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Trust Head Office:
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Grandparents Raising Grandchildren ™ Charitable Trust 2005


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Do you have any concerns or complaints about the Trust, please contact the Trust Secretary:

PO Box 34-892
Birkenhead,
Auckland 0742 

Becon Whakatane by Judy Turner MP

Becon Whakatane by Judy Turner MP

“Don’t think it couldn’t happen to you” is the line Dianne Vivian regularly uses when speaking in public about her life.

In 1997 Diane took on the job of raising two grandchildren. Her situation caring for traumatised children was overwhelming, and in desperation she ran an advert in a local paper to see if she could connect with anyone else in the same circumstances. The phone hasn’t stop ringing.

‘Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Trust NZ’ is now in 43 centres throughout New Zealand, including Whakatane. They run an information and support service for the thousands of amazing Grandparents who have given up a big chunk of their lives to step into the breach created by their children who are clearly unfit to safely care for their own children.

The challenges are devastating. Typically these Grandparents fall into two categories. Super-annuitants on low fixed incomes, and those in their late 40’s and 50’s, who are potentially in their prime earning years, accumulating a retirement fund. Instead they often have to give up paid work to change nappies and coach netball teams again. They can usually get the Unsupported Childs Benefit, but it is substantially less than is paid for Foster-Care, and without the additional allowances paid for Foster Care.

Those who have already down-sized to a small, low maintenance retirement property, find themselves back at the bank signing up for a mortgage so that they can set up a family home again.

Then there are the legal bills! Keeping the grandchildren safe from their dysfunctional parent’s, eats away any nest-egg they may have saved. The stress associated with this is immense.

Many experience social isolation as they don’t quite fit in with the young Mums and Dads at Kindy and School, and old friends stop including them in their plans, because they have to bring the kids.

Those that are in second marriages, find their new partner understandably resistant to the unplanned responsibilities. Their other children and grandchildren feel short-changed as well. Significant relationships are strained to breaking point.

Then there are the children themselves. The circumstances that put them at risk have left their scars. Neglect and abuse have usually characterised their early years. Learning, behavioural and significant health problems are common. In short, these kids are not easy to manage and it is difficult to find anyone to take them for a weekend every now and then, so that the grandparents can get a break.

One of the nice things for most grandparents is that you can ‘hand them back’ at the end of the day. Grandparents raising grandchildren can’t. But their love is undeniable.

The plight of kinship caregivers is well documented both in international studies and within the NZ context. There are some simple policies that could be implemented to ease their load. Full Foster Care status should be afforded the children once permanent care arrangements are established and legal aid and respite care should be their right. I don’t apologise for being a dripping tap in the Minister’s ear on this matter.

In Whakatane the contact person for Grandparents Raising Grandchildren is Shirley Faulkner (07) 3228524 shirleyfaulkner@quicksilver.net.nz

 

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