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COTA NSW

Grandparent Support Group Project

Final Report

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Our rights. Our future

COTA NSW

COTA NSW is widely recognised as the peak body representing all people over 50 in NSW. As an

independent, apolitical consumer-based organisation, COTA works strategically to ensure the

interests of its constituents are met. We engage directly with a wide range of government and

community stakeholders to represent the needs and views of our constituents.

COTA NSW’s vision is for a just, equitable and humane society where older people are respected,

consulted, represented and heard. Where they can contribute and grow as valued members of

society and have access to appropriate services, care and support.

COTA NSW’s purpose is to mobilise governments, older people, and the wider community to

achieve social justice and wellbeing for all people in NSW over 50 years of age.

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Table of Contents

1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 4 2 PROJECT BACKGROUND 5 3 PROJECT OVERVIEW 6 3.1 Purpose of the project 6 3.2 Project budget 7 3.3 Project initiatives/strategies 8 3.4 Project objectives 8 4 METHODOLOGY 9 4.1. Support groups 10 4.2 Information groups 12 4.3 Social groups 14 4.4 Grandparent, Relative & Kinship Carer Alliance (GRaKA) meetings 16 4.5 Website 18 5 RESULTS 19 5.1 Support group results 19 5.2 Information group results 21 5.3 Social group results 24 5.4 GRaKA results 27 5.5 Website results 28 5.6 Additional findings – CALD results 30 6 ADDRESSING THE FOUR MAJOR INITIATIVES/STRATEGIES 33 6.1 Identify and connect with relevant stakeholders 33 6.2 Map support groups 34 6.3 Provide a strategic guide to action 34 6.4 Develop a sustainable program of support 34 7 ISSUES AND LIMITATIONS 36 8 RECOMMENDATIONS & FUTURE ACTIONS 40 9 CONCLUSION 41 10 APPENDIX 42 10.1 Table of results 42

10.2 Type of resources distributed 65

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1 Executive Summary

Every year a significant number of grandparents in NSW are called on to play responsible roles in their grandchildren’s lives. This can range from providing part time care and support to undertaking full responsibility for the care of their grandchildren. Recognising that grandparents needed better support and access to information, COTA NSW undertook a project funded by the NSW Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care to strengthen support and access to information and services provided to grandparent carers in regions around New South Wales. The Project commenced in January 2011. By its conclusion in February 2012, COTA NSW had worked extensively to strengthen the support, information and networks available to the many grandparent carers in regions across New South Wales. Once the Project began, it soon became evident that the needs of grandparent carers varied widely. Some grandparent carers were interested in joining and sharing their experiences with others in a support group setting, while others were reluctant to participate and preferred a less confronting social setting. Other grandparents simply wanted access to information and services. On this basis, a variety of group activities were undertaken to meet the varied needs of grandparents. For this reason, it became more useful to refer to the various activities undertaken as part of the Project as ‘grandparenting groups’. This term describes a wider range of activities than the support groups alone that were initiated to meet the varying needs of grandparents. This Report describes how the major initiatives of the Project were undertaken and the major findings, issues and recommendations for future action.

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2 Project Background

In 2003 COTA NSW ran several workshops as part of a research project commissioned by the then Federal Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, the Hon Larry Anthony into grandparents raising their grandchildren. Australia-wide 499 grandparents raising 548 grandchildren took part in the project. A report entitled 'Grandparents Raising Grandchildren' was tabled in Federal Parliament in November 2003. In April 2008 COTA NSW, in collaboration with the NSW Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care and the Ministerial Committee on Ageing (MACA), convened a Forum on the rights, roles and responsibilities of grandparents entitled, Listening to Grandparents. Information gathered at the Forum resulted in the development of a number of key findings and strategic directions. It reinforced the importance of clear, consistent and accurate information regarding support and services, as well as more responsive respite care services, well-resourced and ongoing support networks and better access to financial and legal assistance. In 2010, COTA NSW was able to continue its work supporting grandparents raising grandchildren with funding from the NSW Department of Ageing Disability and Home Care (DADHC) for the Grandparent Support Group Project. The Grandparent Support Group Project commenced in January 2011. Funding was for one year to employ one full time Project Officer to undertake the initiatives outlined in the Project Plan. The Project concluded in February 2012.

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3 Project Overview

3.1 The purpose of the project

The purpose of the Support Group Project was to enhance the ability of grandparents, relatives and kinship carers to gain access to information, services and support. During the course of the Project, 28 support group activities were undertaken to meet the needs of the grandparent carers in different regions around New South Wales. Broadly, the activities focused on information provision, community networking and social and support group activities. The target was to deliver five GRaKA meetings and 20 support group based activities for a total of 25 activities. Twenty eight activities were delivered over the course of the 12 month project, three more than the target number.

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3.2 The project budget allocation and target

TOTAL

Interstate $1,570

Evaluation Acquittal $20,000

External Workshop/Network $1,150

Website Updates/Graphics $4,550

CALD Consultations $1,250

Misc GP Events $750

Seniors week Activities $2,500

SUPPORT GROUPS TARGET A

Armidale Dumaresq AbSEC $3,930

Bourke AbSEC $3,930

Broken Hill AbSEC $3,930

Dubbo AbSEC $3,930

Tamworth Regional AbSEC plus GRAKCA $5,700

Wagga Wagga AbSEC plus GRAKCA $5,700

Ballina $2,580

Bega Valley $2,580

Blacktown plus GRAKCA $3,630

Blue Mountains $1,730

Campbelltown $1,580

Fairfield CALD $1,580

Lake Macquarie $2,020

Lismore $2,580

Lithgow $2,020

Liverpool CALD $1,580

Shellharbour plus GRAKCA $3,380

Tweed $2,580

Port Stephens $2,020

Grafton Clarence Valley plus GRAKCA $4,350

SUPPORT GROUPS TARGET B

Coonamble (A) AbSEC $3,930

Kiama (A) $1,920

Parkes (A) AbSEC $3,930

Palerang Queanbeyan (A) $1,920

SUBTOTAL $104,800

TOTAL (Minus Target B) $93,100

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The above budget funds were allocated depending on various factors. These included: 1) Costs varied depending on location, i.e. regional or metropolitan areas, and when

factoring in accommodation, travel and logistics. Sydney metropolitan areas were less costly to operate, as opposed to the regional areas. For example, Lismore cost considerably more because of transportation such as airfare and car hire and other costs, including the couriering of information kits to Lismore.

2) If the location also included a GRaCKA meeting, the budget was reflected to take into account the additional cost of the meeting i.e. meals, venue hire etc. plus additional travel and accommodation cost as the GRaKCA meetings were held on a different day.

3) Where there were no airfare transportation cost involved, factors such as car hire or

public transport would be taken into account. Most locations needed care hire because of the need to bring information kits to the group.

4) The Aboriginal Child, Family & Community Care State Secretariat (AbSEC) areas were

projected to cost more because of location and resources involved. For example, the Aboriginal group locations were decided in partnership with AbSEC. It was advised that these areas would have a higher cost involved with meeting and venue expense as well as more transportation and accommodation costs.

3.3 Project initiatives/strategies

The Support Group Project Plan (see attachment GrandParent COTA - New Project Plan 19112010 b.pdf) describes the four main initiatives/strategies to be undertaken during the course of the one year project.

1. Identity and connect with relevant stakeholders 2. Map the network of support groups 3. Create an action plan 4. Develop a sustainable program of support

This Report describes how those initiatives were undertaken and the major findings, issues/limitations and recommendations for future action.

3.4 Project Objectives

Support and enable grandparents to be more socially connected and less isolated.

Strengthen family relationships through support for grandparents and their grandchildren.

Enable a larger support base for grandparents and kinship carers.

Recognise the range of grandparent carer roles and different subgroups (CALD, Aboriginal and GLBTI communities).

Raise awareness and issues relating to grandparents raising their grandchildren.

Provide accessible information about rights, responsibilities and any other support available to grandparents.

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4 Methodology

Broadly, the methodology for the project centred around establishing support groups and running community based information and social events in targeted regions around in New South Wales with the objective of strengthening the support base for grandparents, relatives and kinship carers in those areas. Specific areas to be targeted were based on various factors that together indicated areas of greatest need. The www.raisinggrandchildren.com.au website was used to network, collect and distribute information and referrals regarding support groups and other services for grandparent carers. A full time Project Officer was hired in January 2011 and worked until the project’s conclusion in February 2012. The Project Officer’s task was to undertake the activities as outlined in the plan. The main activities undertaken as part of the Support Group Project broadly fell into the following categories:

1. Support group events 2. Information group events 3. Social group events 4. GRaKCA Alliance meetings

5. Website activity

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4.1 Support Groups

Goulburn support group meeting

There were eleven support groups established in regions across New South Wales. Those groups are

1. Goulburn 2. Camden 3. Lismore/Ballina 4. Port Macquarie 5. Liverpool 6. Georges River 7. Lithgow 8. Blacktown 9. Singleton 10. Tamworth 11. Wagga

Most of the participants were faced with issues of isolation and stigma. Many felt their circumstances isolated them from their friends and family. The support groups allowed participants to share their experiences, gain access to information and support and make new friends. Supports group meetings usually included a guest speaker from a community service agency, who would provide important legal or financial information to the participants. The majority of speakers involved in the support group events included solicitors from Legal Aid and Grandparent Centrelink Advisors. Other speakers included other active grandparents who came to the groups to help share their experiences and knowledge. For example, Grandparents As Parents Again (GAPA) participated in many support groups events, speaking about the importance of helping and supporting each other and sharing the responsibility of managing the group. They also spoke about how to receive additional funding by participating in local fundraising exercises. Having group members from other regions allowed the current group to ask questions about how other groups managed to keep strong. For example, The Tweed Valley Group came to support the Lismore group. Many other locations had the same response i.e. Goulburn and Nowra groups supporting each other and visiting each other on a regular basis.

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The aim was to establish support groups in areas where there were no previously existing groups and where service providers and/or grandparents had indentified a need for more support and information. Much of the preparation for the group meetings included organising venues, dates, speakers and promotional materials. Once collaterals were produced, then uploaded onto the website and distributed to local media, councils, and providers and to grandparents themselves to forward on. A similar format was used for all the group sessions. Participants were seated in an informal circle where each person was introduced and urged to share their story. The meetings usually included a guest speaker from Legal Aid, Centrelink or other community services. The information kits included pamphlets, booklets, reports and information sheets from various community and government organisations. These kits were tailored to grandparents raising their grandchildren and contained valuable information on legal help and referrals, financial help and referrals and other information (for a list of resources in the information kits see appendix 11). These kits were distributed at all the support group meetings and most of the other information and social events. Information was originally placed on tables and stands for grandparents to browse and take home. However it became clear at the beginning of the project that many grandparents were hesitant to pick up information because they felt stigmatised and were worried other people may see them with the information or they didn’t feel they had they time to go through it all at the event. So it was decided give information out directly to grandparent carers in a form of a show bag pack/kit. Depending on the location and the event, resources sometimes varied because of logistics and cost i.e. the books “A Gong for Grandfathers” by Helene Gonski/Jack Zinn and “Grand Love” by Judy Turner was not distributed to all participants but were given to the group facilitator for participants to share and participants were made aware of the availability of the books, if needed.

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4.2 Information group events

Bega Show: Promoting and raising issues in relation to grandparents The information group events were not recurring events in the plan and tended to be one-off activities that were already planned in established communities. These events were organised to

1) Create awareness of the issues and bring these issues to the public 2) Make grandparents as carers feel less isolated and less alone, giving them the opportunity to

meet other grandparent carers. 3) Facilitate access to valuable information 4) Gather information and feedback on grandparent carers needs in the area 5) To connect grandparents together 6) To work with community partners that had the same interests outlined above

Most of these events were initiated by COTA NSW in partnership with local community service providers such as Connecting Carers (Bega Show), Barnardo’s (Shell Harbour). However in some cases events were already planned but needed the assistance of additional partners who were interested to support grandparent carers, for example, the Fairfield event. It took several months to try to organise a support group in Bega. This did not develop even though there was strong feedback from community service providers and grandparents in the region stating that there was a need for one. Therefore, instead of leaving Bega out of the plan, an information event was held there to bring community awareness to grandparents raising grandchildren. At the end, grandparent carers were referred to the local Connecting Carers group. Often these events were already targeted to older people, grandparents or grandparent carers. The purpose was to connect and network with community service providers in the area to let them know about grandparent issues or to seek partnerships for forming prospective support groups. The other purpose of attending these types of events was to target grandparent carers who may attend and need information. The events varied in size from larger trade show style events or a stand at a local show/fair. At fairs and shows, information sheets and show bags were given out targeting grandparent carers.

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Information forums, targeted to grandparent carers, were also included in this type of ‘information’ style event. In the forums participants normally sat in a theatre style manner and guest speakers talked about issues relating to raising grandchildren. There was usually a Q&A session to inform participants of the available help outside. The information events approach was to assist coordinating events that were already planned by community service providers targeting grandparent carers. This was different to a support group event as this was a larger event that had information stalls and guest speakers from different community service providers.

1. Hornsby: Participants were seated in theatre style seating and listened to guest speakers including Centrelink Grandparent Advisors, Connecting Carers NSW regional Coordinator and the Local Council Community Development Officer. There was a question and answer session at the end and participants did not have to actively provide personal individual stories to share. Information resources were available for participants to take home to read ta their own leisure and time.

2. Bega: In conjunction with Connecting Carers NSW, a grandparent information booth was set up at the Bega Show to raise community awareness of grandparents, relative and foster carers. Information resources and promotional material were available included legal and financial information. Information was gathered for potential interest in support groups for the area and passers-by were encouraged to provide contact details for future group participation. This information booth was held from 9am to 10pm for three days with the assistant of Connecting Carers NSW and grandparent volunteers.

3. Seniors Week Sydney: Participants were invited to an information event during Senior’s Week in Sutherland. Partnering with the Centrelink Grandparent Advisor, a luncheon was provided and guest speakers were informed about the Grandparent Advisors from Centrelink, COTA NSW, Grandparents As Parents Again group (GAPA). A speech from a grandparent caring for her grandchildren was also shared with the group. Information resources were available for participants to take home and information gathered for potential interest in support groups for the area.

4. Shell Harbour: In conjunction with Barnardos an information event for grandparent carers was organised to bring local community service providers and grandparent carers together. Participants were seated in theatre style and guest speakers spoke in front of participants with question and answers session at the end. Guest speakers included Legal Aid, Connecting Carers, Barnados, Local Council and the local librarian. Information kits were distributed to the participants.

5. Lake Macquarie: In conjunction with Samaritans, the first part of the event included theatre style presentations to grandparents as carers by speakers including Legal Aid, Samaritans and COTA NSW. This was followed by a question and answer session and lunch. The second part of the event included a grandparent carer’s storybook launch, which included participants from the local high school, local MP and local TV media. The book, “Grandlove” written by Judy Turner, is a grandparent caring for her grandchildren. Over twenty five copies of her books were purchased for distribution for other support groups in other areas to read and share. After this event, Judy Turner was featured in channel 7’s Today Tonight program on grandparent carers in Australia. Other grandparents in our networks were also featured in the documentary which aired Australia wide.

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4.3 Social group events

The Hornsby Waitara picnic was targeted to CALD grandparents raising their grandchildren. Facilitators included local entertainer, Local Council, Connecting Carers and Mission Australia. Intergenerational recreational activities included sing and play and parachute games with grandparents and their grandchildren.

Social events, like information day events, were not regular recurring events. They usually consisted of a picnic or day out for the grandparent carers. The focus was not on speakers, but rather on providing an opportunity for grandparent carers and their grandchildren to share time together and meet other grandparent carers in a supportive atmosphere. Information bags were given out at these events and kid’s entertainment was also common. One of the reasons why this was important was because a lot of CALD groups were not familiar with support groups, so this was a way of introduction them to each other and encouraging them to come together. The social events were often held in response to grandparents and community services providers giving us feedback that there was a need for that type of activity in the area.

1. Bankstown: This event was proposed to bring together members of a previously existing grandparent group that had disbanded and potential new participants by having a social lunch. There had been some feedback from the local community that a grandparent raising grandchildren support group was needed again in the area. Before the event happened, the Project Coordinator was hospitalised, nevertheless the social lunch went ahead with the help of community partner, Creating Links Bankstown.

2. Hornsby Waitara: A picnic with CALD grandparents raising their grandchildren was organised in partnership with Mission Australia. It was suggested that a social event instead of a support group would be more appropriate for this group. Participants included a local entertainer, the local council, Connecting Carers and Mission Australia. Intergenerational recreational activities were provided for the grandparents and their grandchildren.

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3. Mount Pritchard: This event was designed to attract a mix of participants from different cultural backgrounds. Partners in this event included the local council, local CALD groups, and Community First Step Fairfield. Participants took part in in physical activities including line dancing, light Zumba classes and gentle exercise classes with lunch provided at the conclusion of the event.

3. Fairfield RSL: The social event was organised in conjunction with Community First Step

Fairfield and the Spanish and Latin-American communities in NSW (SLASA). The day involved gathering information and feedback from grandparent carers to better understand their needs in the area. This event also had information stalls around the hall including information stalls from Centrelink, Connecting Carers, Playgroup NSW and COTA NSW. Entertainment was provided as well as a grandparents hand massage pampering session. Information bags were distributed to the participants and a lunch provided on the day.

4. NSW Grandparents Day: This event included inviting several family groups to the first Grandparents Day event at Taronga Zoo. This included groups from culturally diverse background such as Spanish and Chinese grandparent groups.

5. Georges River Xmas: This end of year social event was organised in order to have a closer

network and relationship with the Georges River group. No formal speakers were invited and a social BBQ was organised. Participants were able to gain trust and establish a better relationship with the program. This lead to an increase in participation in other Grandparent events such as GRaKCA meetings and the Grandparent Parliamentary forum at Parliament House.

6. GAPA Port Macquarie Xmas: Though the Grandparents as Parents Again (GAPA) group have

been a strong partner with COTA and GRaKCA, the majority of the members did not have direct contact with COTA NSW project officer. The purpose of this event was to bring all GAPA members from the North Coast region together for an end of year social event. A buffet style lunch was provided for the grandparents and grandchildren and club activities such as Putt Putt and waterslides was open to the participants. Additionally, GAPA also presented handmade personalised quilts to new members.

NSW Grandparents Day 2011 at Taronga Zoo

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4.4 Grandparent, Relative and Kinship Carers Alliance (GRaKCA) meetings

COTA NSW developed the Grandparents Relatives and Kinship Caring Alliance in August 2008. The GRaKCA Alliance, with the support of COTA NSW, works with key stakeholders across NSW to advocate for grandparent, relative and kinships carers to be better supported and networked. The GRaKCA meetings were planned so that feedback and information from community service providers, group facilitators and grandparents were heard. GRaKCA meetings are open to any related grandparent and kinship service provider and grandparent advocate. The first meeting of the original Alliance was held on the 3rd September 2008 and the last was held on 4th August 2009 (estimated to have one meeting every two months). The Alliance was re-started again in 20120, with the first meeting was on 22nd September. COTA was able to provide further support to the GRaKA groups through the Support Group Project, with five GRaKCA meetings undertaken in Sydney, Tamworth, Wagga, Newcastle and Port Macquarie during the course of the project. GRaKCA associates were invited to network and participate in selected locations. Most of the locations were chosen because of a high presence of advocates and grandparent community leaders in the areas. GRaKCA meetings in the metropolitan areas have a higher turnout due to many community service providers within the area. Regional areas had a lower number of community service providers but higher numbers of grandparent carer participants. Traditionally the meetings start with introducing members and then a facilitator/guest chairperson discusses issues that relate to grandparent carers. Each associate then in turn responds to these issues about their community service provider, their groups and/or their situation.

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During the project five GRaKCA meetings were held. They included 1. GRaKCA Meeting, Sydney, 22 March 2011 2. GRaKCA Meeting, Tamworth, 7th July 2011 3. GRaKCA Meeting, Wagga Wagga, 15th September 2011 4. GRaKCA Meeting, Newcastle, 28th November 2011 5. GRaKCA Port Macquarie, 19th January 2012

Sydney GRaKA meeting

Port Macquarie GRaKA meeting

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4.5 Website Activity - The Grandparents Raising Grandparents NSW website

Grandparents Raising Grandchildren NSW (GRG NSW) website began in 2005 with funding provided by a Sydney Community Foundation Grant. The website has helped raise awareness and provide information and referrals to grandparents raising their grandchildren, as well as community service providers. The grant was as given by a grandson in remembrance of the grandparents who raised him. COTA NSW is grateful for this initial contribution which enabled us to develop online information for grandparents until 2009. The website has been a valuable tool for networking, referral and information. Funds from the Support Group project have enabled the website to continue to be developed. Improvements to the site include a revamped design and layout, including easier navigation to resources and information. The site now includes a full ‘map’ of support groups and other related activities in regions across NSW. COTA NSW continues to regularly update the support group page with information on support groups in NSW and grandparent playgroups by region, suburb and contact details. During the course of the project grandparent-related events were also promoted through the website, with community group events relating to grandparent groups and activities featured in the events and news pages. Additionally, the website was used as a marketing tool to send out flyer links i.e. if there was a media release or community interest information sheet this PDF would be uploaded and linked to the website allowing COTA NSW and community service providers and grandparents to easily forward the information flyer on without having to attach the document to their emails. This allowed for better mass marketing as document attachment size was dramatically reduced and individuals felt more comfortable forwarding a link to their networks instead of a large attachment file. Since the project began the website has experienced a significant increase in activity (see results section 5: 5.5). The website can be found at www.raisinggrandchildrencom.au

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5 Results

The target was to deliver five GRaKA meetings and 20 support and information based activities for a total of 25 activities. Twenty eight activities over the four main activity categories were delivered over the course of the Project, three more than the target number.

5.1 Support group results

Attendee numbers The highest numbers of attendees were at the Lismore group, followed by Port Macquarie and Tamworth. Wagga Wagga had the lowest number of attendees. One of the main factors why Lismore had higher numbers was the fact that the Tweed Valley grandparent group was invited to come and support the Lismore group. The Tweed Valley group spoke about their experiences of running a support group and how they managed to keep the group going for over 10 years. Other factors influencing attendee numbers at each location depended on local community partners, local council contact, local grandparent advocates and if there were other grandparent support groups in the region. For example, Lismore and Port Macquarie had additional attendee numbers because some of the attendees came from neighbouring support groups.

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Attendee numbers

Community Partnerships The high numbers of participants in both the Lismore and Port Macquarie groups correlated with the greatest number of community partners.

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5.2. Information group results

Information group events traditonally was conducted in a theatre style event, where guest speakers spoke in front of participants sitting in rows. Though Bega’s event provided information to grandparents it was not in the tradionaly theatre style. Partnering with Connecting Carers NSW, Bega’s event was held as a information stand at the local Agriuclutual Show. This allowed information to be distributed manually and verbally to passers by.

Number of participants Dependant on the location and how the information group event was conducted the attendee number per information group varied. Lake Macquarie had the largest roll up of people, with over 100 people attending the (descibe the event here Danny) by Bega with over 80 people. For example, because of the nature of the event, attendees at the Bega event was based on how many grandparents and families were spoken to, as well as how many information kits was distributed to people over the 3 day event. Lake Macquarie had the highest amount of attendees due to the nature of the event. The book launch and the presence of the local Member of Parliament drew a larger crowd for the later half of the event at Lake Macqaurie.

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Numbers of Information kits distributed Bega had many passers-by to the grandparent as carers information stand at the Bega Show. Initially, it was noticed that grandparents were not comfortable looking at the individual information on the table and were hesitant to take the information. With the help of Connecting Carers, we were able to package legal, financial and support information for the grandparents by distributing mesh info bags for grandparent carers. This allowed grandparents to leisurely analyses the information at their own time. Over ninety information bags were handed out over the three day event.

Note: Information kits contained information on Centrelink Grandparent Advisors, Legal Aid, Child Support, Medicare for Grandparent s, Statutory Declarations forms for informal grandparent carers, COTA programs and services, MyTime for Grandparents, Connecting Carers, Beyon Blue, Family Relationships Centre, Interrelate, Helpline and more.

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Number of community partners involved organising events

The below graphs shows how many times each community service provider has partnered with the project to organise a infromation group event. For example, Connecting Carers NSW have partnered three times in locations such as Hornsby, Bega and Shell Harbour in relation to information group events. This partnering includes and is not limted to, organising venues, information resources, promoting the event and organising speakers.

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5.3 Social group event results

Out of the twenty eight events that occurred during the course of the project, there were seven social group events. These events occurred in Bankstown, Hornsby/Waitara, Mount Pritchard, Fairfield, Grandparents Day, Georges River and Port Macquarie. The number of partners involved in supporting the social group event depended on the location. For example, some locations had only one community partner such as Port Macquarie where other locations such as the Hornsby Waitara social group event had at least three.

Community partners involved in organising the events

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Attendee numbers at social events The numbers of attendees differed from location to location depending on the social event involved. For example, Fairfield had a high turn out because the avaible funding for this event did not just come from COTA NSW but also from he community partner, who already scheduled the event in their community plan. COTA NSW assisted by promoting and subsidsing the event and partcipated in the pre-planning of the event. On the other hand, the Georges River social event was based suporting an end of year gathering for the current group of participants. This event did not target new people, but was a chance for existing group particpants to gather on a social level at the end of the year.

Speakers at social events

Social events did not traditonally have guest speakers. If guest speakers were present, they were there to introduce themselves and there service and make particpants feel that they can approach the speakers if they had further queries. Bankstown, NSW Grandparents Day and Georges River social events did not have any formal speakers planned. Instead was focused more on networking and establishing relationships and then allowing the particpants to network and get to know each other. Other events such as the Hornsby Waitara, Mount Pritchard ,Fairfield and Port Macquarie social events did have speakers introducing themselves and their services at the beginning of the event.

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Information kits distributed at social events

Information kits distributed at the social events varied depending on the location and purpose. Fairfield, Mount Pritchard and Hornsby Waitara saw the most information t distributed as these events specifically promoted the fact that there was to be information and resources distributed to attendees. The other social events were strictly social and networking based. Particpants going to these events may have already had access to rerouces and information and were there for a social outing as a group. Bankstown was the only location that did not have any information distributed to partipatnts due to the Project Officer being ill.

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5.4 GRaKA group results

The GRaKCA meetings were held at different metropolitan and regional areas to gain a wider perspective of issues relating to raising grandchildren. The areas included Sydney metropolitan, Tamworth, Wagga Wagga and Newcastle. The numbers of attendees depended on where the meetings were held. In the Sydney metro area there were over 20 participants. Regional areas had participant numbers ranging from 10 to 15 people. GRaKCA meetings in the metropolitan areas had a higher turnout due to the many community service providers within the area. Regional areas had a lower turn out of community service providers but higher number of grandparents. Traditionally, the meetings started with the introduction of each member and then later a facilitator/guest chairperson discusses issues that relate to grandparent carers. Each associate then in turn responded to issues raised. GRaKCA plans to continue to have regular meetings throughout 2012 with four meetings in NSW in 2012. GRaKCA meetings allow the sustainability of networks and relationship to continue and sow the seeds for better communication and support networks for Grandparents Day. GRaKCA has built up a reputation as a formal body that advocates for grandparents and kinship carers. This has been demonstrated by the increase in numbers of members being invited to take part in government stakeholders groups for their region in regards to Grandparenting issues. Additionally, sharing of contacts between the Alliance is encouraged, amounting to a quicker group response to relevant grandparent issues. Additionally, a GRaKCA database has been developed in order to provide prompt information distribution to members. Currently there are 208 GRaKCA contacts on the database.

Attendee numbers and locations

Key participants involved with GRAKCA meetings GRaKCA associates and attendees normally included participants from Grandparents as Parents Again (GAPA), Samaritans, Hunter GRaKCA, Springwood Neighbourhood Cooperative Centre (SNCC), Mission Australia Nowra, Connecting Carers NSW, Salvation Army Wollongong, Auburn, ACWA, Connecting Carers, Tamworth Council, Albury foster group, Relationships Australia Wagga Wagga and Centacare Wagga Wagga. GRaKCA meetings were not organised with any community service providers. Community service providers however did forward the GRaKCA meeting invites/flyers to their networks and associations so the wider community could participate in the GRaKCA meetings.

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5.5 The Grandparents Raising Grandchildren (GRG) website

Increased traffic to the GRG website over the course of the project can be seen to be an indicator of

the effectiveness of the program’s activities over that period. The Raising Grandchildren website

gained over 16, 378 page views over the project’s period. Most of the project views related to the

home page, news events page and support groups page. The majority of the visitors came from

NSW with a total of 2.84 thousand people visiting the site during the period (see below graph).

These include both new and repeat visitors per month. The majority of the visitors come to the site

via Google, and secondly by typing in the direct website address. The website also links to the

raisinggrandchildren youtube channel. Although the website features stories of grandparent

carers, it is important to extend the effectiveness of these stories by developing a channel where

grandparents can view stories from Australia and around the by viewing clips on line. This can be

access via www.youtube/raisinggrandchildren

The above graph shows the overall time frame for visitor numbers to the GRG website. There were over 3, 205 hits to the home page and over 1,291 accessing the news and events page over the same period. Additionally, 1,161 hits were recorded to the supports group page during the same period. Page reference key 1./ = Home page 2./=news-and-events = events 3./=supportive-groups = support information 4./=page1173440 = news 5./=default = Home page ↓ 9./=page116111 = GRaKCA

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The above graph shows the hits recorded during certain periods. For example, on June 22nd 2011 there was a spike on the number of hits to the GRG website. Additionally, there was another spike with the release information of Grandparents Day on 24 August, 2011. The above graph also shows that the majority of people accessing the GRG website are from a google search and those that enter www.raisinggrandchildren.com.au directly to the internet address page. COTA NSW has the third highest referral to the website. This demonstration can also be shown on the below graph.

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[

The above graph shows both new and retruning customers to the GRG website. February shows a dip because the statistics do not take into account the whole month.

Countries visiting the raisinggrandchildren.com.au website

The above graph indicates that the majority of hits come from Australian viewers with some from overseas. It indicates that the information is tailored to the Australian target market. Again February stats show a decrease because the full month data was not taken into account.

5.6. Additional findings - Culturally and linguistically diverse community (CALD) results CALD participant numbers in support group events

The highest number of CALD participants in support groups was in the George’s River, Lismore and Port Macquarie groups. There were no CALD participants at the Lithgow, Singleton or Camden groups. The attendee numbers of CALD particpants varied depending on the event type. Social events had more CALD participants where support group events had a lower percentage of CALD particpants. From the gragh below CALD participants in regional areas such as Lithgow, Singleton and Wagga Wagga were minimal. On the other hand CALD percentages in support groups in metropolitan areas such as Georges River, Liverpool and Blacktown were much higher. This could be a reflection of how many CALD residents there are in those locations and/or how connected they are to community service providers in the region.

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CALD participant numbers in information group events

Partnering with Hornsby Council allowed the increase of numbers of CALD participants from local playgroups and community centres. Many of the CALD participants were already affiliated with the local council and other programs. For example, Hornsby Council was able to target CALD communities via the existing community development officer.

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CALD Participant numbers in social group events

The above graph indicates that at the social events in Hornsby Waitara, Mount Pritchard and Fairfield the numbers of CALD participants were greater than 50%. Hornsby Waitara had the greatest number of CALD participants because most were from a previous CALD Sing and Play group for grandparents. This group did not have further funding, so a social event was organised with Mission Australia Hornsby to bring these people together in a causal non-confrontational event. Mission Australia Hornsby also had a CALD speaking officer which also helped increase the numbers of CALD participants attending the event. Mount Pritchard and Fairfield also had close ties with their local CALD communities and the use of CALD community partners increase the CALD percentage rates to these events as well.

CALD Participant numbers at GRAKCA Meetings

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6 Addressing the four major initiatives/strategies

6.1. Identify and connect with relevant stakeholders

The key stakeholders involved in the Project were from community groups, government departments, local councils and individual grandparents. The aim was to connect relevant stakeholders through the various activities initiated in the project, to strengthen networks and improve access to information and support for grandparent carers. Some stakeholders already had a relationship with COTA NSW via previous GRaKCA meetings or had attended previous Grandparent Forums organised by COTA NSW. Other stakeholders (became involved through recommendations and referrals and in various regions. Some had not had contact with COTA NSW before, but were referred by individuals from GRaKCA etc. Community service providers were important stakeholders in the project. For example, partners such as Mission Australia and Family Relationship Centres provided no cost venues for the events as well as crucial support information to the participants i.e. counselling and family mediation service information. Other community services such as Connecting Carers NSW brought both knowledge and resources to the participants. Connecting Carers were able inform the participants about respite care and carers camps to the participants as well as hand out valuable information and gifts. In many locations, Legal Aid and Centrelink were the main information providers for grandparent carers. Both organisations provided professional legal and financial advice to group participants directly and were also involved in question and answer sessions. Other community groups such as Grandparents as Parents Again (GAPA), Samaritans Central Coast, Springwood Neighbourhood Centre Co-operative (SNCC) also provided information and resources for participants. These community groups would often talk about their involvement with other groups and what other groups had experienced. COTA NSW regularly informs these stakeholders of any news and events and also provides additional support by providing updated flyers for the groups and linking these groups to the www.raisinggrandchildren.com.au website.

The Grandparent, Relative and Kinship Carer Alliance (GRaKCA) is an group made up of stakeholders members who had a vested interested in grandparents and kinship carers. Members are from community service providers such as Family Relationship Centres, Interrelate, Grandparents as Parents Again groups, Connecting Carer groups, local councils, government departments such as Centrelink, facilitators of Grandparent support groups and strong advocates for grandparent carers.

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Many GRaKCA participants were previously involved with the GRaKCA meetings that were held in 2009 and 2010. GRaKCA meetings were targeted to community service providers and groups leaders / facilitators of grandparent-related groups. Some of the participants were individual grandparents who were interested in advocating for grandparent carers rights. Because the participants came from variety of backgrounds, locations and positions, this enabled information to be shared in GRaKCA meetings to be varied and open. This open communication was helped by having GRaKCA as an open meeting i.e. no formal presidents, secretaries etc. All the GRAKCA meetings were organised by COTA NSW during the course of the Project. The meetings allowed relevant stakeholders to come together, network and open up communication between the stakeholders.

6.2 Map support groups

At the conclusion of the project it was crucial to map the existing support groups in NSW by region. Names and contact information for the current groups are listed in the new Grandparents Raising Grandchildren- a Networking Resource and on the www.raisinggrandchildren.com.au website. Information on the website is regularly updated to reflect any changes and to include new groups. The new resource document accompanies this Report.

6.3 Provide a strategic guide to action

An important outcome of the grandparent support group project is the creation of a new resource document; Grandparents Raising Grandchildren- a Networking Resource (see the accompanying document to this Report). The guide provides an overview or map of grandparenting groups around NSW, a step-by-step action guide to creating a new grandparenting group and a resource guide for grandparent carers.

6.4. Develop a sustainable program of support

The work done during the course of the project has increased grandparents carer activities across a number of regions in New South Wales. By strengthening the network of groups and bringing them closer together, each group is able to support and sustain the other by sharing information and guest speakers and by having different members of each group visit each other’s group. In addition, the development of the support group page on the www.raisinggrandchildren.com.au website allows potential grandparent carers to source local or regional groups and other related activities in their area and to source information related to raising grandchildren. For example, the Lismore group have ongoing visits and support from members of the Tweed group. The Goulburn group have visitors and speakers from the Nowra group and regular bus trips for each group to visit the other.

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Out of 11 support groups established, 10 are intending to meet regularly after the project has concluded. The Lithgow group did not continue after the initial meeting. The event in Lithgow aimed to create a support group specifically for grandparents caring for their grandchildren however Connecting Carers Lithgow had an existing foster carer’s support group that included grandparents raising their grandchildren. So although members of the Springwood group travelled to Lithgow to support the group, the needs of members of the prospective group were already being met through the Connecting Carers group. In addition, GRaKCA provides an established network for grandparents, kinship carers and community service providers with over two hundred GRaKCA contacts. These contacts are regularly informed about news and events relating to grandparents and kinships carers.

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7 Issues and limitations

7.1. Time limited project and staff As the project is time limited COTA NSW will not be able to offer the same level of hands-on assistance to groups and to grandparents wanting to form new groups. The ability to continue to partner with other stakeholders in different regions around NSW to provide information and social based events is also now limited. The ongoing work necessary to undertake these events includes organising venues, networking with service providers and their stakeholders, organising guest speakers and communicating information about meetings to the wider community. In addition, continuing to provide support groups and other activities to grandparent carers around NSW also needs the ongoing support of local councils and their communities. COTA NSW will continue to provide support through the GRaKA Alliance, the GRG website, the Grandparents Day project and will communicate regularly with grandparents around NSW through the networks.

7.2 Flexibility support is needed Some grandparent carers, CALD participants and often men, feel less comfortable intimate settings. For this reason a variety of activities were developed around providing information and social interaction, rather than support group models that involved more direct forms of sharing feelings, experiences and providing emotional support. The planned events therefore were adapted to meet the needs of the participants and the local community partners’ feedback and requests. For example, instead of a closed room where people sat in circles discussing issues and feelings, some groups had to be outdoors in an open environment to allow greater interaction between the participants. Some groups were successful in the beginning, but participation slowed because grandparents came and met new people, received what information they needed and didn’t feel that they need to come to the group again. That is supported by feedback from community groups that gave feedback that some members did not return because they “had their needs met” and “got to know some people” and decided to meet privately in their own time.

Further resources are needed to ensure the gains made during the year-long project are not lost. This ongoing work should be considered a fundamental part of the Out of Home Care kinship carer program and build on the groups and networks established during the course of the Project.

A flexible range of support activities for grandparent carers are needed according to the region, cultural mix and varying needs of the grandparents caring for their grandchildren.

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7.3 Grandparent carers are stigmatised, stoic and time poor.

The stigma felt by grandparent carers increases their isolation and their ability to reach out and gain support and information. More needs to be known about the stigma associated with grandparents raising their grandchildren. Some grandparent carers felt that they needed help, but did not wish to access services such support groups because they believed it was their responsibility and they did not like the idea of “handouts”. Other grandparent carers struggled to attend groups because they had “too much on their plates” and believed that some of the groups gave a negative tone to raising grandchildren (i.e. always complaining about the bad things in relation to raising grandchildren instead of what a positive experience it is). Often people preferred to go to a group out of their suburb as opposed to the one closest to them because of the stigma associated with grandparenting.

7.4 Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islanders A gap in the deliverables for the project was the ability to establish groups in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, where trust and building relationships is an issue. Initially, various locations were chosen to focus on Aboriginal and kinship carer groups. These locations were jointly agreed with a key contact at the Aboriginal Child, Family and Community Care State Secretariat NSW (AbSec). Plans and budgeting for these events did go ahead for the events to occur in these locations. However due to a change in position at AbSec with the key contact, plans for these locations faded as a new relationship within the time frame of the project. ASTI groups were targeted in the North Coast with groups promoting and extending invitations out to ASTI groups at local events. Though many respondents stated that they were keen to join, many did not turn up. Additionally another group was planned for Western NSW. The relationship was built up for over three months over the phone however due to resources and time, a one on one face to face relationship could not be developed. It became evident that due to the short duration of the project, combined with the broad geographical area being covered by only one full time project officer, it was agreed that it was difficult to be able to commit the time necessary to generate contacts and establish the necessary relationships in ASTI communities.

A specific program needs to be developed to help enable Aboriginal grandparent and kinship carers to establish new groups. Regular communication and meaningful relationships would be needed to establish trust before starting any activity.

Further research is needed to investigate the stigma experienced by grandparent carers and how to address that stigma.

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7.5 Cultural and linguistically diverse communities Though many members of CALD communities participated in the Project’s social and information events, participants were less comfortable with the concept of sharing their experiences in a more intimate support group setting. In addition, many CALD communities did not understand the support available to them because either the language varied in terms of literature available or the language of the guest speaker was incompatible with their own. Financial and legal information and advice was welcomed and needed by the majority of the grandparents and CALD grandparents was no exception. Legal Aid and Centrelink provided excellent speakers and resources. CALD grandparents were hesitant to ask questions because of language skills and sometimes relied on local community partners to translate for them (in the case of Hornsby Waitara group). Though valuable legal and financial resources were available in many languages, many CALD grandparent carers were not able to understand the speakers and were not able to get their questions answered effectively.

7.6 Rural and remote grandparents and kinship carers raising their grandchildren The isolation of grandparents as carers were felt more in regional and remote communities. Access to support group and information was limited, increasing the isolation barrier. Although funding was provided for regional areas, remote areas could not be included because of cost feasibility. There is a need to consider how grandparents who are isolated in rural and remote areas and caring for their grandchildren can be better connected to support, services and information.

7.7 Resources for distribution

Though the information was invaluable to grandparents as carers, acquiring the information sheets and resources was difficult because of time and logistics. For example, the Centrelink information was very helpful for grandparent carers however Centrelink had a centralised distribution centre which allowed community service providers to order and access resources at this centre. Because grandparent carer information was not included in this centralised distribution centre, ordering of these resources had to go through the local Centrelink offices or via the Grandparent Centrelink advisors. This meant that the local offices and the Centrelink Grandparent Advisors had to physically pack and courier the information to COTA NSW to distribute. Similarly, some info sheets and publications were not made for print i.e. some Child Support and Medicare information as well as the Informal Statuary Declaration for informal carers. This meant that COTA NSW had to physically print and compile the resources for distribution in the info kits. This needed to be done because many grandparents and community service providers did not have the budget or resources

Greater support for community CALD speakers and presenters is needed, particularly for legal and financial information for grandparents as carers. There is also a need to develop better linkages for CALD grandparent carers to available resources and information, including face to face advice.

A specific program needs to be developed that addresses the unique needs of grandparent carers living in rural and remote communities.

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to print over ten copies of the information resources. Currently, when groups contact COTA NSW for resources of information kits, it is difficult to address their needs as there is no budget for couriering these information packs to the particular groups or community service providers i.e. some community service providers such as local area health service providers have contacted COTA NSW for grandparent information packs. COTA NSW is limited to send one or two packs per request because of cost and logistics. Each information pack may weigh up to 1.5 to 2 kilos. Postage cost is expensive and bulky. The community service provider is then encouraged to reorder the resources themselves.

7.8 The new resource needs funding for printing and distribution

The newly created resource, Grandparents Raising Grandchildren- a Networking Resource, has been produced in soft copy PDF format and will be loaded on both the COTA NSW and GRG websites. However, hard copy versions of this important resource need to be made available to grandparent carers around NSW. This resource needs to be printed and distributed from a centralised location to local councils, community services providers, Centrelink and support groups around the State.

Easy, centralised access to both Commonwealth and State based information for grandparent and kinship carers are needed.

Funding is needed for the printing of the new grandparent carer resource, Grandparents Raising Grandchildren – a networking resource. Funding should include distribution costs.

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8 Recommendations in summary

8.1 Further resources are needed to ensure the gains made during the year-long project are not

lost. This ongoing work should be considered a fundamental part of the Out of Home Care kinship carer program and build on the groups and networks established during the course of the Project.

8.2 A flexible range of support activities for grandparent carers are needed according to the region, cultural mix and varying needs of the grandparents caring for their grandchildren.

8.3 Further research is needed to investigate the stigma experienced by grandparent carers and

how to address that stigma. 8.4 A specific program needs to be developed to help enable Aboriginal grandparent and kinship

carers to establish new groups. Regular communication and meaningful relationships would be needed to establish trust before starting any activity.

8.5 Greater support for community CALD speakers and presenters is needed, particularly for

legal and financial information for grandparents as carers. There is also a need to develop better linkages for CALD grandparent carers to available resources and information, including face to face advice.

8.6 A specific program needs to be developed that addresses the unique needs of grandparent

carers living in rural and remote communities. 8.7 Easy, centralised access to both Commonwealth and State based information for grandparent

and kinship carers is needed.

8.8 Funding is needed for the printing of the new grandparent carer resource, Grandparents Raising Grandchildren – a networking resource. Funding should include distribution costs.

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9 Conclusion

This year long project has helped strengthen grandparent/kinship carers community networks in regions across NSW by initiating 28 informational, social and support groups activities, developing and promoting the GRG website and creating a ‘how to’ resource guide of information and referrals for grandparent carers. This strengthened network provides an opportunity to continue to improve communication between communities of grandparent carers and provides stronger opportunities to grandparent to articulate their needs and concerns around grandparent carer issues.

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10. Appendix

10.1 Table of results

The Project Plan includes tables that describe the four major project strategies. These same tables have been cross referenced here with data from the Project to provide information on outputs and deliverables. Project Initiatives/strategies

1. Stakeholders – Identify, Connect and Network

PEAK ACTIVITY 5%

Stakeholders – Identify, Connect and Network

Description

The aims of this strategy are to utilise and expand current network systems and develop connections with stakeholders to ensure grandparent issues are supported. Additionally, corporate connections will be utilised in order for support groups to be more self-sufficient and sustainable in the long term.

Priorities / Major Initiatives

a) Initiate further GRaKCA group meetings

In total there were five GRaKCA Meetings held over the two years, which included locations in Sydney, Tamworth, Wagga Wagga, Newcastle and Port Macquarie

b) Attend stakeholder meetings in relation to grandparents raising their grandchildren

There were multiple Legal Aid Informational meetings that related to grandparents raising their grandchildren, these meetings focused on Family Law, Care and Protection & Young People and the Law. These meetings provided updated information on legal issues that grandparents may face and where they can get information.

c) Attend stakeholder meetings in relation to grandchildren/carers

There were multiple meetings held by Mission Australia. These meetings enabled grandparents to learn about COTA NSW and the GRaKCA Alliance. These meetings also provided an opportunity to let people know about the www.raisinggrandchildren website. There were also multiple meetings held by local councils that enabled grandparents in the local area to know who COTA NSW is and what GRaKCA is all about.

d) Produce contact guide for grandparent support group leaders

The creation of the first version of the Grandparent Resource guide, which contains current information, and addresses issues that grandparents may have.

e) Brand and market GRaKCA

GRaKA has been promoted on the Grandparents Raising Grandchildren website and at local support group meetings to encourage them to be part of the Alliance.

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Stakeholders

a) Aboriginal /AbSec

b) CALD communities/ECC/Migrant Resource Centre’s

c) Local Government and Shires Association (LGSA)

d) Local Community Services Association (LCSA)

e) Grandparent support groups

f) Legal Aid

g) Area Health Services

h) Centrelink/Child Support Agency/Dep Human Services

i) Family Law Reform

j) GLBTI communities

k) Family Relationship Centres

l) ACWA

m) Create NSW

n) OOHC

o) Connecting Carers

p) Police Citizen Youth Clubs/ Police community Liaison Officer

q) Community Builders

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r) Local Rotary’s, Lions Clubs, Churches and charities

Key Outputs / Deliverables

a) Create additional awareness of grandparents issues

The use and creation of information kits with Centrelink Grandparent Advisor information, Legal Aid Grandparent information, Child Support Information, Medicare for Grandparent information, Stac Dec for informal carers, COTA information, MyTime for Grandparents information, Connecting Carers information, Beyond Blue information, Family Relationship Information, Interrelate information, Helpline information and other Centrelink related information

b) Have an official contact network for services providers

This is done through information days, at key support groups and at GRaKCA meetings held at key locations.

c) Encourage and harness communication between stakeholders

This is done through GRaKCA meetings where stakeholders can meet and communicate with each other and are able to seek relevant information from the people that have the current knowledge and expertise in the field.

Performance Measures

a) Changes in access to information and referrals for grandparents

There was a total of 645 information kits given out at informational group meetings this can be seen in the break-down of the each meeting type below:

Social Group

(Support Groups)

b) Number of factsheets distributed

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There was numerous amounts of factsheets what were distributed, as there was one of the following put in each information kit Centrelink Grandparent Advisor information, Legal Aid Grandparent information, Child Support Information, Medicare for Grandparent information, Stac Dec for informal carers, COTA information, MyTime for Grandparents information, Connecting Carers information, Beyond Blue information, Family Relationship Information, Interrelate information, Helpline information and other Centrelink related information

c) Feedback forms from service providers, grandparents and individuals

Feedback is gathered by surveys that have been taken by the attendees of the meeting and also by facilitators’ comments after the meeting through emails. Feedback is also given collected by having letters sent from local councils to that state show appreciated they are to have ‘developed a relationship with COTA NSW’

d) Number of individual CALD/Indigenous and GLBTI involved

This can be seen in the following graphs that show the number of CALD individuals that attended each meeting. Information Group Meetings

Support Group Meetings

Social Group Meetings

e) Changes in government support for grandparents

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Through advocacy, Centrelink created a Grandparent Advisor position, which has improved the ability of grandparents to find support and information. Grandparent Advisors have the training and knowledge to answer questions that grandparents have about their Centrelink payments and any other Centrelink related issues.

f) Awareness levels of issues relating to grand parenting

This was done through the inaugural Grandparents Day that was announced by The Hon. Barry O'Farrell. Also through a Grandparents Forum at Parliament House in early 2012.

g) Response of service providers a)

h) Number of activity and events in NSW

There was a total of over 30 events that COTA NSW was involved in NSW to allow grandparents to access information that grandparents may have issues about.

i) Number of referrals made

This is evident in the amount of traffic has occurred in the Grandparents Raising Grandchildren (GRG) Website, as well as where they originally found the website.

j) How well the support group met the individuals expectations b)

This will be assessed through an evaluation of the project.

k) Data on referrals for legal, financial and health issues

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From the 23rd of May 2012 to February 12th, 2012 there have been 566 page views on financial information on Raisinggrandchildren Website, with an average of 40seconds spent on the page and 21 users who directly went to this page.

In total from the period above, there have been a total of 706 page views about legal information. These pages include general legal information, legal issues and about legal aid. The average time that each user spends on the page is 1:37 minutes and a direct access of 108 users to the page.

Also there have been 258 users who have been to the health and wellbeing page on the website, with the average time span on the page is 1:37minutes and direct page access of 17.

These statistics show that the website is a way that grandparents and community service providers are able to find informational relating to grandparents.

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2. Support Groups – Mapping, Identify, Encourage, Coordinate and Connect

PEAK ACTIVITY 70%

Support Groups – Mapping, Identify, Encourage, Coordinate and Connect

Description Map out potential grandparent and grandparent support group numbers NSW. To coordinate, encourage and promote more grandparents support groups.

Research and Sustain Current Support Groups a) Data of grandparents support groups in that region

This is done by creating a support groups page on the GRG Website, which allows for grandparents and service providers to contact and seek out support groups in each area. This is also done by creating and holding support group meetings in areas where there are none.

b) Data of attendees/participants

Below is a graph that picks the number of attendees that attended specific meetings held in conjunction with COTA NSW

c) Data of communities of older people

d) Rural other regional data

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e) Grandparent intergenerational event

This was done at The Bega Show…

f) Encourage Aboriginal support groups

This occurred early on in the project with building a relationship with key personnel in ABSec but did not develop as the project officer at ABSec not longer continued working there.

g) Work on location with support groups

There are currently over 100 support groups that have been confirmed and placed on the GRG website to allow grandparents find support around them.

h) Work with all networks including GRaKCA

This was done with the 31 meeting with local support groups and GRaKCA affiliates

i) CALD groups where are they, where they are not

j) Research what are the success stories and to share them

k) CALD/Indigenous/Regional and GLBTI info events

l) Quarterly meetings for support group leaders

This is done to by teleconference, GRaKCA meetings and…

m) Network and connect with local events and activities

Stakeholders

a) GRaKCA

b) ATSI/AbSec

c) CALD communities/ECC/Migrant Resource Centre’s

d) Local Government and Shires Association (LGSA)

Local Councils have partnered meeting in three times and have been a key speaker once at Support Groups, while at social group meetings they have partnered COTA NSW twice and have been a speaker once and while at Informational group meetings they have also partnered COTA NSW twice and been a speaker once.

e) Local Community Services Association

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f) Grandparent support groups

g) Legal Aid

Legal Aid have been a key speaker in six times at Support Groups Meeting, while at social group meetings they have partnered COTA NSW twice and have been a speaker once and while at Informational group meetings they have also partnered COTA NSW twice and been a speaker once.

h) Area Health Services

i) Centrelink/Child Support Agency/ Family and Community Services

j) Family Relationship Centres

k) Playgroups/kids nurseries

l) Connecting Carers

m) Police Citizen Youth Clubs

a) OOHC

n) Local Rotary’s, Lions Clubs, Churches and charities

o) Corporate: StGeorge, Woolworths, Bunnings/FlowerPower, local bakeries etc

Key Outputs / Deliverables

a) Intergenerational activities

b) Increase understanding of issues for grandparents

The use of the GRG Website to publish issues and help that grandparents may face throughout raising their grandchildren.

c) Understanding and support for Indigenous and CALD communities

d) Provide health, legal and financial information

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The participation and partnership between organisations like Legal Aid, Law Access, Centrelink and Medicare allow for grandparents and services providers to access information that relate to them and the problems that they may face.

e) Grandparents will be able to access physical information to take home

The physical information that grandparents are able to access are through the local support group facilitators or from the information kits that were handed out at group meetings. Below is a breakdown of information kits by group category.

Social Group

(Support Groups)

f) Create greater participation of grandparents in the community

g) De-Isolate grandparents

Performance a) Changes in access to information and referrals for grandparents

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Measures Grandparents are able to access information for a central place, this is through the Raisinggrandchildren website and this website enable community service providers to COTA NSW information, and this will enable to give it to grandparents.

b) Numbers of grandparent support groups

Currently there are over 100 grandparent support groups that are currently being listed on our website. These groups constant contact with us and are able to seeking and find information in order to support others that may be in the same situation.

c) Number of support leaders recruited

d) Number of factsheets distributed

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There was numerous amounts of factsheets what were distributed, as there was one of the following put in each information kit Centrelink Grandparent Advisor information, Legal Aid Grandparent information, Child Support Information, Medicare for Grandparent information, Stac Dec for informal carers, COTA information, MyTime for Grandparents information, Connecting Carers information, Beyond Blue information, Family Relationship Information, Interrelate information, Helpline information and other Centrelink related information. Below are the numbers of information kits given out in each meeting category.

Social Group

(Support Groups)

e) The level of regions covered

Currently we have support groups that cover all over the east coast of New South Wales. Regional areas that are covered are Mid-North Coast, Hunter, Central Coast, Blue Mountains, Illawarra, South East Region, New England, North Coast, Riverina and Sydney.

f) Feedback forms from service providers, grandparents and individuals

g) Number of individual CALD/Indigenous and GLBTI involved

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This can be seen in the following graphs that show the number of CALD individuals that attended each meeting. Information Group Meetings

Support Group Meetings

Social Group Meetings

h) Level of intergenerational activities and its sustainability

i) Changes in government support for grandparents

Centrelink was able to create a Grandparent Advisor position, which allowed grandparents to find information relating to them, as the Advisors were had the training and knowledge to answer questions that grandparents had about their Centrelink payments and any other Centrelink related issues.

j) Level of additional grandparent support groups

Performance Measures

k) Level of participation of individuals

l) Response of service providers

m) Number of activity and events in NSW

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There was a total of over 30 events that COTA NSW was involved in NSW to allow grandparents to access information that grandparents may have issues about.

n) Number of guest speakers in support groups

There was total of 28 different guest speakers that have participated in group meetings to provide information to grandparents about issues they may face.

o) How much has been done

p) How well it was done

q) Number of volunteers participating in activities and events

r) Amount of revenues raised for GRaKCA

s) Number of referrals made

t) How well the support group met the individuals expectations

u) Ratio of paid/volunteer staff of support groups

v) Number of support groups leaders drop out ration past and present

w) Number of hours support group leaders used

x) Number of intergenerational and event activities

y) Feedback from events and activities

z) Data on referrals for legal, financial and health issues

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3. Guide to Action – Strategies, resources and plans

PEAK ACTIVITY 10%

Guide to Action – Strategies, resources and plans

Description Encourage and develop an action plan for individuals and grandparent support groups to increase participation.

Priorities / Major Initiatives

a) Promote local knowledge/speakers i.e. legal, finance, health and parenting classes

This project promotes local community service providers to speak at meetings and allow for local interaction between the local community service providers.

b) Develop guides to include intergenerational and local community activities

c) Develop Indigenous contacts and resources

b) Network with Local Government and Shires Association (LGSA) & Local

c) Community Services Association (LCSA)

d) Encourage groups to establish plan of Action (issues raised, networks, next step plans)

e) Information Morning for grandparents (draw grandparents to groups & recruit potential support group leaders NSW wide

There were five information meetings for grandparents to be held to allow grandparents to seeking information that they may be seeking about issues they are having.

f) Information Afternoon for potential and current support group leaders NSW wide

g) Make use of current events and activities and tie them in with GRaKCA

The use of the ‘Parliamentary Forum: Grandchildren with a second chance’ held in March 2012 was an event that tied in all of the GRaKCA meetings, as it gave a chance for grandchildren to voice their about how they were affected by being raised by their grandparents.

h) Produce amateur grandparent advert/film for YouTube targeting grandkids, grandparents, carers, Indigenous, CALD and GLBTI communities)

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A raising grandchildren Youtube channel was developed in replace of this

i) Market to younger generation (parents of grandchildren to increase awareness for social support networks)

j) Branding the GRaKCA network in NSW

This was evident was in the use of the GRaKCA logo that was used at the bottom of each flyer that was produced for an event that was partnered or host by COTA NSW in relation to this project. The GRaKCA logo can be seen below.

Stakeholders

a) GRaKCA

b) ATSI/AbSec

c) CALD communities/ECC/Migrant Resource Centre’s

d) Local Government and Shires Association (LGSA)

e) Local Community Services Association

f) Grandparent support groups

g) Legal Aid

h) ACWA

i) Area Health Services

j) Centrelink/Child Support Agency/Dep Human Services

k) Family Law Reform

l) Family Relationship Centres

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m) Playgroups/kids nurseries

n) Connecting Carers

d) Police Citizen Youth Clubs/ Police community Liaison Officer

e) Local Rotary’s, Lions Clubs, Churches and charities

Key Outputs / Deliverables

a) To allow sustainability and self sufficiency

Groups were able to and given information and resource guides to where and how to find information about issues that relate to grand-parenting. This came with telephone calls/emails to keep up to date with all support groups and to have the ability to ask for COTA NSW to support them in holding an information session with them.

b) To encourage and harness intergenerational activities

Groups were encourages to have intergenerational activities by holding Christmas lunch together to allow for grandparents and their grandchildren to meet, have lunch and interact with each other and other people in the same situation. This was also done with the use of holding meetings/social gatherings at local parks and community centres with allowed for people to interact with each other and create closer connections with each other.

c) Allows support groups to communicate and network together in the long term

Groups are constantly encouraged to communicate together; this was done by allowing each group facilitator to become part of GRaKCA. GRaKCA is a platform for each facilitator to communicate with each other and seek out information on where the best information can be found and who can the group or person can contact and see about grand-parenting.

d) Allows grandparents to refer back to website or contact related links

Groups are encourage to constantly refer back to the website as we are constantly updating and changing the website to allow for grandparents and local community service providers to find information that grandparents are looking for. This is evident as we are constantly updating the grandparent support groups’ page, which enables grandparents to find their local support group and who the facilitator is. This is also evident as we are constantly updating information on the news page of our website with new Press Releases and grand-parenting news articles.

e) To encourage participation for the future

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Grandparents, Support Group facilitators and local community services providers are constantly being encouraged for future interaction between each other and with COTA NSW with COTA NSW holding events like Grandparents and The Law Forum, which was held in May to coincide with Law Week. This was an opportunity for grandparent and community service providers to interact and find information for certain issues that they may have.

f) Allows self-determination for individuals in the support groups

g) Promotes discussion of issues and plan of action

Performance Measures

a) Changes in access to information and referrals for grandparents

Since the Parliamentary Forum and the Grandparents and The Law Forum there has been an increase in the amount information the grandparents can access as Legal Aid, Family and Community Services are able to provide information on where to source and seek advice on issues that they have.

b) Numbers of grandparent support groups

c) Number of support leaders recruited

d) Feedback forms from service providers, grandparents and individuals

e) Number of individual CALD/Indigenous and GLBTI involved

f) Level of intergenerational activities and its sustainability

g) Level of visibility and awareness of support groups

h) Level of additional grandparent support groups

i) Level of participation of individuals

j) Media release and Public Relation material

k) Number of activity and events in NSW

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l) Number of referrals made

m) Number of intergenerational and event activities

n) Feedback from events and activities

o) Number of hits on YouTube/website and other links

4. Sustainability

PEAK ACTIVITY 15%

Sustainability

Description To provide ongoing network information resource for service providers, support groups leaders and individuals so that there are ongoing activities in regards to support groups in NSW.

Priorities / Major Initiatives

a) Raisinggrandchildren website as a major source for information and referral

The Raisinggrandchildren website is one of the main source of information that grandparent and community service providers can access information as it is constantly being updated with news articles, press releases, updated support group listings, legal and medical matters and also informational meetings that are being held to support and provide information to grandparents raising their grandchildren.

b) Provide marketing and funding information and links for ongoing financial support

c) Provide a well structure network of stakeholders, contacts and support

Approximately there are over six-hundred contacts that are held in a database that allows for grandparents and local support group to be contacted in certain situations when a meeting has been decide to be organised in the region, as for the instance GRaKCA.

d) Provide legal, health, financial and health factsheets online and in stock

On the Raisinggranchildren Website there are pages where grandparents can access legal, health and financial information and factsheets, so that grandparents are able to find information in one central location with helpful links to organisation that can help in their certain situations. Also the is ample amount of information on hand that can be sent to support groups and community service providers so that they can give it to grandparents that have legal, health and financial issues.

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e) Guide to local promotion and marketing at local cultural/community events

f) Develop “how to” guides/collaterals for support groups (includes funding, endorsements, marketing, sustainability and networking)

There is a resource guide for grandparents on how to start up a grandparents support group, which has information on how to find funding, market the group and find support from other local support group and organisations to can help.

g) Capacity building information pack for service providers

h) Capacity building information pack for support leaders

i) Ongoing referral and information from COTA NSW

There is an ongoing referral of information from COTA NSW as there is a section that has referral material to the Raisinggrandchildren Website and having COTA NSW’s website listing grand-parenting events on the website.

k) Use social media sites to increase awareness, branding and participation

j) Use community builders forums and discussion boards

k) Use of branding as the main endorser of GRaKCA support groups

l) Use of sponsorship kits

Stakeholders

a) GRaKCA

b) ATSI/AbSec

c) CALD communities/ECC/Migrant Resource Centre’s

d) Local Government and Shires Association (LGSA)

e) Local Community Services Association

f) Grandparent support groups

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g) Legal Aid

h) Area Health Services

i) Centrelink/Child Support Agency/Dep Human Services

j) Family Law Reform

k) Family Relationship Centres

l) Playgroups/kids nurseries

m) Connecting Carers

n) Create NSW

o) OOHC

p) Community Builders

Key Outputs / Deliverables

a) Self-advocacy

b) One stop option

c) Independence

d) Self-managed

e) Community involvement

f) De-isolated grandparents

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g) Encourage intergenerational, cultural and intergenerational activities

h) Create awareness of contributions of grandparents to the community

The awareness of the contribution of grandparents to their local community is been done by the use of Grandparents Day, as this day and events surrounding it enables the community to celebrate the contribution that grandparents make to our daily lives.

Performance Measures

a) Changes in access to information and referrals for grandparents

Grandparents are able to have constant access to informational and referral website to other organisation though the Raisinggrandchildren website. There are links and information that is being updated to keep all information relevant and easy to use.

b) Numbers of grandparent support groups

c) How many refer to website

This is evident in the amount of traffic has occurred in the Grandparents Raising Grandchildren (GRG) Website, as well as where they originally found the website.

d) How many contacts to COTA and service providers

Approximately there are over six-hundred contacts that are held in a database that allows for grandparents and local support group to be contacted in certain situations when a meeting has been decide to be organised in the region, as for the instance GRaKCA.

e) Number of factsheets distributed

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Below is a graph that depicts all informational kits that have been given out and in each kits there are the following information.

In each kits there is one of each of the stated informational factsheet provided for grandparents.

f) Feedback forms from service providers, grandparents and individuals

g) Level of intergenerational activities and its sustainability

h) Level of additional grandparent support groups

i) Media release and Public Relation material

The Raisinggrandchildren website is constantly having Media releases and Public Relations material being published on as it allows for the flow of information to happen quickly and effectively, also it allows for the attended audience to receive it effectively.

Performance Measures

j) Number of volunteers participating in activities and events

k) Number of calls and enquiries received from grandparents

l) Number of support groups leaders drop out ration past and present

m) Number of intergenerational and event activities

n) Feedback from events and activities

o) Number of hits on YouTube/website and other links

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Appendix 10.2 Types of resources distributed*

Number Type Information Flyer Title Organisation Distribution Notes

1 Info Sheet Medicare Claiming for Grandparents and Carers Centrelink All Medicare information for Grandparents and Carers

2 Info Sheet Support for grandparents caring for grandchildren Centrelink All Grandparent Centrelink Advisor Information

3 Booklet Are you a parent or guardian? Centrelink All A guide to options and services

4 Booklet A Guide for teens Child Support Agency All Family Separation booklet for teens

5 Info Sheet Raising Grandchildren Program COTA NSW All General information on the program

6 Form Membership Form COTA NSW All COTA membership form for participants

7 Info Sheet Raising Grandchildren Program Projected Dates and Locations COTA NSW All

Information sheet to let others know what’s happening in NSW

8 Info Sheet Grandparents Day Flyer COTA NSW All General information on Grandparents Day and links

9 Brochure MyTime for grandparents Dep of Families All Local support group information for My Time for grandparents

10 Info Sheet Applying for Child Support Payments Family and Community Services All Fact sheet about Child Support Payments

11 Booklet Grandparent's Family Law Information Guide Family Law Reform All Legal information resources and referrals booklet

12 Form NSW Statutory Declaration for Informal Relative Carers Justice and Attorney General Department All A form and Q and A about the Statutory Declaration

13 Booklet Are you a grandparent? Legal Aid NSW All General legal questions covered for grandparent as carers

14 Brochure Family Law: Child Support Services Legal Aid NSW All A information brochure for people with child support problems

15 Brochure Working out what’s best for my children, Family Law Legal Aid NSW All Family Dispute Resolution Information

16 Info Sheet Child support, Family Tax Benefit and your child care levels Legal Aid NSW All Information for parents and non parent carers

17 Brochure Caring for kids in Aboriginal Families Legal Aid NSW All Knowing the law and your rights

18 Booklet When the Children Arrive Mirabel Foundation All A Resource Book for Kinship Carers

19 Booklet Max and Tyler. A story book for kids Mirabel Foundation All A illustration booklet for teens and kids

20 Info Sheet Living with and caring for a person with depression anxiety Beyond Blue Selected Links and referrals of where to get help with depression

21 Info Sheet Anxiety disorders Beyond Blue Selected How to detect anxiety disorders

22 Booklet Older people and depression Beyond Blue Selected Book about depression not being normal part of ageing

23 Booklet Our Family's Changed. Child Support Agency Selected Help for children from changing families

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24 Report Listening to Grandparents Report COTA NSW Selected Information on complied feedback and recommendations

25 Book A Gong for Grandfathers Helene Gonski Selected A reading book targeting grandfathers

26 Book Grand Love, Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Judy Turner Selected A personal story from Judy Turner

* Please not this does not include partner resources

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