How to support yourself and others through loneliness
Relationships Australia tip sheet for dealing with loneliness
As loneliness comes into the spotlight it is important that we all do whatever we can to redress it, not only for our own sakes but also for those close to us and in our community. KCV endorses this paper issued by Relationships Australia and urges you to read and share it about.
Cheers
Anne McLeish
A new video from GPV/KCV on positive discipline
GPV/KCV is pleased to launch its video on positive discipline.
It is a feature in the GPV/KCV campaign to ensure that physical punishment of children is made illegal across Australia.
The video is a reminder that positive discipline can work and should be viewed in conjunction with reading written materials on positive discipline.
Non-physical types of discipline for children and young people (booklet)
Reasons not to hit children (article)
Physical punishment in Australia (video)
GPV/KCV commends signing the petition to have physical punishment made illegal across Australia.
https://www.change.org/p/end-physical-punishment-of-children-protect-australian-children
One in three Australian kids can’t read well enough – so how can we develop a love of reading in today’s children?
ABC Darwin – NT Sundays
Broadcast 23 June 2024
According to recent figures from the Grattan Institute, about one in three of Australian children struggle to read proficiently. But what can be done about it? Grandparents and other carers can play a vital role in helping encourage the children in their care to read more – and even develop a love of reading.
In this episode of ABC Darwin’s NT Sundays, presenter Lyrella Couzens and director of Grandparents Australia Anne McLeish discuss this alarming phenomenon, the effects of societal change on children’s relationship to reading, how the teaching of reading can be improved – especially with online technology – and how we as a society can become more proactive at instilling an interest in children in books and help them experience the enjoyment that can bring.
Our Mission
The needs of families are becoming more complex and the support grandparents can offer to their own family and to other families is significant. Through acting together grandparents are becoming strong advocates. They are the custodians of considerable wisdom, compassion and skills that are being put to good use in activities to support families and to benefit the wider community.
Grandparents Victoria (GPV) aims to:
- Link grandparents across the state and the nation
- Identify, articulate and promote the needs of grandchildren and grandparents
- Represent the views of grandparents in public consultations and influence policy and practice affecting families
- Share ideas and information about what works well in supporting families.
Anne McLeish
Director, Grandparents Victoria
Values
GPV believes that a society that is inclusive of all is crucial to individual and community wellbeing
Our ValuesCampaigns
GPV conducts a number of campaigns on issues that affect grandparents and their families
Read MoreBecome a Member
GPV members share with other grandparents a commitment to improve the quality of life of grandchildren.
Join GPVEnd physical punishment of children – protect Australian children
1,256 people have signed this petition to end physical punishment of Australian children.
In 1979, Sweden was the first country in the world to prohibit all physical punishment of children, including in the home. As of September 2022, 63 countries, including New Zealand, have done the same. Lawmakers in these countries listened to the experts in the field. They also listened to over 50 years of research that demonstrates the negative outcomes associated with the physical or corporal punishment of children.
It’s time Australia listened too! We need to prioritize the safety of children. This petition is calling on you to help a campaign to end physical punishment of children.
Please sign and ask others to sign the petition, which will be sent to Federal and State Attorneys General urging them to change legislation:
https://www.change.org/p/end-physical-punishment-of-children-protect-australian-children
The Uluru Statement from the Heart
A list of people connected with GPV/KCV offering their support for the Uluru Statement from the Heart. They ask their families and friends to do the same and call on the Australian Government to urgently address the issues raised in the statement.
Campaigns
GPV conducts a number of campaigns on issues that affect grandparents and their families
Abolishing corporal punishment
The campaign calls for the Australian Government to make corporal punishment of children and young people illegal across Australia. GPV/KCV believes that violence against children is never appropriate, even in the context of discipline.
Support for kinship carers
GPV/KCV is committed to amplifying voices of kinship care families within government, improving visibility of kinship carers and raising understanding of carer families and carers’ roles. GPV/KCV calls for the Vic Government to increase the allowance to kinship carers.
Improving education for all
Since 2004 GPV/KCV has been campaigning for improvements in education services to all children and young people. Since 2010 GPV/KCV has been particularly concerned about provision of education to children and young people in out of home care.
Congrats to GPV and her Board on the 20th birthday! The years have gone by quickly and yet you have achieved so much. Who would have believed it when we first started chatting in Moonee Ponds?
It has been a remarkable journey. Wanting to support families has driven us to think and act much more widely than we could have conceived of in 2001. There have been some disappointments along the way, most particularly the lack of value governments place on supporting families, particularly vulnerable families.
Become a GPV Member Today
Grandparents Victoria (GPV) is a statewide non- profit organisation of grandparents working together to shape a positive future for all children in Victoria.