Informal Grandparent and Other Carers in South Australia
If you suspect, on reasonable grounds, that a child or young person is being abused or neglected, report it to the Child Abuse Report Line – 13 14 78 at any time.
When you need help after hours, call Crisis Care - 13 16 11 from 4 pm to 9 am, and 24 hours on weekends and public holidays.
The internet is a useful source of information for out-of-home carers. This page contains links to Commonwealth, state and territory, and non-government information, supports and services that may be useful to you.
Go to National Support and Services to find out what Commonwealth and non-government support you may be eligible for.
Find the answer to Frequently Asked Questions about Australian Government support.
South Australian Government information and services for informal carers
- SA Government information for Grandparents and Relatives as Caregivers – Information about raising one or more of your grandchildren or relatives, including changes to your lifestyle, financial problems, emotional upheaval, legal difficulties, schooling and the generation gap.
- The Informal Relative Caregivers Statutory Declaration (PDF) – A written statement made in the presence of an authorised witness which says you are informally providing full time care to a relative’s child. This will help you with things like enrolling your grandchild in school, being able to consent to medical and dental treatment and accessing government supports and services.
- Health and Community Services Complaints Commissioner’s (HCSCC) – The HCSCC helps people – service users, carers and service providers – resolve complaints about health and community services, when a direct approach to the service provider is either unreasonable, or has not succeeded.
Legal information and assistance
Information to help you raise the children in your care
- Parentline SA – A telephone information service for parents and carers of children aged 0 to 12 years old who live in South Australia. Call 1300 364 100 any time, 7 days a week, for the cost of a local call.
- Parent Easy Guides – Parenting guides for anyone raising a child, including contact information if you need extra help.
- Raising a Grandchild – Find information for grandparents who are raising their grandchildren in Australia.
- Support for children - If your grandchild has experienced family violence or child abuse they may need professional counselling. This website has a list of services that might help.
Carer supports
- Council of the Aging (COTA) SA – The SA branch of an organisation that works to help older Australians.
- Grandparent Support Groups – Find out about grandparent support groups in your local area.
- Time for Kids – Time for Kids can arrange regular respite care with a volunteer family and provide support to informal carers.
- MyTime for Grandparents - MyTime for Grandparents is a national network of peer support groups for grandparent carers who are the full-time carers of their grandchildren aged up to 18 years. Find out more about the groups and if there is one near you.
Information for Indigenous carers and carers of Indigenous children and young people
Information for carers from culturally and linguistically diverse communities
- Parent Easy Guides – Parenting information sheets available in Arabic, Dari, Dinka, English, French and Swahili.