Nurturing NICU Families program expansion

TSWA Management January 23, 2024

We are thrilled to be continuing our hugely successful partnership with Nicole Pates of Western Kids Health to support even more families with FREE access to the Baby Play Academy in 2024! Not only is this unique program available to rural, regional and remote families, thanks to the incredible generosity of Telethon7, but we are super pleased to make this program available to metropolitan Perth families in 2024 too!

If you’re ready to embrace a journey of joy with the Baby Play Academy, sign up for FREE access now and let the next chapter begin!

Eligibility criteria applies.

Apply now

Infant & Early Childhood Social & Emotional Wellbeing

TSWA Management November 8, 2023

Researchers from the Child and Adolescent Health Service and Telethon Kids Institute need your help. They are seeking ways to improve the experiences of families seeking support for their young child’s social and emotional wellbeing.

PREDICTOR Study

TSWA Management October 16, 2023

This is an excellent opportunity for anyone trying to conceive. Please reach out to Dr Matthew Payne directly if you would like more information.

Follow Up Guidelines for Comment

TSWA Management August 26, 2023

We’ve been working with a big team of people from all over Australia to write a new Guideline for Follow-up Care for Young Children Born Very Preterm. We know they are at increased risk of life long challenges and we also know that early intervention is critical. Unfortunately there has been no uniform approach to follow-up programs around the country. This new Guideline hopes to change that.

The Guideline is now in Draft phase and open for public comment. We welcome all people born prematurely, caregivers, clinicians, allied health professionals and other interested parties to reach the Guideline and provide feedback. More information can be found here:

Draft Guideline

Our new home!

TSWA Management August 17, 2023

We have some very exciting news!! After almost 10 years of Tiny Sparks operating from private homes we have finally found the right space to call our own!

Tha new space located at Unit 1, 316 Onslow Road, Shenton Park will allow for the easy collation of care packs and for us to expand our volunteer program. We are thrilled to watch Tiny Sparks WA progress to this milestone.

We would love for your assistance with the fit out of our new head quarters and are calling on our supporters and community to help us with this. If you are able please make a donation to help fund some important items such as:

warehouse shelving
microwave
coffee machine
whiteboard
table & chairs
desk
cups, mugs, plates

We are so very grateful for your ongoing support!

Donate now

Donate

Volunteer

Events

Tiny Sparks WA is Western Australia's premier charity for
high-risk pregnancies and babies born sick or premature.

FEATURED POSTS

Blog

Tiny Sparks Play Crew

about 2 weeks ago

Strong Starts for Tiny Sparks

about 3 weeks ago

HBF Run for a Reason 2025

about a month ago

Hearing from you

about a month ago

Not just the tiny ones

about 2 months ago

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World Hearing Day We can’t emphasise the importance of newborn hearing screening enough! The earlier you are aware of hearing loss, the more success early intervention is. A staggering 5% of the world population require intervention for hearing loss.

This past week we were contacted by a family with a heartbreaking story. We can’t share their story with you, but they did pose a question we can share. ‘What would it take to ensure every family admitted to NICU receives a Care Package in WA each year?’ Each year around 4,500 babies are admitted to a Neonatal Unit in WA. To fund a Care Package for each of these families we need to raise $180,000! We started this program back in 2014 and were delivering just 10 packages a month. The program has grown and grown and we are now delivering just over 100 packages per month but we need to see that number more than triple, so no family goes without! Please help us, help more WA families by making a tax deductible donation. https://www.justgiving.com/tinysparkswainc

Shout out to little Lewi (ex 27 weeker, now in year 2) Lewi was told 7 month's ago that he was going blind in his left eye - which has been an ongoing issue from birth. After 7 months of eye patching for 2 hours a day, his eye sight is now 'perfect'. So for the next 3 months at least, he is eye patch free. They do not expect his sight to change again. It’s been a hard 7 month's, with lots of tears, arguments, questions but he has done the hard work and it has paid off. Lewi wanted to share his story so he can inspire any other Tiny Sparks that may be going through a similar journey. (And their mums and dads too) Dont give up he says "it will be worth it in the end" Love Lewi x

Many organisations we partner with have been impacted this morning. It is unclear what the longer term outlook is at this stage. If you wish to stay connected with them please look at their websites. You can find ours here: https://www.tinysparkswa.org.au

Our volunteers deliver around 100 Care Packages each month! Providing essential items to families in Neonatal Units and supporting women admitted for long term hospital bedrest to prolong their pregnancy.

DEVELOPMENTAL PLAYGROUP - ENROLMENT OPEN Many of our tiny sparks have incredibly challenging starts to life. The interventions they receive to save their lives can have life long consequences, but just who will be impacted, and how these consequences may unfold is largely unknown. Our Developmental Playgroup seeks to provide early support from suitably trained developmental experts in the fields of physiotherapy, speech therapy and occupational therapy to provide advice and guidance to families in a play based setting. Enrolments for Term 1 are now OPEN! Enrolment is open to any child in WA aged 6m actual age to 3 years of age who was admitted to a Neonatal Unit after birth. Neonatal Unit admission can be for any reason including but not limited to premature birth, sick full term, or surgical requirements. The cost of this program is heavily subsidised by our fundraising efforts and generous donors. Enrolment can be completed via our website: https://www.tinysparkswa.org.au/shop/dpgt420new-6fwty

From all of us to all of you wishing you a wonderful Christmas and New Year. Stay safe, make some memories and enjoy each others company 🎅🏻🎄💜

For many years we have run our annual Christmas Quilt Drive and in spite of COVIDs attempts to derail everything in 2020, humanity prevailed! Many sewing groups ran with this project including the remarkable Get Scrubbed Group and our own Crafty Creators. Since the delivery cut off we have been busy sorting, packing, posting and delivering to 26 hospitals around the state. Our final delivery was made this morning to Bunbury Regional Hospital. Along with the Christmas quilts, stockings and cards, hospitals also received ‘Baby’s 1st Christmas 2020’ ornaments thanks to the ongoing generous support of local family run business, @footeandflame . This year we distributed a staggering 544 gifts for Christmas in maternity, Neonatal and Special Care Nursery beds all over WA! Huge thanks to volunteers Christine H, Elke, Zach and Xavier for generously giving their time to assist with collation and deliveries. To our drop off points Margaret, Jenny, Liesl, Briana, Sandra and Christine L thank you for opening your homes for drop offs. Melinda thank you for hosting the stocking sew along and answering lots of questions. To everyone who coordinated family, friends or an organised sewing group we thank you! Thanks to you, Christmas in hospital this year will be a special time for so many. Thank you all for helping to make this possible 🙌🏻💜🎄

The Interact Club at Willetton Senior High School voted to support Tiny Sparks WA with the funds made from a fundraiser, Spring Cool Down, where they sold drinks, ice creams, and icy poles to students. Interact is a youth branch of Rotary International and comprises of students between the ages of 12-18 who participate in regular fundraising and community service activities for both local and international charities. Last year, they were able to donate over $10,000 to various incredible organisations. Club Secretary Angela says, ‘We recognise your organisation's invaluable efforts in improving the wellbeing of mothers enduring high-risk pregnancies and children born sick or premature who require neonatal unit care. You have all helped positively impact many lives, and we admire and respect your hard work.’ Funds donated by the Interact Club will support our Care Package program. The students were asked to provide a message of support to the recipients. Their cards will read, ‘This care package has been sponsored by the Interact Club of Willetton Senior High School. We hope this supports you and your family during these difficult circumstances.’ Thank you Interact Willetton 🙌🏻💜 We are so grateful for your generous contribution! 📸 Picture supplied by Willetton Senior High School

International Volunteer Day 🙌🏻💜 “Volunteering is at the very core of being a human. No one has made it through life without someone else’s help.” - Heather French Henry As a 100% volunteer run organisation we truly value every single person who contributes their time to further our mission, to improve the health and wellbeing of Western Australian families enduring high-risk pregnancy, infants requiring neonatal unit care and the associated childhood impacts; including the communities supporting them. Thank you all 💐🙌🏻💜

TWITTER FEED

Tiny Sparks WA

RT @drbretty: 4 realz #neotwitter, this takes like 3 minutes to complete👇 Help prioritize the most important questions to answer… https://t.co/mhMp4Scs9E
Dec 15, 2022, 7:42 PM
Tiny Sparks WA

RT @CREStillbirth: Are you passionate about improving antenatal care in Australia? We need your help! @CREStillbirth is conducting a… https://t.co/7Kgl9pjHVu
Dec 8, 2022, 8:11 AM
Tiny Sparks WA

RT @DrColeFletch: "You'll get better at it if you do it over and over". A powerful message from Ylva Therström Blomqvist at today's… https://t.co/qiJsbj4TQJ
Dec 8, 2022, 8:11 AM

Tiny Sparks WA is Western Australia's premier charity for
high-risk pregnancies and babies born sick or premature.

Nurturing NICU Families program expansion

Infant & Early Childhood Social & Emotional Wellbeing

PREDICTOR Study

Follow Up Guidelines for Comment

Our new home!

Tiny Sparks WA is Western Australia's premier charity for
high-risk pregnancies and babies born sick or premature.

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FEATURED POSTS

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Tiny Sparks WA is Western Australia's premier charity for high-risk pregnancies and babies born sick or premature.

Tiny Sparks WA is Western Australia's premier charity forhigh-risk pregnancies and babies born sick or premature.

Tiny Sparks WA

Igniting the fire within.

Tiny Sparks WA is Western Australia's premier charity for high-risk pregnancies and babies born sick or premature.

Tiny Sparks WA is Western Australia's premier charity for
high-risk pregnancies and babies born sick or premature.