Terms of Reference

Grandparents who take on the primary responsibility for raising their grandchildren when parents are unable or unwilling to do so, through a formal or informal care arrangement, including:

  1. the practical challenges facing grandparents raising their grandchildren, and their support needs;
  2. the role and contribution of grandparents raising their grandchildren, and how this should be recognised;
  3. other challenges that grandparents raising their grandchildren face in undertaking their role, including in circumstances complicated by family conflict, mental illness, substance abuse, homelessness, child abuse or neglect, or family violence;
  4. the barriers that grandparents raising their grandchildren face in acquiring legal recognition of their family arrangements, including Legal Aid entitlements for grandparents seeking to formalise their custodial arrangements through the Family Law Courts;
  5. the practical measures that can be implemented by the Commonwealth, state and territory governments and the community sector to better support grandparents raising their grandchildren, including key priorities for action;
  6. the specific needs of particular groups within the caring population, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander grandparent carers, grandparents caring for grandchildren with disability, grandparents from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, grandparents with mental health needs and grandparents with an informal care arrangement for their grandchildren; and
  7. other related matters.

Committee Secretariat contact:

Committee Secretary
Senate Standing Committees on Community Affairs
PO Box 6100
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600

Phone: +61 2 6277 3515
community.affairs.sen@aph.gov.au

About this inquiry

An inquiry into Grandparents who take primary responsibility for raising their grandchildren.



Past Public Hearings

19 Sep 2014: Hobart
07 Aug 2014: Albany
06 Aug 2014: West Perth

more...

Inquiry Status

Report Tabled

How to make a submission

The committee invites individuals and organisations to send in their opinions and proposals in writing (submissions)

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