Support for Australian families with sick babies

Hospital support services

Specialised neonatal care

Babies generally require specialised care at a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) or Special Care Nursery (SCN) if difficulties arise during the delivery period. In Australia, we are lucky to have 23 state-of-the-art NICUs that are able to provide the highest level of neonatal care.

Social work services

When your baby is admitted to hospital, you can ask to be allocated a social worker (in some cases, this will be done automatically). Social workers can assist and connect families with available support services, as well as address any external issues that may be impacting on your wellbeing.

External support services

There are a range of online and telephone-based support services available in Australia for families with preterm and/or sick babies.

Miracle Babies Foundation

Phone: 1300 622 243
Website: Miracle Babies Foundation

Miracle Babies Foundation supports premature and sick newborns and their families, as well as hospitals that care for them. They provide both in-hospital and community support programs.

Parent Line

Parent Line is a telephone counselling, information and referral service for parents, grandparents and carers of children aged between 0 and 18. Each state and territory has its own helpline and website.

NSW

Phone: 1300 1300 52
Website: Parent Line NSW

QLD & NT

Phone: 1300 30 1300
Website: Parent Line QLD & NT

VIC

Phone: 13 22 89
Website: Parent Line VIC

WA

Phone: 1800 654 432
Website: Parent Line WA

SA

Phone: 1300 364 100
Website: Parent Line SA and here

ACT

Phone: 6287 3833
Website: Parent Line ACT

TAS

Phone: 1300 808 178
Website: Parent Line TAS

Perinatal Anxiety and Depression Australia (PANDA)

PANDA National Helpline (Mon – Fri, 9am – 7:30pm AEST): 1300 726 306

Website: Perinatal Anxiety and Depression Australia (PANDA)

PANDA supports Australian families affected by anxiety and depression during pregnancy and early parenthood.

Australian Multiple Birth Association (AMBA)

Phone: 1300 886 499
Website: Australian Multiple Birth Association (AMBA)

AMBA supports and aims to improve the lives of twins, triplets and more.

Pillars of Strength

Website: Pillars of Strength

Pillars of Strength supports dads – with both ‘time out’ and ‘in hospital’ support programs – so that they can support their families.

Tresillian

Phone: 1300 272 736
Website: Tresillian

Tresillian is an early parenting service offering guidance and support for new parents around the issues of breastfeeding, settling baby, post-natal depression and nutrition. One particular service that is provided is called the Early Intervention Home Visiting program, which supports positive relationship development between children and parents during challenging circumstances.

Austprem

Website: Austprem

Austprem aims to support parents and caregivers of premature babies and children.

Life’s Little Treasures Foundation

Phone: 1300 697 736
Website: Life’s Little Treasures Foundation

Life’s Little Treasures Foundation supports, provides friendship and provides information for families of premature or sick babies. Their services are both in hospital and in the community for when families come home.

References

1. Newborn care in Victoria [online]. Victoria State Government; 2018 [cited 18 July 2018]. Available from: URL link
2. Chow SSW, Le Marsney R, Creighton P, et al. Report of the Australian and New Zealand Neonatal Network 2015. Sydney, NSW: Australian and New Zealand Neonatal Network; 2017. [PDF]
3. Social work services [online]. Australian Association of Social Workers; 2018 [cited 18 July 2018]. Available from: URL link

To read tips for parents, family and friends of sick or newborn premature babies who require extra care and support, click here.

Kylie shared her experiences with miscarriages, IVF and premature babies, from the heartbreaks to the triumphs. Read Kylie’s story here.

Katelyn shared her experiences of having Piper, her daughter, born at 29 weeks, and the journey of Piper as a sick premature baby separated from her mother at birth. Read Katelyn’s story here.