Kinship Care Support Groups Victoria: Where Grandparents Connect

Why Support Groups Matter for Kinship Carers

Raising a grandchild or relative's child can be isolating. Your friends are retiring, travelling, downsizing — and you're doing school pick-ups and packing lunches. An estimated 72% of Victorian kinship carers report drawing on personal savings to cover the immediate financial shock of an unexpected placement, and the emotional toll of the circumstances that brought the child to you (addiction, family violence, a death) compounds the practical pressures.

Support groups connect you with people who understand what that looks like. They are not therapy groups, though some offer access to counsellors. They are places where someone can tell you which Centrelink form they used, how they handled a school that wouldn't enrol their grandchild, or what they did when the birth parent turned up unannounced.

Grandparents Victoria Support Groups

Grandparents Victoria (GPV) is the main coordinator of grandparent-specific support groups across the state. Their groups operate in metropolitan Melbourne and regional centres, typically meeting monthly. Sessions usually include:

• A facilitated peer discussion where carers share experiences and practical tips
• Occasional guest speakers — Centrelink advisers, family lawyers, child psychologists
• Information on new concessions, programs or policy changes affecting carers
• Social activities for the carers and sometimes for the children too

GPV also runs phone-based support for carers who cannot attend in person, particularly those in remote or regional areas.

Kinship Carers Victoria Peer Networks

Kinship Carers Victoria (KCV) runs peer support programs that pair experienced carers with those who are new to the role. This can be especially helpful in the first few months when you are still working out which payments to claim, how to enrol the child in school, and how to manage contact with the birth parents.

KCV can be reached on 0499 969 234 and can connect you with the nearest peer network or support group.

Local Council and Community Health Groups

Many Victorian local councils and community health centres run their own carer support groups, though they don't always appear in a Google or Bing search. Worth trying:

• Your local council's community services team — ask specifically about kinship or grandparent carer groups. Some councils run groups through their maternal and child health service even when the child is older
• Neighbourhood houses — Victoria has over 400 neighbourhood houses, and some host informal carer meetups, parenting groups or playgroups that welcome kinship families
• Community health centres — some offer group programs for carers with counselling or wellbeing components

Online and Phone-Based Groups

If you can't get to a face-to-face group — because of distance, mobility, or the logistics of caring for a young child — several options exist:

• Facebook groups: Search for "Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Australia" or "Kinship Carers Victoria" — these groups have active daily discussion from carers across Victoria sharing real experiences
• GPV phone support: Grandparents Victoria offers phone-based one-on-one support for isolated carers
• Carer Gateway: If you meet its eligibility criteria, the national Carer Gateway (1800 422 737) offers online peer support and can connect you with carer counselling. Call to confirm whether your situation qualifies.

What to Expect at Your First Meeting

Walking into a support group for the first time can feel daunting, particularly if the reason you are raising this child involves painful family circumstances. A few things to know:

• You don't have to share your story if you are not ready — listening is fine
• Most groups have ground rules about confidentiality, so what's said in the room stays there
• You can bring the child if needed; many groups accommodate children or run a parallel kids' activity
• There is no obligation to attend regularly — come when it works for you

Finding the Right Group

Start by contacting Grandparents Victoria or Kinship Carers Victoria and asking what runs in your area. If you are in a regional area without a local group, ask about starting one — both organisations support new groups with facilitation guidance and seed funding.

The Victoria Kinship Carer Support Guide includes a verified directory of support services, phone numbers and intake pathways across metropolitan and regional Victoria, organised by the type of help you need.

See more Victoria guides →