Anne Stanley MP

04/11/2024

I move:

That this House:

(1) notes that:

(a) October was Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month, and that Sunday 15 October 2024 marks Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day; and

(b) this day acknowledges the shared loss experienced by parents, friends, and healthcare workers of those little ones lost too soon whether through miscarriage, stillbirth, neonatal death or any other loss;

(2) acknowledges:

(a) that there is a significant impact on families who have lost a baby;

(b) that every year 110,000 Australians experience a miscarriage, more than 2,000 experience stillbirth, and almost 700 lose a baby within the first 28 days;

(c) that stillbirth occurrence is higher in Aboriginal and culturally diverse communities; and

(d) all the families who have experienced loss, either recently or over time; and

(3) commends the Government for providing 9.5 million to improve care and support provided to women and families experiencing miscarriage and early pregnancy loss. This included 1.5 million over two years for a national audit of early pregnancy assessment service clinics-improved information can be used by GPs and other health professionals to ensure women experiencing pregnancy loss and other early pregnancy complications are referred to the proper specialist services where feasible. There is 5.5 million over four years for frontline miscarriage support services to provide evidence-based, culturally safe bereavement care, and support for women and families who have been impacted by miscarriage. Funding of .9 million over two years was also announced to continue to monitor and evaluate activities under the National Stillbirth Action and Implementation Plan. This is building on funding from previous budgets, with a continuation of Red Nose Australia's Hospital to Home program, which provides services to more than 2,000 Australian families who experience stillbirth each year. There is funding to deliver high-quality, evidence-based bereavement care for women and families from high-risk population groups that have experienced stillbirth and miscarriage, especially for those from First Nations, culturally and linguistically diverse communities, families living in rural and remote areas, and women younger than 20. This also includes direct bereavement counselling and training for health professionals.

There are encouraging signs that the research will help families and babies reduce the rate of deaths and miscarriages every year. More importantly, families will feel and be more supported in their journey of loss. To every family whose babies are no longer with them, I share your pain and remember your loved ones and acknowledge them.

Link to Hansard: Full Motion