Early Pregnancy Loss Support: Red Nose Backs Better Care

28 October 2026

As a proud member of the Early Pregnancy Loss Coalition (EPLC), Red Nose Australia backs the coalition’s call for better early pregnancy loss support and better access to care.

Red Nose welcomes the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing’s crucial work on the national audit of Early Pregnancy Assessment Services, which confirms that many families are not being directed to appropriate care.

What the audit found

The audit found significant gaps in psychosocial and follow-up care:

• Just 40% received information about, or a referral to, mental health support.
• Only 24% received follow-up addressing both their mental and physical health.

With more than half of families who experience early pregnancy loss not directed to appropriate support, clearer referral pathways and greater awareness of available services are urgently needed.

Not just a miscarriage

After a miscarriage, people and families may feel lost or believe they are not entitled to grieve because the experience is common. But hopes and plans for a baby can begin as soon as a pregnancy is known, and their sudden loss can be shocking. That is why Red Nose says: “Not just a miscarriage.”

Red Nose supports anyone affected by pregnancy loss, stillbirth, or the death of a baby or child — no matter how early the loss.

Red Nose Australia CEO Amy Cooper said

“We are ready to support people whenever they need us. Fragmented care pathways and limited awareness mean people are not always told about their options for emotional and psychosocial support.”

Amy Cooper, CEO, Red Nose Australia

Early pregnancy loss support, 24 hours a day

Red Nose grief and loss support is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. People and families can also self-refer to other Red Nose services at our Grief & Loss Support Hub.

Media enquiries

For interviews or comment, email media@rednose.org.au or call Fiona Jordan on 0402 846 867.

About the Early Pregnancy Loss Coalition (EPLC)

The Early Pregnancy Loss Coalition (EPLC) is Australia’s national representative peak body for early pregnancy loss. Founded in 2023, the EPLC brings together organisations working across the miscarriage space to improve the care, support and recognition provided to people and families affected by miscarriage and early pregnancy loss.

The EPLC is a registered charity and is guided by an expert advisory group. Through evidence-informed policy, collaboration and advocacy, the EPLC works to ensure every person experiencing early pregnancy loss receives compassionate, equitable and high-quality care, regardless of where they live.

The EPLC’s organisational members are:

• Australian College of Midwives
• Australian College of Nurse Practitioners
• Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation
• Australasian Society for Ultrasound in Medicine
• Australian Women’s Health Alliance
• Bears of Hope
• Centre of Perinatal Excellence (COPE)
• Doctors for the Environment Australia
• Early Pregnancy Network Victoria
• Jean Hailes for Women’s Health
• Miscarriage Australia
• Miscarriage Information Support Service (M.I.S.S.)
• MSI Australia
• Multicultural Centre for Women’s Health
• Mums Matter Psychology
• PANDA (Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Australia)
• Pink Elephants Support Network
• Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG)
• Red Nose
• SMS4Dads
• The Still Nest
• Women’s Health Education Network
• Women’s Health Victoria
• Women’s Healthcare Australasia

We’re here anytime you need us.

Call our 24/7 Grief & Loss Support Line on 1300 308 307 to speak with a trained peer supporter who understands what you’re going through. Whether it’s day or night, we’re just a call away.

Compassionate support from people with lived experience. Available 24 hours, 7 days a week.

Call 1300 308 307 Explore our Grief & Loss Support hub