Devastating funding blow will leave bereaved families without access to 24/7 support from July 1 – Red Nose launches a petition urgently calling for continued funding to support families impacted by the death of a baby or child, stillbirth or the loss of a pregnancy.
Tuesday 25th February 2025 – Red Nose Australia has today announced a devastating blow to their Federal Government funding for specialised bereavement services, effective June 30th. This cessation of funding will mean a drastic reduction in support services for grieving families, following the loss of a child, baby or pregnancy.
From 1 July 2025, the impact of this funding not being renewed will be profound. Although the full impact has not yet been determined, it will likely result in:
• The closure of the Red Nose 24/7 Support Line: This specialised support phone line, the only of its kind, will either close entirely or drastically reduce in operating hours.
• Massive increase in wait times: Families seeking support through one-on-one counselling services will face a staggering increase in wait times, from the current six weeks to over a heartbreaking six months.
• Drastic reduction in bereavement support: Red Nose’s specialised bereavement support services, which have provided compassionate care to Australian families for 50 years, will be downsized and drastically under-resourced.
Red Nose is the only organisation in Australia providing these specialised bereavement support services for families impacted by stillbirth, SIDS, SUDI, or the death of an infant or child. There is no alternative for grieving parents and families.
“This is a devastating blow to over 13,000 bereaved families who will no longer receive specialised support, every year,” said Nick Xerakias, Chair of the Board at Red Nose and a bereaved father. “Red Nose has been providing tailored support for bereaved families for close to 50 years. There is no alternative to the very specialised services we offer. Tragically, many families will have nowhere to turn, when they need support the most.”
“When we unexpectedly lost our son Angelo at just two weeks old, the specialised bereavement support we received was absolutely critical. Knowing that other families will now face significantly longer waits, or no access at all, to these essential services is simply unacceptable. These very specialised services are a lifeline in the face of unimaginable grief.”
Red Nose has today launched a national petition calling on the Federal Government to reinstate its funding. The organisation is urging all Australians to sign the petition and help save these essential services for bereaved families.
Sign the petition now at GRIEFis247.org.au
Media contact: Kyla-Rose Booth kyla@goodpr.com.au 0406 104 185