STORY
Supporting Generations of Love UnitingCare Tasmania addresses a wide range of community needs through support from Share donations. The special program highlighted in this story serves as just one example of the variety of UnitingCare Tasmania’s work. Throughout Tasmania, there are an estimated 500 families in which grandparents are the primary child caregivers. UnitingCare Tasmania’s program, Grandparents Raising Grandchildren (GRG), was established to help these senior members of the community with the task of raising a child. Thanks to funding from Share, UnitingCare Tasmania is able to offer support to local grandparents like Betty*, a lady who unexpectedly received her granddaughter Alisha* into her care (*names changed).
The GRG worker advocated for Betty, allowing her to claim the Family Tax Benefit along with back payments. Due to Betty’s low literacy skills, the worker continued to speak on her behalf until a larger two-bedroom house was acquired. Brokerage funds were gained which provided clothing and bedding for Alisha. When Alisha reached school age, UnitingCare provided assistance with her enrolment and access to the Student Assistance Scheme for a school uniform. Through support from the organisation and Share donations, Betty now has stable accommodation and finances, allowing her to focus on helping Alisha. The GRG worker also arranged formal counselling for Betty, and she is re-engaging with her social network, from whom she had felt isolated during the initial stages of becoming an active caretaker.
Alisha is safe, comfortable and well-cared for by her grandmother, and she is In 2012, Betty attending school full-time. There The Grandparents Raising Grandchildren program assists over tragically lost is still a long road ahead, but 300 grandparents caring for 600 children. her daughter she continues to be supported by the (Alisha’s mother) UnitingCare network and by her school, as well as by to an overdose. Betty’s husband had passed away her grandmother. the previous year, so she became the sole caretaker Betty’s story highlights the need for initial and ongoing for Alisha. Betty approached UnitingCare Tasmania in support for grandparents coming into the care of their Launceston in July 2012 for emotional and practical grandchildren. It is Share donations which sustain and support. supplement these crucial programs, and the agency At the time, Betty lived in a one-bedroom unit-relies heavily and gratefully on Share’s generous support inadequate housing for the two of them-- and she to help families like Betty and Alisha. was not receiving the Family Tax Benefit for Alisha. In addition to these concerns, Betty was still suffering grief from the loss of her husband and daughter.
ANNUAL REPORT 2013
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