Blog
It’s time to join our team for this year’s HBF Run for a Reason. A fantastic outing for the entire family, whether you are setting goals to smash a PB in the half marathon or just want to join the fun with the family walkers there is an option to suit everyone. This event does sell out so do not delay in signing up! Earlybird registration closes on 3 March.
All team Tiny Sparks participants will receive a special gift as a thank you for being part of the team.
If your Neonatal Unit graduate has found their feet and started walking, but has not turned 3 yet then Toddler Playgroup is the right place for you. Held fortnightly on a Wednesday morning the group is all about play, connection and support in a relaxed and welcoming environment.
Toddler Playgroup is held at Western Kids Health in Shenton Park and led by Senior Speech Pathologist Amelia Bell with other clinicians attending on rotation. you have the opportunity to meet others at a similar stage to your family. Registration is essential as numbers are limited.
If you are ready to get out into the community in a safe and supported way consider joining our Baby Playgroup, suitable for Neonatal Unit graduates up until your little ones are are walking. These sessions are in person on a Wednesday morning, held fortnightly in Shenton Park.
Playgroup will be led by Senior Speech Pathologist Amelia Bell with other clinicians attending different sessions throughout the term.
This group is about play, connection and support in a relaxed and welcoming environment. Registration is essential as group numbers are capped.
We are thrilled to bring a brand new program to life with our friends at Western Kids Health for 2026. We know that those early days of life at home can be tricky to navigate but you still might be looking for connection with others facing similar challenges to yourself. That’s why we have partnered to bring to life virtual coffee & connection sessions for those who have been recently discharged.
WKH Tiny Sparks Parent Circle will run weekly on a Tuesday afternoon from 1-2pm for 6 consecutive weeks. The sessions will provide a calm, supportive space for parents and caregivers to connect, reflect, and share experiences from the comfort of home.
Registration is essential as there are capped numbers.
The Extremely Preterm Infant Centre of Research Excellence (EPIC-CRE) led by Professor Jeanie Cheong at the MCRI is developing a national Guideline for Growth, Health, and Developmental Follow-up for Children Born Very Preterm from School Age to Adulthood.
The guideline aims to improve the quality of life and optimise health trajectories across the life course for children born very preterm, from school age to adulthood, supporting their increased risk of chronic and complex physical and mental health conditions and promoting consistent, coordinated care.
We are seeking individuals with lived experienced to join Guideline Development Group (GDG) to ensure the guideline is practical and relevant. The GDG will include diverse group from across Australia including clinical experts, researchers, people with lived experience, and representatives from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, CALD populations, and rural and remote regions.
GDG meetings will be held virtually every 3 months (around 8 sessions) from early 2026 to late 2027. Each meeting will run approx. 2 hours, with 1-2 hours of document review between meetings.
This work builds on the NHMRC-endorsed 2024 Guideline for Growth, Health and Developmental Follow-up for Children Born Very Preterm, developed by the Centre of Research Excellence in Newborn Medicine, providing recommendations from birth to preschool age. Available at CRE in Newborn Medicine.
We invite individuals born very preterm (18+ years) and caregivers of individuals born very preterm (school age or older) to join the GDG. You can express your interest by completing this short survey: https://redcap.link/zaz118h0
