GRANDPARENTS across Australia are stepping into larger and more demanding roles than ever before, providing childcare, financial support and emotional stability for their families, according to the Australian Seniors Grandparents Report 2025.
The report, released by Australian Seniors, surveyed more than 4200 grandparents aged over 50 and reveals the extent to which many are supporting younger generations amid rising living costs and growing family pressures.
A GENERATION STEPPING UP
The findings show that 71 per cent of grandparents over 50 actively support their families, often balancing work, caregiving and personal commitments.
More than half (52 per cent) provide regular childcare, while nearly one in three (32 per cent) offer both financial help and ongoing care.
Common forms of support include overnight stays (63 per cent), emergency childcare (56 per cent), attending school events (55 per cent) and stepping in when children are sick (54 per cent).
Despite the demands, nearly half (46 per cent) say they wish they could do even more to help their families.
FINANCIAL GENEROSITY COMES AT A COST
The report found 51 per cent of grandparents over 50 provide financial assistance to their grandchildren or adult children. On average, those who help financially spend about $3066 a year supporting family members.
For many, the motivation is simple: love and a desire to ease pressure on younger families.
Almost four in five (79 per cent) said affection was their primary reason for helping, while 54 per cent said they wanted to reduce financial stress for their children and grandchildren.
However, this generosity often comes with personal sacrifices. Among those offering financial support, 55 per cent have dipped into their savings or retirement funds, and more than half report cutting back on travel, hobbies or leisure activities as a result.
Around one-third (34 per cent) say they feel torn between helping their family and protecting their own retirement security.
GENERATIONAL DIFFERENCES
Nearly three in five grandparents (57 per cent) say their approach to raising children differs from that of their adult children.
The biggest differences tend to arise around discipline and boundaries (56 per cent), behaviour expectations (47 per cent) and screen time rules (46 per cent).
DISTANCE ADDS EMOTIONAL STRAIN
Geography can also make the grandparent-grandchild relationship more complicated.
More than half (56 per cent) of grandparents have grandchildren living in another city, state or country, and 78 per cent say maintaining that connection is extremely important.
Many rely on phone calls (63 per cent), visits (56 per cent), video chats (46 per cent) and text messages (44 per cent) to stay connected.
A VITAL ROLE IN MODERN FAMILY LIFE
The report concludes that grandparents remain a vital – if often under-recognised – pillar of family life.
As cost-of-living pressures continue and families juggle work and parenting demands, grandparents over 50 are playing an increasingly important role in keeping households connected, supported and resilient across generations.
