Next Spark Award Winner

What a marvellous afternoon at Mounts Bay Sailing Club for the Next Spark Pitch event, our key event for World Prematurity Day 2025. We heard from three early career researchers who were shortlisted finalists. They pitched their project ideas to win over the audience.

Dr Gayatri Jape pitched her project Bridging the Gap: A pilot school readiness clinic for preterm born children, followed by Dr Lindsay Kindinger who pitched Vaginal Progesterone for preterm birth prevention: prescription versus reality, and the final pitch of the day was from Dr Rebecca Watkinson with her project Identifying preterm babies at risk of re-hospitalisation with respiratory infections.

Following the fast paced pitches the audience had just 10 minutes to decide which pitch should win and cast their vote. We would have loved to fund all three of these big ideas, but there could be only one winner.

Huge congratulations to Rebecca 👏🏻 We can't wait to see how this work unfolds in 2026!

Preterm Birth Prevention in The Lancet

Lancet paper shows world-first Australian Preterm Birth Prevention Program is working!!!

New data has shown that a world-first initiative to reduce preterm and early term births in Australia has led to a significant decrease in rates of potentially harmful early birth, and improved pregnancy outcomes for women across the country.

Recently published in The Lancet Obstetrics, Gynaecology, & Women’s Health, the study presents detailed outcomes from a six-year preterm birth prevention program first introduced in mid-2018.

Findings have shown that:

From 2018-2021, through activities of the Alliance, rates of preterm birth (birth before 37 weeks) were reduced by approximately 8%. Preterm birth is the leading cause of death and disability in children under the age of 5 worldwide.

From 2021-2024, through the expansion of the Every Week Counts National Preterm Birth Prevention Program, an approximate 10% reduction in the early term ages was achieved (37-39 weeks – a period strongly associated with increased risks of learning and behavioural problems).

“We have shown that using current knowledge we have lowered the rate of harmful early birth by 7-10% which represents approximately 4000 fewer cases of early birth each year across Australia since the program was launched,” Alliance Chair, Professor John Newnham explains.

Biodesign Project

We’d love to hear from you in a short, anonymous survey (5–7 mins) about your experience with breastmilk supply - what was challenging, what helped, and what you wished existed. Your insights will help shape a Perth Biodesign project focused on supporting breastfeeding mothers especially for those with concerns about low milk supply.
🍼 Open to all breastfeeding or expressing mums, past or present
🔒 Fully anonymous – takes just 5–7 minutes

👉 Take the survey here: https://lnkd.in/gVpCj3kp

Tiny Sparks Play Crew November

Our quarterly Tiny Sparks Play Crew is back on November 15! Play Crew has been co-designed with the team at Western Kids Health to support families with Neonatal Unit Graduates aged 0-3. This group is all about play, connection and support in a relaxed and welcoming environment. Explore different play zones and take part in a Q&A with our expert therapists. The friendly team will be available throughout the session to offer support, answer questions and encourage play and connection.

📍 Western Kids Health, Victoria House, Thorburn Way, Shenton Park

⏰ 9:30am - 11:30am

🔗 Register https://forms.gle/LcWcegop4H6hXSc37

Next Spark Award finalists announced

Our very first Next Spark Pitch Night is nearly here! Bright ideas, bold innovations, and inspiring people will take the stage to pitch for support that can change lives.  This will be our key World Prematurity Day event. We can't wait to hear from:

Rebecca Watkinson - Identifying preterm babies at risk of re-hospitalisation with respiratory infections

Gayatri Jape - Bridging the Gap: A pilot school readiness clinic for preterm born children

Lindsay Kindinger - Vaginal Progesterone for preterm birth prevention: prescription versus reality

Your vote will decide who walks away with $25,000 to help fund their next big idea!

📆 Sunday, 16 November 2025

⏰ 4pm - 6pm

🎟️ One beverage on arrival and light refreshments

📍 Mounts Bay Sailing Club, Australia II Drive, Crawley

*Note the function room is up one flight of stairs, no lift available*

🔗  https://tiny-sparks-wa.grassrootz.com/next-spark-award