"OFF OUR ROCKERS" a support group for grandparents who are raising their grandchildren began in April 2000 after months of planning.

As a voluntary pastor of a small church in the country I realised that there was an opportunity for the church to reach out into the community and meet the needs of other grandparents like myself who were raising their grandchildren. In this we also incorporate grandparents who do not have access. 

The first group began in Springwood Qld, followed by groups at the Gold Coast, and Lismore.

Group meetings are held monthly and are mainly a support, advocacy group. To date our activities, apart from the monthly meetings have been picnics in the park giving the grandchildren opportunity to meet each other and to realise they are not alone in being raised by a grandparent.

There is no funding and no paid staff involved with the group and volunteer numbers vary in each group. Our goals are to develop a support network across the states, to bring an awareness of our situation to the public, government and legal departments to see changes made for aged grandparents raising grandchildren.

Copyright © 2004 Crossroads Ministries Inc. All rights reserved.
Revised: March 12, 2004 .