Australian Government Parental Leave Pay Scheme for parents of babies born premature

Dr Abbey Eeles attended the Parliamentary Friends of Child and Adolescent Health and Mental Health Event at Parliament House, Canberra. Hosted by the Hon. Mike Freelander, MP, and Miracle Babies Foundation, Abbey shared the research conducted by our team exploring the use of government and industry paid parental leave schemes by parents of preterm and/or sick newborns and the emotional and financial costs of preterm birth and extended hospitalisation.

Together with Miracle Babies Foundation and The University of Melbourne, the CRE in Newborn Medicine are calling for a change to the Australian Government Parental Leave Pay Scheme to offer greater support for parents with a baby born premature or critically ill.

Please sign the national petition here and share with your friends, families and colleagues. This change will keep parents and babies together, mitigating the financial and emotional cost of having a premature or sick baby and support improved outcomes for this vulnerable population.

Don’t forgot to confirm your signature by clicking the email confirmation in your inbox.

If you’d like to read our research article in full, please access here.