Twenty grandparents who care for their grandchildren in the East Maitland area are in for a tough time if the sole worker helping them through a minefield of difficulties loses her job.
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This is the view of Marylyn Secombe, a member of East Maitland Pine Tree Gaps Support Group that helps grandparents in their mammoth task.
Ms Secombe was speaking about the federal government plan to axe the annual $100,000 grant that enables a key worker to liaise with 11 grandparent support groups in the Hunter.
That worker is Karen Lizasoain, who said she feared several grandparent support groups could collapse if they had to battle along alone.
Ms Lizasoain has received strong support from the different grandparent support groups across the Hunter.
“Karen has been the vital cog that kept battling grandparent support groups to continue their fights to bring up their grandchildren,” Ms Secombe said.
“She has been trained to give advice to carers. Without her they will not be able to cope.
“She was a lifeline to help us cope with court appearances, paperwork and various department rules we would not have been able to manage on our own.
“If her job goes, carers will suffer.”
A Kurri Kurri grandmother told the Mercury how she and her husband began looking after their three grandchildren eight years ago when their daughter and her partner were on drugs.
Patricia (surname withheld) said she and her husband faced a nightmare trying to sort out a range of court appearances they would have to make, of dealing with various government departments and struggling with mountains of paperwork until they were put in touch with Ms Lizasoain.
“Funding for my job is due to end in June, but I might be leaving several weeks earlier if I decide to take my holidays off in lieu,” Ms Lizasoain said.
“Both I, our carers and volunteers have yet to hear from the Department of Social Services.”
