More than 1,000 grandparents and kinship carers across South Australia are set to benefit from additional State Government funding aimed at strengthening services for families raising vulnerable children.
Grandcarers SA has welcomed an extra $340,000 over four years in the 2026-27 State Budget, bringing its total government funding to $1.246 million across the period. The organisation provides support to grandparents and other informal carers who have taken on primary responsibility for children, often in challenging family circumstances.
The funding will allow Grandcarers SA to continue operating its core services, including a telephone helpline, peer support groups across the state and financial assistance programs, while also helping the organisation retain staff, support volunteers and develop new initiatives.
The organisation currently supports more than 1,000 registered carers who are collectively raising over 2,000 children. Many of these carers have assumed responsibility for children without formal parental status or legal recognition of their role.
Minister for Child Protection Alice Rolls said the investment acknowledged the contribution grandparent carers make to the lives of vulnerable children.
“Grandcarers are the quiet heroes of our community. This investment recognises the vital role they play in giving vulnerable children the chance to feel safe, to grow and to succeed,” she said.
The funding package includes support for a social worker employed through the Department for Child Protection, who will work alongside Grandcarers SA to help families navigate complex situations, address child safety concerns and support stable care arrangements.
Grandcarers SA Chief Executive Officer Mike Feszcak said the additional funding would provide certainty for the organisation while allowing it to expand the support available to carers.
“This additional funding doesn’t just ensure continued support of Grandcarers for the next four years, it also provides us with the foundations to safeguard staff retention and volunteer support, whilst providing opportunities for us to enhance service delivery and provide new supports for our clients,” he said.
Mr Feszcak said the addition of a dedicated social worker had already improved the organisation’s ability to provide early intervention and tailored guidance to carers facing difficult circumstances.
Stories shared by carers highlight the role Grandcarers SA plays in supporting families who have stepped in when children could no longer live with their parents.
Among them is Jill, 79, from Royston Park, who began raising five grandchildren after her daughter died in 2020. Two of the children, now aged 15 and 16, still live with her and remain active in sport and music.
Jill said support from Grandcarers SA had eased financial pressures and helped provide opportunities for the children.
“Grandcarers SA have supported us financially, practically, and emotionally. Without them, our grandchildren would not have had the opportunities we have been able to give them and we would have had even more financial difficulties,” she said.
Tracey, 66, from Salisbury North, has cared for her granddaughter since she was three days old. Now 12, the girl enjoys singing and dancing and has won medals through her participation in dance competitions.
Tracey said the organisation had been a source of practical and emotional support for many years.
“They have helped me ensure my granddaughter did not miss out on any of her activities, supported me to buy school items and provided her Christmas presents. Just being able to have someone to talk to that understands has been wonderful,” she said.
While government funding for kinship care services has grown in recent years, advocacy groups continue to argue that many informal carers face financial and legal challenges that differ from those experienced by foster carers. Support organisations say ongoing investment remains important as more grandparents and relatives step into caring roles to provide stable homes for children during family crises.
The latest funding allocation is intended to help Grandcarers SA maintain existing services while responding to the changing needs of carers and the children they support.
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