Gran’s cut compromises childrens’ future - 10 February 2010

Greens MP Ian Cohen is calling on the Government to reconsider its plan to cut payments to grandparents and other kinship carers. 1700 letters have been sent out to grandparents and carers, telling them that the Supported Care Allowance they receive is to be re assessed.

“How is DOCS going to make reassessments? Out of home (foster) care allowances are not means tested so this raises the question; why means test grandparents who are often at the end of their working lives and not in a position to earn the large amounts of money now required to raise children?

“The Department says that resources must be focussed on the most vulnerable and those “most in need”. Does this mean that those most in need are not already receiving these resources? Cutting funds from Grandparent carers is a short-sighted, cost saving measure that robs vulnerable children.

“Funds committed to children to provide a stable home life are an investment in the future of the whole state. The Special Commission of Inquiry into Child Protection Services in NSW conducted by the Hon James Wood affirmed that, for all children, a stable home life is a vital factor in the development of productive, well-balanced citizens.

“Grandparents can be vulnerable due to their age and earning capacity and in these circumstances they need support to truly benefit the vulnerable children in their care.

“Foster carers are known to be in very short supply in NSW. Let us not place more stress on an already overworked system by panicking grandparents to opt out of care for their grandchildren because they can no longer afford to perform this vital community service.”