Stillbirth Foundation Australia
For too long there has been a taboo on talking about stillbirth in Australia – leading to ineffective policy solutions; a lack of public education, research and data collection; and great difficulty in raising money for support and advocacy.
Stillbirth Foundation Australia engaged H/Advisors APA to change their operating environment – to spark conversations that would engage government and the public.
Since 2016, H/Advisors APA has successfully assisted the Foundation by focusing on community education, advocacy and change, and profiling and funding. Each year, we generate more than 200 media stories about stillbirth to keep the conversation going, and provide support and advice on government relations activities.
Wins so far have included:
Federal Government support for a streamlined Stillborn Baby payment so that parents of stillborn children receive the same financial supports as other bereaved parents. This recognises that parents of stillborn children are parents too, and while no amount of financial support will address the pain of losing a child, this policy will work to support families with funeral costs and other associated expenses.
The equalisation of the unpaid parental leave arrangements for parents of stillborn babies.
The establishment of the Senate Select Committee into Stillbirth Research and Education, which led to commitments of more than $5 million for research and preventative action from the Federal Government.
The launch of a side-sleeping public education campaign and securing secured both investment and free advertising space from the NSW, NT and WA governments.
In the 2021-2022 Federal Budget, the Government committed $1.8 million over four years to undertake more stillbirth autopsies and to develop educational resources to support parents.
These policy changes demonstrate the importance of having a strong advocate in the Stillbirth Foundation making the case and fighting for a cause. H/Advisors APA is proud to have made a contribution.
As the Foundation advocates for the right policy settings and heightened levels of awareness, it estimates that up to two of the six stillborn babies who die in Australia each day can eventually be saved.