Case Studies of real people...

Case 1. 

Janice and Fred are grandparents in their seventies, having raised their family and looking forward to retirement took on the responsibility of raising their daughters baby, now six years grandson. There was no option the other choice was leaving this child in the hands of a drug addict mother with no where to live but on the streets of Brisbane. Often the mother would come and take the child and they would have to go and find him on the streets when he was not returned home. At this point they contacted the Off Our Rockers support group who was able to give them information on their legal rights and they were able to get a residency order to give the child the security he needed.

Case 2.

Helen a single grandmother has two grandchildren now 3 and 6, they were only babies when she to had to rescue them from a situation of drug abuse. Because of her stand to protect these children she had to suffer abuse from her daughter and her partner. Helen was fortunate that a government case worker was able to intervene and help out with finances. Raising grandchildren on a pension is a hard task but many grands have to do it because of the lack of financial support.

Case 3.

Margaret and Victor have their hands full with a 4 year old who has been with them from a baby. After the death of her mother from drugs these grandparents had to fight the State Welfare Dept. for custody of their grandchild who had been placed in a foster home. They finally had the baby in their care but have only recently been made her guardians.

Case 4.

Sue and Bruce have four grandchildren in their care, when they took the last baby the eldest was only four. They are fortunate that they are young grandparents and can cope much better than older grandparents could with such a house full. They have an irresponsible daughter who is quiet happy leaving her parents to raise her children. There are no custody orders in place so there is always that insecurity that these little ones can be removed from their care.

Case 5.

Eighty years plus and raising two grandchildren, these grandparents received no financial support apart from the pension and the parenting allowance a mere pittance when you have a thirteen year old girl and 11 year old boy to cloth, school and feed. These grandparents were continually abused by their son( the father of the children) both physically and verbally until he shot both of them and then turned the gun on himself Being a parent the second time round is know easy task, taking into account their is the emotional ties with their own children who so often become quite abusive to their parents but we know we have to do the best for the grandchildren who are too young to care for themselves