We are so delighted to see further restrictions on gathering easing in Western Australia! It has been a difficult time for everyone during the COVID lockdown, and whilst we all enjoyed the COVID Connect sessions online we can't wait to get back to meeting face to face out in the community!
We welcome you to join us for a cuppa and a chat at our informal coffee morning on Monday July 6, from 10am at Mason Saint-Honore, 100 Benara Road, Caversham. Everyone welcome! We would love you to RSVP via our event page on Facebook so we know how many people to keep an eye out for.
This is an opportunity to get together to connect and chat about high-risk pregnancy, bedrest, the neonatal unit and the challenges our 'tiny sparks' face when growing up.
COVID-19 Relevant Health Guidelines
The Department of Health Western Australia has published some guidelines in relation to COVID-19. Those that are relevant to our families include ‘Management of COVID-19 Infection in Pregnant Women Statewide’ and also ‘COVID-19 Guidance for Neonatal Services Statewide’.
Whilst we hope that all those who are pregnant remain well. Given the present situation it may pay to familiarise yourselves with these documents and discuss with your care team if you have any questions.
It is important to remember to only obtain information from trustworthy sources.
COVID Connect
Our opportunity to get together face to face is limited right now, which makes it all the more essential to reach out and connect. Whilst we can’t run our Monthly Coffee Mornings we will instead turn to our ‘virtual lounge room’ and meet for a chat via Zoom, every Monday morning at 10am. Bring your favourite beverage, make yourself comfortable and meet some new friends. The first COVID Connect will run on April 6, see our Facebook event page to stay up to date with this initiative. We will also post the Zoom links for the sessions there.
COVID Assist
Unprecedented times call for unprecedented measures! Being a small volunteer run organisation we have the ability to rapidly adapt to meet the needs of our community.
Today we launch COVID Assist. Providing financial assistance to Western Australian families who find themselves in the Neonatal Unit and have been negatively impacted by COVID-19. Guidelines below.
COVID-19 Pandemic Relief - Once off small grants
(COVID Assist)
The Tiny Sparks WA board (Board) has made provision to assist the community we serve by providing once-off small grants. The grants are available for three months, from 7 April to 7 July 2020 unless the amount allocated by the Board is exhausted before that time.
The criteria to receive a grant requires that:
You must be a resident in Western Australia; and
You must be the parent of a premature or sick infant who is currently in the NICU or SCN (or have passed away after 1 March 2020); and
One of the parents must have lost their job due to the COVID virus and be able to show us evidence of that such as a separation certificate from their previous employer.
All regional families are eligible regardless of point 3 above.
The Board will consider applications on a case by case basis and may contact families to provide additional assistance. We anticipate that families will be granted with a $100 Coles/Woolworths voucher and a $100 petrol voucher. Upon application we will also consider:
paying phone bills of one or both parents so that they can stay in touch during this time;
providing phone credit to one or both parents so they can stay in touch during this time;
providing additional petrol vouchers for outer metro and regional families travelling to the NICU;
providing any other relief that fits within our budget that a family can evidence need of.
We welcome families who are currently in crisis due to the COVID-19 Pandemic to contact us so that we can work to assist you as best as possible during this unprecedented time. While we have set some criteria’s around this grant, we are open to assisting as many families as possible. All you need to do is send us an email with some information and state how you fit the criteria.
The Board reserves their rights to amend, extend, cancel, change or increase the once-off grants at any time in response to the developing crisis.
Please e-mail covid@tinysparkswa.org.au and provide your details for our consideration. If you have documents such as your drivers licence, separation certificate, baby’s hospital crib card, (or similar) then include them in your e-mail, a photograph of these with your phone is fine! We know that having a baby in the Neonatal Unit is challenging enough without the burden of cumbersome processes to access much needed funds. We will work with you to make this as easy as possible!
Father’s Day 2019
Today we celebrate Father’s Day and recognise all those Dad’s and Father Figures who…
are currently watching their baby in the Neonatal Unit
are anxiously waiting for their little one to arrive
only have memories of their baby in their heart
provide and care for their families
get up early for their children’t sport
receive phone calls from their ‘big babies’ who have grown up
Happy Father’s Day to all of you!
For our current Neonatal Unit Dad’s all over this great state of Western Australia, we have provided a small gift today. To let you know that we are thinking of you and whilst this day might not be playing out the way you had planned we hope this brings a little cheer during this extremely difficult time.
If you are a Dad or Father Figure looking for some extra support we would welcome you to join our Facebook Group specifically for Dad’s here https://www.facebook.com/groups/TSWAdadsupport
