Free Legal Help for Grandparent Carers in Queensland
Legal Aid Queensland
Legal Aid Queensland (LAQ) is the primary source of free legal help for kinship carers in the state.
Phone: 1300 65 11 88
LAQ provides:
- Free initial legal information on family law, parenting orders, child protection matters and Centrelink disputes
- Free telephone advice with a solicitor for eligible callers
- Legal representation in family court or child protection proceedings, subject to strict financial means and legal merits testing
The means test looks at your income and assets. A grandparent on the Age Pension will generally meet the financial threshold. The merits test assesses whether your case has reasonable prospects of success and whether representation is the most appropriate way to resolve the matter.
LAQ does not help with routine administrative tasks like filling out Centrelink claim forms or writing statutory declarations — that falls outside their scope. But if you need advice on whether to apply for parenting orders, how to respond to a child protection investigation, or what to do when a parent threatens to take the child back, LAQ is the right call.
Caxton Legal Centre
Caxton Legal Centre in Brisbane operates specialist family law and kinship care legal advice services.
Phone: (07) 3214 6333
Caxton provides free legal advice for informal carers navigating court orders, parenting disputes, and child protection matters. They have particular experience with grandparent carer cases and understand the intersection between informal care, family law, and Centrelink.
Their services are available statewide through telephone advice, though face-to-face appointments are primarily at their Brisbane office.
Basic Rights Queensland
If your legal issue is with Centrelink rather than a family court, Basic Rights Queensland (BRQ) is the specialist service.
Phone: 1800 358 387
BRQ provides free, independent advice and advocacy for social security claims, appeals and debt disputes. They can help you if:
- Centrelink has rejected your Family Tax Benefit claim
- Your care assessment went against you
- Centrelink is demanding repayment of an overpayment you believe is wrong
- You need help preparing for an Administrative Review Tribunal (ART) hearing
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Everything in this article as a printable checklist — plus action plans and reference guides you can start using today.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Service
First Nations grandparents and kinship carers can access culturally appropriate legal advice through the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Service (ATSILS).
Phone: 1800 012 255
ATSILS provides free legal advice and representation in family law and child protection matters across metropolitan, regional and remote Queensland. Their solicitors understand the particular dynamics of First Nations kinship care and the cultural protocols involved.
Family Dispute Resolution
Before you can apply to the Federal Circuit and Family Court for parenting orders, you generally need to attempt family dispute resolution (mediation) unless an exemption applies. Exemptions include family violence, child abuse, and urgent circumstances.
Family dispute resolution is available through:
- Legal Aid Queensland — free mediation for eligible families
- Relationships Australia Queensland — low-cost mediation services
- Community mediation centres — available across Queensland regions
The mediator helps you and the child's parent negotiate a parenting plan or reach agreement on consent orders. If mediation succeeds, you can file consent orders with the court without a hearing. If it fails, the mediator issues a section 60I certificate confirming that mediation was attempted, which is required before filing a court application.
What Legal Help Cannot Do
Free legal services have limitations:
- They advise on legal rights and court processes, not on Centrelink paperwork or school enrolment procedures
- Representation is limited to cases that pass means and merits testing
- Wait times for appointments can be several weeks
- They cannot guarantee outcomes — a court may not grant the orders you seek
For the administrative side — which Centrelink forms to submit, how to enrol a child in school without a court order, what evidence to gather for an informal care claim — a structured guide fills the gap that legal services do not cover.
Getting Organised Before You Call
Legal advice sessions are more productive when you arrive with your situation documented. The Queensland Kinship Carer Support guide includes worksheets for recording your care timeline, agency interactions, and key facts about the child's situation. Having this organised before a legal advice appointment means you spend the appointment on legal strategy, not on explaining background.
Get Your Free Queensland Kinship Carer Checklist
Download the Queensland Kinship Carer Checklist — a printable guide with checklists, scripts, and action plans you can start using today.