mirrabooka
  • Convener – Wanslea
  • Contact – Grandcarers Program, Phone: (08) 9245 2441 or 1800 794 909
  • Location – Mirrabooka
  • Open to – Informal grandparent carers who meet the program criteria.

 

Rockingham
  • Convener – Wanslea
  • Contact – Grandcarers Program, Phone: (08) 9245 2441 or 1800 794 909
  • Location – Rockingham
  • Open to – Informal grandparent carers who meet the program criteria.

 

Warwick

 

York