Parenting and Caring

Biological and Social

Blood or genetic parents of the child

Foster, Adoption, Step-parent, Surrogacy

Legislation, Community beliefs and attitudes, Reproductive technology

Allowing same sex marriage in Australia (2017) allows adoption and fostering for same sex parents, child adoption laws more focused on best interests and identity rights of child

Growing acceptance of blended families, step families and same sex parents -> reduces stigma -> social parents feel more accepted

IVF and Surrogacy allows indidviduals who cannot concieve naturally to have children, however raises some ethical concerns

Link each social parent to how legislation, attitudes and technology have changed access to it

primary, formal, informal

Main day to day carer, often unpaid(parent caring for kid with a disability)

Paid professionals, part of occupation (nurses, aged care staff)

Family or friends, usually unpaid with unformal training

More likely to be females (72%) aged 45-64 (24%), 7% female primary, sandwich generation either caring for child or ageing parent

Emotional obligation, Alternative care inaccessible

sense of love, duty or familial responsiblity

Formal care such as old aged care can be financially inaccessible for some

Satisfying specific needs, promoting wellbeing, building postive interpersonal relationships

Changing health hehaviours, Organising finances, Modifying physical environmnet, Enhancing knowledge and skills

Physical activity, Nutrition, social/spiritual

budgeting, saving, accessing support (Parenting Payment)

House, amenitites, equipment

Education, information, training

Age, skils/capabilities, special needs

needs and independence change dramatically across the lifespan, e.g infant needs constant supervision while a teenage needs guidance and freedome

a dependents level of independence (e.g a todlerr who cannot dress themselves yet vs a teenager who can) determines how much hands on care versus gudiance/supervision is requried

illness or disabilit, may require more intensive, specialised care and significantly change the parents or carers role