A major parliamentary inquiry into stillbirth has delivered its final report to State Parliament, outlining 22 recommendations to improve prevention, care and support for families who experience the heartbreaking loss of a baby.
The Government has accepted all recommendations in principle and announced new funding to extend specialist counselling services for grieving parents.
Member for Newland Olivia Savvas, who established the Parliamentary Select Committee into Stillbirth in October 2024, said the work had been one of the most meaningful moments of her career.
“It has been one of the great privileges of my career to establish the Select Committee into Stillbirth, in memory of my baby brother Benjamin,” she said.
“I have been forever shaped by the loss of my brother, and I know firsthand that the impact of infant loss is long-lasting.”
Over the past year, the committee heard from bereaved families, healthcare professionals, researchers and advocates through 79 written submissions and testimony from 49 witnesses. Their stories and expertise revealed the need for greater awareness, fairer access to care and a more compassionate approach to bereavement support.
“It has been 25 years since my mum first sought better outcomes from the State Government after the loss of her little boy. I am incredibly proud that our Government is taking steps to increase those supports for families like my own,” Olivia said.
“I am grateful to each and every parent who has shared stories with our Committee of babies loved and lost. I thank them for letting our work contribute to their babies’ legacies.”
Among the recommendations are plans to introduce the ‘purple butterfly’ program in hospitals, improve bereavement training for midwives, embed early stillbirth prevention discussions into pregnancy records and ensure the new Women’s and Children’s Hospital includes a dedicated delivery suite for stillbirth.
In direct response, the Government will provide ongoing funding for the Red Tree Foundation, an initiative of SIDS and Kids SA.
The foundation will receive $850,000 over the next four years to continue specialist counselling for families affected by the loss of an infant or child, including telehealth for regional areas.
Health Minister Chris Picton said the findings marked an important step forward.
“Stillbirth has a devastating and lasting impact on so many families,” he said.
“This report gives voice to those families and sets out a path for how we can do better, by improving awareness, care and support across our health system.”
“We have accepted in principle all of the Committee’s 22 recommendations, and will now begin the work to implement them so we can better support both families and the healthcare professionals who care for them. I thank Olivia for her commitment to seeking answers about stillbirth and improving understanding and care for families who experience this heartbreaking loss.”
Red Tree Foundation General Manager Kari Langdon said the funding would ensure families continue to receive vital support.
“We’re immensely grateful for the Government’s ongoing support to enable us to continue helping families through the unimaginable loss of a child,” Kari said.
“The Government’s commitment of a further $850,000 over the next four years will allow us to continue offering specialist counselling for families affected by the loss of an infant or child, including telephone and telehealth counselling for rural and regional areas.”
While not all stillbirths can be prevented, the report’s recommendations aim to reduce risk through stronger collaboration between parents and healthcare providers, ensuring that when loss does occur, families receive the compassionate care they deserve.
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