Australian Attorney-General Robert McClelland has announced an extra $400,000 so legal aid commissions can get grandparents more involved in family dispute resolution.
"The relationship between a child, their grandparents and extended family is worth investing in," Mr McClelland said. "Grandparents can provide children with love, support and an understanding of where they come from, significant to their care, welfare and development."
The extra money will develop:
- better screening to identify when it’s appropriate to involve grandparents and extended family members;
- better training for staff involved in multi-party family dispute resolution; and
- a national communications strategy to get the message out about the initiative.
The Victoria Legal Aid Commission will manage the project on behalf of all State and Territory Commissions.
– from A-G media release, 1 August 2008