“What do we want? Recognition. When do we want it? Yesterday.”
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A chorus of demands echoed Wagga’s streets on Friday as the Grandparents Doing it Tough support group marched in protest, demanding to be labelled as grandparents but with foster carer rights.
More than 80 of Wagga’s oldest generation and their supporters refused to be silenced as they took their political fight to the streets.
Cootamundra’s Helen and Brian Morgan are both in their seventies and are spending their senior years caring for their six-year-old grandson.
The pair know the challenges of an informal carer status all too well, with most of their savings for a trip around Australia spent on seven trips to Brisbane and countless court proceedings.
“I got a call from my daughter one day who said she had blown all her money on drugs and she was about to be evicted,” Mrs Morgan said.
“Both his parents are drug addicts and it wasn’t the right atmosphere for him; luckily the judge agreed and he has been with us since March.”
Mrs Morgan said she spent the initial weeks in tears, wondering how she would cope with the challenges ahead.
She finally sought the help of others, joining the fight for legal recognition and financial support.
“We are not setting out to make trouble, we just want the best for our little fellow,” Mrs Morgan said.
“We sacrifice so much to give our grandson the fresh start he needs.”
Support group leader Lyn Reilly said grandparents are simply “lumped in” with foster cares.
Ms Reilly said the group wants the current legislation to change and be based on the Victorian legislation, with a long term plan for a national scheme.
“People are saying that in the best interests of the children they need go through all those checks and balances and go into foster care,” Ms Reilly said.
“It’s just additional trauma which they’ve already been through.
“We need to find a way to speed it up and Victoria have found a streamlined way to do that which meets all the requirements.”
Ms Reilly said the group was also battling to change the language for grandparents who find it “offensive” for Family and Community Services to refer to them as carers.
“It’s an intrusion to have case workers come in and ask their grandchildren how their placement is,” Ms Reilly said.
“Case workers come and again so often that we need a staff member who specifically works with grandparents for consistency.”