The Hon Ged Kearney MP
Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care
The Australian Government is providing greater support to ease the heartbreak of stillbirth and miscarriage among higher-risk groups.
From today, $5.1 million is available in grants to organisations that can provide high quality, evidence-based bereavement care nationally for women and families who have experienced stillbirth or miscarriage.
Groups that are at higher risk of stillbirth or miscarriage include First Nations, culturally and linguistically diverse, refugee and migrant communities, as well as women and families living in rural and remote Australia and women and girls younger than 20 years of age.
Every day in Australia, six babies are stillborn and two die within 28 days of birth, equating to around 3,000 perinatal deaths per year. Up to 1 in 5 confirmed pregnancies end in miscarriage before 20 weeks.
Grants are open to organisations that can develop and deliver holistic and individualised bereavement care for women and families in the target population groups across Australia.
Funding will be provided through an open, competitive grant opportunity published on GrantConnect and open between 23 November 2022 and 6 January 2023.
QUOTES ATTRIBUTABLE TO ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR HEALTH AND AGED CARE GED KEARNEY MP:
“Losing a baby causes enormous grief and heartache. All women and families should have access to meaningful support through this difficult time with care that is appropriate for them and their circumstances.”
“All women and families deserve to get tailored information and support for stillbirth or infant loss. It will always be a tragic experience, but we want to make sure that no one has to endure this situation alone.”
QUOTES ATTRIBUTABLE TO ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR INDIGENOUS HEALTH MALARNDIRRI MCCARTHY:
“Trusted organisations can do incredible work to support bereaved women and families impacted by stillbirth which has an enormous social, emotional and fiscal impact in Australia.”
“Having chaired the Select Committee on Stillbirth Research and Education, it’s important we take up lessons on how to better support families, including those who helped shine a light on what can still tend to be a hidden tragedy.”
