A national network of kinship care advocates

Raising awareness and advocating for policy change that recognise and address the needs of all kinship carers and the children in their care

Who we are

Kinship Alliance Australia was established in 2023 through a partnership between Dr Meredith Kiraly, an Honorary Fellow at the University of Melbourne, and Mike Feszczak, CEO of Grandcarers SA.

The Alliance is now a national network of organisations and recognised grandparent/kinship carer groups (funded and unfunded) with an interest in the recognition, support and wellbeing of Australian kinship care families, particularly informal kinship carers. (This is how we ensure we’re inclusive of people with lived experience across the country, as most aren’t linked to organisational support.)

Alliance representatives are active in advocating to decision makers and regularly meet with the Federal Parliamentary Friends of Grandparent and Kinship Carers to discuss proposals for policy change to improve the life circumstances of kinship care families.

Objectives

Advocate for the recognition and support of kinship carers by the Commonwealth of Australia
Promote legislative and policy changes to support kinship carers in obtaining necessary documentation and financial and social service assistance.
Respond to relevant State/Territory Inquiries that have potential spin-off benefits for kinship care families nationally.
In recognition of the poverty-related challenges faced by informal kinship care families, accord priority to to raising awareness of their pressing need.
Collaborate with relevant stakeholders to implement the recommendations that relate to kinship care generally from the 2014 Senate Inquiry into Grandparents raising Grandchildren and the 2015 Senate Inquiry into Out of Home Care.
Seek funding to establish a National Kinship Care Organisation to sustain advocacy to improve the life circumstances of kinship care families.

We love caring for all the children and see them develop and gain confidence. It is not an easy path at times but it is not dull! Kinship care seems to be the 'Cinderella' of care, so I hope your research project might help these people.

Issues

Invisibility of informal kinship carefamilies

Informal kinship carers are invisible. They are not recognised as:

Carers - in Commonwealth legislation, hence not eligible for carer services
Parents - hence not eligible for parental leave. Lack of appropriate documentation often leads to difficulty obtaining birth certificates and Medicare cards for children in their care.
Adoptive parents - hence not eligible for adoption leave.
Foster carers - hence not financially supported.

Poverty in informal kinship care families

Australian and international research shows this is the biggest issue for informal kinship care families (Kiraly, 2015). Many kinship carers are pensioners and renters, often in public housing.

Houses are frequently overcrowded once the children arrive. Some older carers with a home of their own have found it necessary to re-mortgage their house, others to use superannuation savings for the care of children.

Some younger carers have given up study and employment to provide care, threatening their own life opportunities.

Membership

Membership of Kinship Alliance Australia is open to organisations and formally recognised carer groups (funded and unfunded) who are committed to advocating for the recognition and support of all kinship care families, both informal and formal.

Member organisations shall be represented by an identified, preferably senior, representative of each organisation or recognised group. Members will be invited to partner in submissions to relevant Inquiries and Reviews, and in representations to Federal Parliament and other activities.

There is no membership fee. To become a member, please fill out and submit the Kinship Alliance Australia Membership Application Form or Contact Us.