Marketing Coordinator at Accent Software l Registered Teacher specialising in Visual Arts & English
Does it STILL take a village to raise a child? Last week, I asked the question: "With more grandparents stepping in as caregivers for their grandchildren, should they be financially compensated for their time and effort while their children work?" The winning verdict was: It depends on circumstances. The 'Families in Australia Survey' Report (2021) found that two in five grandparents with a grandchild under 13 are providing some form of childcare. For many young families, grandparents are stepping in, either on a casual or regular basis, to help parents balance work and family life. While some provide occasional care, one in four grandparents are providing childcare at least once a week as well as providing care during school holidays, often driven by the need to support working parents. Further complicating the issue, many grandparents are still in the workforce themselves, so they may be spending their days off providing childcare. Yet, this caregiving goes beyond logistical support - it's also about building strong relationships and staying connected with family. But here's the question: As lines between family care and work-related support blur, should we rethink how we acknowledge and support grandparents in these roles?
