Hospital to Home is a pilot program, funded by the federal government and designed to support bereaved parents following stillbirth and newborn death. 

It was developed following feedback from bereaved families who told us just how isolated and confused they felt following the death of their baby.  They suggested many situations where help was wanted and the desperate need they had for someone to understand their experiences.  With this in mind Hospital to Home uses peer support workers, who have experienced loss themselves, to provide both practical and emotional support for up to three months.

It is often said that becoming a bereaved parent is a club that no one wants to join, but we believe that the knowledge and experience of someone who has walked the journey before can help make it just a little easier for those facing the new and unexpected challenges that come with the death of a much-loved baby.

Hospital to Home is now open to community referrals until November, which means any professional caring for bereaved parents can refer into the program with parents’ consent. Bereaved parents can also self-refer to the program.

Being a funded pilot program that is testing the support service, there are some eligibility criteria to participate. These are:

• Both parents (if applicable) must consent to access Hospital to Home services.
• Parents must be 18 years or over (adults).
• The baby was stillborn after 20 weeks (including termination of pregnancy for medical reasons) or a neonatal death.
• The baby’s death has occurred within 6-8 weeks of referral.

We may give compassionate consideration for parents who don’t meet these criteria.

Please email [email protected] to enquire how we can provide support.

Support can be provided face-to-face, by phone or videoconference and is tailored to individual needs. Parents decide how they would like to be supported, the options include:

• Emotional support and help with memory-making
• Assistance with planning funeral or memorial arrangements
• Support to attend follow-up medical appointments and receive genetic tests or autopsy results
• Information on grief, how it impacts individuals and relationships, and the supports available
• Talking to and supporting siblings, including liaison with their school 
• Practical support, including unsubscribing from parenting forums and accessing Centrelink entitlements
• Preparing people within the community to respond sensitively to parents’ needs, including return to work
• Providing support to extended family (e.g. grandparents) living overseas
• Responding to requests from bereaved parents for other types of emotional and practical support.

Refer yourself 

Refer on behalf of Parents