Contact us > Our research
Our previous studies
Other Australian research and reports
Since 2003 the School of Nursing and Midwifery, School of Psychology and the Centre for Research on Ageing (formerly the Centre for Research into Aged Care Services) at Curtin University of Technology have collaborated with government and non-government agencies on a range of research projects to explore the experiences of Grandfamilies in Perth, Western Australia.
Together, this work has indicated to us that, as a group, Grandfamilies have a range of individual and familial support needs that are not being adequately met. This work also suggested that there maybe quite distinct groups of families who have quite different support needs. Unfortunately, our three previous studies have been too small to provide any strong evidence as to the best way to identify Grandcarers and Grandfamilies who are ‘in need’, or which services, or interventions, will make the most difference. In practical terms, this lack of information makes it difficult for health professionals, government and community support agencies to be pro-active in their support of Grandcarers and Grandfamilies, particularly when there are limited resources and so many competing needs.
In collaboration with our partners, our current research program is aimed toward developing a cohesive conceptual framework for understanding the role of Grandcarers: Grandparents who Parent their Grandchildren Full-time, as well as a theoretical basis for intervention and a policy framework to assist government and community support agencies address the needs of these extended families. For more information
Our previous studies
Our team has completed three previous small pilot studies:
Pilot study one
Using a descriptive qualitative approach, the experiences of 17 grandparents caring for their grandchildren were investigated. The findings indicated that grandparents found this unexpected role brought substantial emotional, social and financial problems into their lives for which they actively looked for resources that could provide them with support. Moreover, many expressed concerns about the future of their grandchildren and frustration when they were dealing with government institutions.
Publications
Anonymous. (2006). Grandparents as parents. Australian Nursing Journal, 13 (7), 37.
Orb, A, & Davey, M. (2005), Grandparents parenting their grandchildren. Australasian Journal on Ageing, 24(3), 162-168.
Orb, A., Davey, M., & Henderson, S. (2004). Perceptions of grandparents as primary caregivers of their grandchildren. Bentley, Western Australia: Centre for Research into Aged Care Services, Curtin University of Technology.
Pilot study two
Qualitative and quantitative methods were used to explore the experiences of children in grandparent care in order to identify elements that contribute to, or detract from, their healthy development. Interviews and psychological assessments were conducted with 20 children, aged from 8 to 15 years. This research indicated that most of the children were happy living with their grandparents and expressed a sense of family and belonging. However, a substantial number of the children expressed distress related to their earlier experiences of maltreatment or neglect, as well as ongoing contact with their unreliable and unpredictable biological parent(s). These children required, but did not always receive, support and services.
Publications
Downie, J.M., Hay, D.A., Horner, B.J., Wichmann, H., & Hislop, A. (Published Online: Apr 24 2009). Children Living with their Grandparents: Resilience and Wellbeing. International Journal of Social Welfare 19(1), 8-22 from http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/122363234/abstract
Hislop, A., Horner, B., Downie, J., & Hay, D. (2004). The perceived experiences of children and adolescents living with their grandparents: "Why living with my grandparents is so ... good". A report to the Commonwealth Department of Health & Ageing. Bentley, Western Australia: Centre for Research into Aged Care Services, School of Nursing and Midwifery, School of Psychology.
Pilot study three
An evaluation of an agency designed and implemented intervention showed grandparents (and grandchildren) participants experienced acute emotional reactions to their family situation at both pre-test and post-test. Statistically significant changes were not observed on measures of general family functioning, negative emotional states, generic health status, or children’s emotional and behaviour difficulties, but positive changes were observed in scores for many grandparents and grandchildren. The qualitative data also confirmed that grandparents (n = 23) and grandchildren (n = 34) described the intervention as effective. Our strong recommendation was that a more comprehensive, longer-term grandparent intervention that is theoretically based and provides education, psycho-social support and therapeutic guidance on goals and strategies is required to stimulate change.
Publications
Horner, B., Downie, J., Hay, D., & Wichmann, H. (2008, April). Grandparents who parent their grandchildren in Western Australia: An evaluation of an agency-based psychosocial support program. Journal of Family Issues (manuscript being prepared).
Horner, B., Downie, J., & Wichmann, H. (2005). The Intergenerational Response Against Drugs (TIRAD): A needs specific intervention for grandparents parenting grandchildren where the parents have substance abuse problems. A report to Wanslea Family Services and Community Vision Incorporated. Bentley, Western Australia: Centre for Research into Aged Care Services, School of Nursing and Midwifery at Curtin University of Technology.
Related publications
Horner, B., Downie, J., Hay, D., & Wichmann, H. (2007). Grandparent-headed families in Australia. Family Matters, 76, 76-84.
Available from http://www.aifs.gov.au/institute/pubs/fm2007/fm76/bh.pdf
Horner, B., Downie, J., Hay, D., & Wichmann, H. (2007). Grandparent kinship care in Australia. Geriaction, 25(1), 5-14.
Other Australian research and reports
2008
Dunne, E. G., & Kettler, L. J. (2008, in press). Grandparents raising grandchildren in Australia: exploring psychological health and grandparents’ experience of providing kinship care. International Journal of Social Welfare.
Smyth, C. & Eardley, T. (2008), Out of Home Care for Children in Australia: A Review of Literature and Policy, SPRC Report No. 3/08, prepared for the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, Social Policy Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney available from http://www.sprc.unsw.edu.au/media/File/Report3_08_Out_of_home_care.pdf
2007
Families Australia. (2007). Grandparenting: present and future (Family Issues Series Report 2). Barton, ACT: The Australian National University. Available from
http://www.familiesaustralia.org.au/publications/pubs/conferences/grandparent/Grandparentingpresentandfuture.pdf
2006
Baldock, E., & Petit, C. (2006). Grandparents Parenting Grandchildren because of alcohol and other drugs. A research report commissioned by the ACT Health Alcohol and Drug Policy Unit. Canberra, ACT: Canberra Mothercraft Society. Available from http://www.cmsinc.org.au/newsletters-and-reports.
2004
Fitzpatrick, M. (2004). Grandparents raising grandchildren: A report commissioned by the Hon Larry Anthony Minister for Children & Youth Affairs (SA17). Melbourne, Victoria: COTA National Seniors. Available from http://www.fahcsia.gov.au/sa/families/pubs/parenting-grandparents_raising_grandchildren/Pages/default.aspx.
Grandparents Australia (2004). Grandparents speak … 2004. A report of a national survey of grandparents. Victoria: Grandparents Australia & The Australian Scholarships Group.
Mason, J., & Gibson, C. (2004). The Needs of Children in Care: Developing a Model of Out-of-Home Care. A report on a research project. NSW: University of Western Sydney & UnitingCare Burnside (Social Justice and Research Program).
2003
Department of Human Services. (2003). Public Parenting: A review of home-based care in Victoria. Melbourne: State Government of Victoria. Available from http://www.dhs.vic.gov.au/publicparenting
Fitzpatrick, M. & Reeve, P. (2003). Grandparents’raising grandchildren –
a new class of disadvantaged Australians. Family Matters, 66, 54-57. available from http://www.aifs.gov.au/institute/pubs/fm2003/fm66/mf.pdf
2002
Mason, J., Falloon, J., Gibbons, L., Spence, N., & Scott, E. (2002). Understanding Kinship Care: Report on a research project undertaken by The Childhood and Youth Policy Research Unit of the University of Western Sydney and the Association of Childrens Weflare Agencies. Haymarket, NSW: NSW Association of Childrens Welfare Agencies Inc. and the University of Western Sydney. Available from http://www.acwa.asn.au/acwa/publications/reports/UWS_ACWA_KinFinal.pdf.
