The United Nations defines kinship care as family-based care within the child’s extended family or friendship network, whether formal or informal in nature. 2...
Kinship Alliance Australia auspiced by Grandcarers SA
Securing support for Australia’s kinship care families through education and advocacy
GOAL
$80,000
australia > NATIONWIDE > Metro and regional
03/02/2025 > 02/02/2027
FIELD OF INTEREST
- Social inclusion and justice
- Individual/family services and support
TARGET POPULATION
- People experiencing socio-economic disadvantage or vulnerability
- Young people (6-25)
PROJECT SUMMARY
The United Nations defines kinship care as family-based care within the child’s extended family or friendship network, whether formal or informal in nature. 2011 census data identified over 100,000 Australian children in kinship care. Over 80% of families were providing care on an ‘informal’ basis, i.e. without recognition or financial support by child protection. First Nations families are over-represented.
“Everyone was so interested and felt really heard, and that the work they are doing caring for the Grandchildren mattered to more people than just them.” (Grandparent/Kinship Support Group Coordinator, NSW, July 2024)
Kinship carers are not recognised in legislation as Carers; informal kinship carers are not recognised as parents (no parental leave); or adoptive parents (no adoption leave); or as foster carers (no financial support). Australian and international research shows that poverty is the biggest issue for informal kinship care families.
Kinship Alliance Australia is a national network of individuals, organisations and grandparent/kinship carer groups with an interest in the recognition, support and wellbeing of Australian kinship care families, particularly informal kinship carers. Our ultimate goal is to establish a National Kinship Care Organisation to sustain advocacy to improve the life circumstances of all kinship care families.
We are now addressing the unmet needs of kinship families through:
– Building national membership through in‑person presentations to stakeholders across Australia and online meetings.
– Regular meetings with the Parliamentary Friends of Grandparent and Kinship Carers about identified steps to improve recognition and support of all kinship care families.
– Lobbying key Federal MPs
– Ongoing meetings with senior Department of Social Services bureaucrats.
– By invitation, participating in the upcoming 2024 ‘Safe And Supported’ National Framework Review of Carer Payments and Supports.
– Planning and preparatory work towards establishing a National Kinship Care Organisation and a Kinship Carer Support and Advice Line.
– Making submissions to relevant Parliamentary Inquiries and Reviews.
– Establishing the Friends of the Alliance with particular expertise in advocacy and fundraising.
– Providing regular newsletters to members and other stakeholders.
– Delivering conference and forum presentations.
– Building media exposure.
PROJECT OUTCOMES
Within two years, we expect to have achieved:
- Significant numbers of signed up organisational and individual memberships in all States and Territories of Australia.
- A fully designed and costed model of operation for the National Kinship Care Organisation to provide support to kinship carers and sustain advocacy for recognition and support of all kinship families, and a detailed project plan for commencement of operations.
- An established group of Friends of the Alliance providing advice and expertise.
- Awareness within the Federal Parliament of the existence of large numbers of kinship care families in Australia and their need for recognition and social and financial support.
- A publicly available Commonwealth Government Statutory Declaration template for informal kinship carers to establish in loco parentis status.
- Reform of the Double Orphan Benefit including name change, widened scope and increased payment rate.
- Renaming of the Foster Child Health Care Card to indicate its actual availability for all children in alternative care due to family breakdown.
- Improved recognition of kinship carers in Federal, State and Territory Carer Recognition Acts.
- Increased public awareness of the existence and need for community support of kinship care families through publicity exposure in print media, television and social media.
- A confirmed philanthropic grant to underwrite the establishment and first three years of operation of a National Kinship Care Organisation.
Kinship Alliance Australia auspiced by Grandcarers SA
Kinship Alliance Australia is a national network that aims to support kinship care families by providing information and advice, raising awareness, and advocating for policy changes that recognise and address the needs of all kinship carers and the children in their care. State/Territory matters specific to formal kinship care are beyond the remit of the Alliance. The longer-term goal of the Alliance is to establish itself as a funded National Kinship Care Organisation providing sustainable support to kinship care families, and working with them to influence policy and practice to improve the life circumstances of all Australian kinship care families.
Currently, Alliance representatives are active in advocating to decision makers, and regularly meet with the Federal Parliamentary Friends of Grandparent and Kinship Carers to discuss proposals for policy change to improve the life circumstances of kinship care families.
Kinship Alliance Australia https://kinshipalliance.org.au/ is auspiced by Grandcarers SA https://grandcarers.au/ until such time as it is ready for independent registration.
Grandcarers SA is an Incorporated Association and a Registered Public Benevolent Institution with DGR Item 1 status. Its Purpose is to provide comprehensive support to grandcarers through financial assistance, personal support, information provision, and advocacy. It is endorsed for ATO Charity Tax Concessions.
BUDGET BREAKDOWN
TOTAL BUDGET: $96,200
FUNDING
| Funding source | Amount |
|---|---|
| ACF earlier grant (confirmed) | $4,000 |
| Reichstein Foundation (confirmed) | $2,800 |
| Harold Mitchell Foundation (unconfirmed) | $9,400 |
| Funding Gap (unconfirmed) | $80,000 |
EXPENSES
| Expense item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Project Development/Communications Officer part-time for 2 years with salary overheads | $80,000 |
| Expenses (publicity, events, etc) | $2,000 |
| Travel – for meetings at Parliament House Canberra (carers and advocates), and for outreach to kinship carer groups | $14,200 |
| Pro bono consultation time Director 1 (CEO Grandcarers SA) | |
| Pro bono consultation time Director 2 (Kinship specialist) | |
| IT in-kind support from Grandcarers SA |
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