Grandparent‐grandchild relationship in a family No parent‐child relationship Grandchildren from 0‐18 years

Grandcare Service

Number of grandcarers registered with Grandcare service has doubled since the introduction of GSS in 2014.

Informal grandcarearrangements are enduring,long term commitments and tend to be for more than one child.

Grandfamilies in WA

69% Female20% ATSI10% CALD75% Metropolitan

92% Female40% ATSI<5% CALD 57% Metropolitan

20% Employed18% Retired61% Unemployed

Financial issues 37%

Social isolation 11%

Physical health/medical 10%

Mental health 9%

Family relationships 6%

Concern for grandchild education 6%

NB. This is service data and may be influenced by service design.

Grandparents GrandchildrenParents

Full time care

Client Characteristics

Reasons seeking support

48% Female

59% ATSI98% Biologically related

Key circumstances leading to careGrandfamily formation is typically unexpected and unplanned in response to a crisis where the child is at high risk of their needs not being met.

Age groups

Under 40 40–49 50–59 60–69 70–99 80 and over1%

13%

44%34%

9%0%

88% 63%

44% 43%

Grandcarers Support ProgramsEvaluation Summary

Grandcarer Support Scheme (GSS)

985 Grandcarers Employment status

1,662 Grandchildren Grandcarers

1,261

6,697

Wanslea Family Services Incorporated is funded by the Department of Communities to provide support to grandparents caring for grandchildren full time.

x2

two grandchildren per grandfamily.

Can be caring for grandchildren since birth to18 years and beyond.

Average

Mental illness

Parent’s whereabouts unknown

Family breakdown

Incarcerated 42%

Family violence

Substance abuse

81%

Private arrangements

Family Court orders

Children in care

Special guardianship

orders

peopleservicetime

respitehelpedinformation

grandchildrenhelped

alone

having same over

need

money

school

talk

feel

worse

myself others

things meetinggrandparentsunderstand

clothingsituationpurchase

differencethank support

How much has the GSS service helped

A lot Moderately A little Not at all

49%

15%

31%

3%

$608,200Paid to grandcarers through Grandcarer Support Scheme

Data source: Service Delivery Data Report 2017/18 and Customer Perception Survey 2017/18 (Grandcare service and Grandcarers Support Scheme); WOMBAT client database

and Australia Bureau Statistic, Census 2016, Customised data.

Wanslea service

Grandcarers’ service experience and outcomes

Grandcarer Support Scheme Grandcarer Assistance ProgramGrandcare Service

1,071

10,843 1,025

1,087

55Learn and Develop Groups

Community workshops

Enquiries

Recommendations for future services Harmonise service design and contracting

Address service coverage

Service redesign

Funding certainty and indexation

Expand respite and improve flexibility

Increase learning and development activities

Grandcarer Service 98% Continue to use things learnt from service

96% Can get support from service if needed

96% Obtained useful information

96% Met people I can talk to

91% Met people who I can ask for help

91% Learnt about other helpful services/resources in community

91% Helped with challenges

84% Feel more confident

69% Skills developed

Grandcarer Support Scheme (GSS) 95% Talking to someone was useful

74% Payment made good difference

72% Obtained useful information

72% Learnt about other helpful services/resources

69% My efforts as grandcarer are recognised

Informationtelephone line

Individual consultations 39%

Health and wellbeing

302GrandcarerIndividual Support

85GrandchildrenIndividual Support

7new support

groups

4social

activities

15respite

activities

15training

workshops

were satisfiedwith the service

found the service met their needs

Applications

96% 93%

would recommend the service

98%

72%Counselling

8