Launching a report on the impact of childcare on grandmothers from Chinese, Arabic and Macedonian backgrounds, Ms Pike said grandparents made a huge contribution to the community but they had to be careful to maintain a balance in their lives.

‘The contribution these women make in passing along family traditions, cultural values and, of course, plenty of love, goes well beyond the financial dimension,’ Ms Pike said.

‘However, it would cost $500,000 to provide the childcare given by these loving grandmothers.

‘The report clearly shows that women need to be careful not to jeopardise their health and even their friendships by giving all of their energies to caring for their grandchildren,’ Ms Pike said.

Funded by the Victorian Government and VicHealth, the $40,000 project by Women’s Health in the North and the Victorian Cooperative on Children’s Services for Ethnic Groups—It’s A Long Day On Your Own—aims to link grandmothers with facilities or community services to make their roles more fulfilling.

Ms Pike said the report was a strong reminder that caring for grandchildren could give shape and meaning to an older person's life.

‘But looking after children for extended periods can also make it harder for a woman to care for her own health, make and keep her own friends and improve her English language skills,’ she said.

‘Grandmothering is not just a ‘feel good’ topic—it’s a serious issue requiring action,’ Ms Pike said.

Key report recommendations include access for grandmothers to health and childcare services, family mediation, learning opportunities and social and recreational services.

Also recommended were transport and childcare help, community education on grandmothering, advocacy to address income and housing issues of recently-arrived older women and a resource kit to help grandmothers be more self-sufficient.