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MEDIA RELEASE
NICK XENOPHON M.L.C. INDEPENDENT
NO POKIES MEMBER
OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
8 June 2005
THOUSANDS OF KIDS BEING CARED FOR BY GRANDPARENTS PROMPTS ACTION AND A NEW
ASSOCIATION BEING FORMED:
·
New group ‘Grandparents For
Grandchildren SA’ Forum
A
new group – Grandparents for Grandchildren SA - representing thousands of
South Australian grandparents who have become the primary carers of their
grandchildren will hold its first public forum today at Old Parliament House. No
Pokies MLC Nick Xenophon, who the group approached for help a number of weeks
ago, will chair the forum. For
every child in foster care there are 3 families of grandparents raising
grandchildren. There are 35 000 families where grandchildren are being raised by
grandparents in Figures
provided by the group indicate that 40% of cases where grandparents raise
grandchildren result from parents being unable to care for their children due to
drug addiction, alcohol abuse or gambling addiction. These
children are usually traumatised, and experience behavioural problems, can be
depressed and withdrawn. A
spokesperson for the group, Karin Edwards said: “This morning is about grandparents
telling their individual stories and to push for reform. We would also like to
see a State Minister for Children appointed to meet the needs of these children
in crisis.” The
Minister for Families and Communities Jay Weatherill will attend the forum as
will Dignity for the Disabled’s David Holst. The
forum will be followed up by an intense lobbying effort by the group to get
appropriate recognition and support for grandparents caring for grandchildren.
The current lack of support contrasts with a cost of at least $40,000 for
children in State care.
A
number of grandparents will tell their stories at the forum – they will be
available to speak to the media at the lunch break at
Written and authorised by Nick Xenophon, 653 Lower North East Road, Paradise, SA 5075
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