Kinship Carer Respite and Support Groups in Tasmania

The Burnout Problem

Carers Tasmania reports that over one-third of primary carers in the state dedicate more than 40 hours per week to their caring role. For grandparents raising grandchildren — often on a pension, often with their own health issues — that load is relentless. There's no shift change, no caseworker rotating in, no agency sending relief.

Respite and peer support aren't luxuries. They're what keeps carers functioning.

The Community Kinship Care Program

The state-funded Community Kinship Care Program is the primary support mechanism for informal kinship carers in Tasmania. It's delivered by two organisations based on region:

• Baptcare covers the North and South-West (including Launceston and surrounding areas)
• Mission Australia covers the North-West Coast and South-East (including Hobart, Burnie, and Devonport)

The program offers:

• Flexible respite — short-term relief so carers can attend medical appointments, manage personal business, or simply rest
• Peer support groups — regular meet-ups with other kinship carers in your area
• Brief family interventions — practical help stabilising the care arrangement
• Brokerage funding — flexible money for urgent or unexpected costs that other programs don't cover

Access the program directly through the provider for your region, or through the Strong Families, Safe Kids Advice and Referral Line on 1800 000 123.

Peer Support by Region

Hobart and South-East: Mission Australia runs the Community Kinship Program for this region, with support groups and individual family support.

Launceston and North: Baptcare covers the North, including peer support groups and respite coordination. Contact their local office for group meeting times.

North-West Coast (Burnie, Devonport): Mission Australia's North-West program organises monthly Kinship Carers Connections sessions — drop-in meetings where carers share practical advice and connect with local services.

Kin Raising Kids Tasmania is a community-led peer group based in Devonport that operates independently of the state-funded program. They advocate for kinship carer recognition and connect carers across the North-West.

FKAT Support

The Foster and Kinship Carers Association Tasmania (FKAT) runs the FAST support line on 1800 149 994 — independent advice and advocacy for foster and kinship carers. While FKAT primarily supports formal carers, the FAST line can direct informal carers to appropriate services.

For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Families

The Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre (TAC) and the South East Tasmanian Aboriginal Corporation (SETAC) provide culturally safe family support and connection for Palawa kinship carers. More than 50% of Indigenous children in out-of-home care in Tasmania live with kinship carers — these organisations understand the extended family and community networks that care arrangements sit within.

When Burnout Becomes a Crisis

If the caring situation is overwhelming and you're considering whether you can continue, contact the Community Kinship Care Program before making any decisions. Brokerage funding and respite can address practical pressures, and peer support groups connect you with people who've been through the same thing.

The Support for Grandparents and Kinship Carers in Tasmania guide includes a complete agency map showing which provider covers your municipality, with contact details for every region.

See more Tasmania guides →