Update 17 April 2020
Given the current coronavirus crisis, Red Nose and Sands have agreed to wait until later in the year to finalise the merger. This will ensure our dedicated staff and volunteers can focus their time and energy on supporting families through this crisis.
In the meantime, we are working closely with Sands to make sure we have the best possible services in place to support all bereaved families, no matter where they are along their grief journey.
Original News article: Red Nose and Sands to join forces
Recently the boards of Red Nose and peer support organisation Sands resolved to bring our two organisations together.
This means that Sands will become part of Red Nose. The new organisation will continue to be called Red Nose, but the peer-to-peer support services will be delivered under the Sands brand.
Red Nose and Sands have for some time been exploring the idea of joining forces to create a single organisation that will deliver high quality bereavement care and work towards preventing pregnancy, infant and child loss.
Both Sands and Red Nose were founded by bereaved parents who wanted to make sure families received support following the death of a baby.
We share a long history, similar values, and a shared vision for the future – to provide parents with the best possible bereavement support services, and research and education to prevent babies and children from dying suddenly and unexpectedly.
The Sands model of care is grounded in peer support, which will complement our professional counselling services. Coming together as a single organisation will also simplify the process of seeking support and ensure families receive the right help on their grief journey.
As a joint organisation, we will have an even greater capacity to provide high quality bereavement support services and to invest more of our community funding into programs to support Australian families.
Once the current administration activities are completed, we expect that our day to day operations will remain largely unchanged. Sands staff and volunteers will continue doing their important work. We will continue to run our local offices and support groups focused on the local community.
There will be a considered process to bring our existing services and teams together that will take place over the next twelve months. Our supporters will have the opportunity to be involved in this process – with a number of community information sessions planned for the coming months.
We are excited about the next chapter for Red Nose and are sincerely grateful for your continued support of bereaved families across Australia.
For more information please contact us on 1300 998 698. To contact Sands, call 1300 072 637 or visit sands.org.au