Advocacy
We advocate for Informal Kinship Carers to be recognised by the government in the same way Formal Carers are.
Election Commitments: What We Need Now
Our message to all political parties is simple: Grandparent and other Informal Kinship Carers are holding families together under immense pressure, and they need practical, funded support.
Our submissions set out three achievable election commitments in the table below that would deliver immediate, real-world benefits for carers and the children they raise.
Lisa O’Malley, Co- founder of The Carer Project talks with Mike Feszcak, CEO of Grandcarers SA
| What we are asking for | Why this is needed | Name of Political Party/Politician* | Response | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Fund Grandparent Carers |
As informal grandparent carers receive no ongoing financial assistance from the state government, we are calling for a dedicated allowance that reflects their role in ensuring children are provided with a safe and nurturing homelife whilst remaining connected to their family and heritage. |
Independent (Geoff Bock MP) |
No response has been received |
||
|
Independent (Tammy Franks MLC) |
No response has been received |
||||
|
Fair Go for Australians (Sarah Game MLC) |
No response has been received |
||||
|
Greens SA (Andrew Simms MLC) |
No response has been received |
||||
|
Jing Lee Better Communities (Jing Lee MLC) |
No response has been received |
||||
|
Labor (The Hon Katrine Hildyard MP) |
No response has been received |
||||
|
Liberal (Josh Teague MP) |
No response has been received |
||||
|
One Nation (Carlos Quaremba) |
No response has been received |
||||
|
SA Best (Connie Bonaros MLC) |
No response has been received |
||||
| What we are asking for | Why this is needed | Name of Political Party/Politician* | Response | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Increase Operational Funding for Grandcarers SA |
Demand for Grandcarers SA services continues to grow, but our operational funding has not kept pace with increased costs and demand. |
Independent (Geoff Bock MP) |
No response has been received |
||
|
Independent (Tammy Franks MLC) |
No response has been received |
||||
|
Fair Go for Australians (Sarah Game MLC) |
No response has been received |
||||
|
Greens SA (Andrew Simms MLC) |
No response has been received |
||||
|
Jing Lee Better Communities (Jing Lee MLC) |
No response has been received |
||||
|
Labor (The Hon Katrine Hildyard MP) |
No response has been received |
||||
|
Liberal (Josh Teague MP) |
No response has been received |
||||
|
One Nation (Carlos Quaremba) |
No response has been received |
||||
|
SA Best (Connie Bonaros MLC) |
No response has been received |
||||
| What we are asking for | Why this is needed | Name of Political Party/Politician* | Response | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Subsidise the Costs of a Social Worker(s) |
Unlike formal carers supported by Department for Child Protection arrangements, informal kinship carers are not supported by a Kinship Care Support Worker. |
Independent (Geoff Bock MP) |
No response has been received |
||
|
Independent (Tammy Franks MLC) |
No response has been received |
||||
|
Fair Go for Australians (Sarah Game MLC) |
No response has been received |
||||
|
Greens SA (Andrew Simms MLC) |
No response has been received |
||||
|
Jing Lee Better Communities (Jing Lee MLC) |
No response has been received |
||||
|
Labor (The Hon Katrine Hildyard MP) |
No response has been received |
||||
|
Liberal (Josh Teague MP) |
No response has been received |
||||
|
One Nation (Carlos Quaremba) |
No response has been received |
||||
|
SA Best (Connie Bonaros MLC) |
No response has been received |
||||
*Any other parliamentary representatives who wish to be included should email: contactus@grandcarers.au
Fund Informal Grandparent Carers Campaign
Grandparent carers play a vital role in keeping children out of the overburdened Foster Care and Child Protection systems.
With the rising cost of living, more grandparents are now at crisis point. They need financial support as they are living below the poverty line and receive no carer allowances to cover the cost of raising children.
For further information see the Grandparent Funding Campaign Call to Action.
Grandparent Funding Campaign Constituency.
You can also listen to CEO Mike Feszczak talking to Stacey Lee on 5AA.
You can also listen to Mike on Radio One, The Indian Wave with Shampa Bruweleit
Hear from some of our Grandcarers
Grandcarers and the children in their care talk about the impact that Grandcarers SA has had on their lives. They also ask the government to recognise them as Informal Carers and pay them an allowance.
You have heard from us about the plight of informal grandparent carers. Listen to this short video to hear from them!
Documents
- Grandcarers SA evidence to the SA Parliamentary Hearing into Home Care for Children and Young People (April 2025)
- Submission to the State Inquiry into Home Care for Children and Young People 2024
- Submission to the Federal Parliament Inquiry August 2023
- Submission to the Review of the state Carer Recognition Act 2005
- Report on Review of Carers Recognition Act 2005 (SA)
Thriving Families 2025 to 2045
- Grandcarers SA Thriving Families Partners Pledge
- Collective Commitment to Change Pledges
Links
The Australian Childhood Centre recently held a webinar focusing on the panellist’s lived experience as kinship carers, which is informing areas of research around kinship care. They discuss the key issues faced by kinship carers, and what can be done to improve how systems listen to and support grandparent kinship carers providing love, safety, and family connection for our children in out-of-home care.