Grandparent Advisers have been introduced in selected Centrelink Customer Service Centres.

Following our story last month on grandparent carers, we have learned that Grandparent Advisers have been introduced in selected Centrelink Customer Service Centres.

The role of the advisers is to support grandparents who have taken on the responsibility of caring for their grandchildren.

Many grandparents take on the responsibility of caring for grandchildren whose parents cannot do so because of disability, family separation, death or imprisonment.

Centrelink Grandparent Advisers can help by:

• providing an assessment of family circumstances
• providing information and help to access Centrelink payments and services grandparents may be eligible for
• arranging appointments with specialist Centrelink staff such as social workers, and
• arranging referrals to other federal, state and community service providers that may also be able to assist.

Grandparents who care for their grandchildren may be eligible for assistance including:

• Family Tax Benefit, which helps with the costs of raising children
• Child Care Benefit, which helps with the costs of child care
• Parenting Payment, which helps with caring for a dependent child under the age of 16 (if you are not already receiving another income support payment), and
• Health Care Cards in the name of your grandchild to assist with the cost of prescriptions.

There are five Grandparent Advisers based in the following Centrelink Customer Service Centres:

• Caringbah, servicing the Northern Beaches to Sydney’s south
• Penrith, servicing around Penrith, the Hawkesbury and Blue Mountains
• Oakleigh, servicing around Dandenong, Glen Waverly, Springvale and Cheltenham
• Caboolture, servicing areas north of Brisbane such as Deception Bay, Kippa-Ring and Redcliffe, and
• Perth, servicing Perth’s surrounding areas.

Grandparents living in an area serviced by a Grandparent Adviser can speak to one directly by calling FreecallTM 1800 245 965.

Grandparents living outside of these local areas can still get support and assistance by calling the Family Assistance Office on 13 6150; visiting www.familyassist.gov.au or by visiting the Family Assistance Office located in Medicare Offices and Centrelink Customer Service Centres.