Miracle Babies Foundation is Australia’s leading organisation that supports premature and sick newborns, their families, and the hospitals that care for them. Miracle Babies NurtureGroups are free out of hospital play and support groups for families and carers who have experienced the birth of a premature or sick newborn.

We offer a safe and secure environment for children 0 to 6 years who have been challenged by prematurity or sickness in which they can learn and develop through play, whilst offering families ongoing parent support after leaving the safety of a NICU/SCN.

Parents and carers can exchange ideas on parenting, tackle medical issues, share stories, build support networks, form friendships and ease the isolation that can often be felt by families of premature and sick newborns.

Families attending our NurtureGroups often tell us they find them a supportive place where they can connect with other parents who have been through very similar experiences, and where they feel encouraged to share their journey with others who care. As one WA mum said, “having a mother’s group specifically for sick/premmie babies is such a blessing and comfort. I tried attending a regular (non-premmie) mother’s group once my baby came home from hospital and it was just too difficult. I love this group as it’s very inviting and welcoming, and everyone has their own unique story, and they understand the NICU journey”.

Through generous support, such as the recent Stockland CARE Grant, we’ve been able to provide families in Western Australia attending our Rockingham NurtureGroup with toys and activities recommended by therapists to help advance physical and cognitive development.

“The toys and resources purchased from this grant enabled the children to have greater choice in their play, both individual play as well as playing with others. Lots of role play, conversation and language development has been facilitated and the children are enjoying the toys as well as the adults,” said NurtureGroup Support Worker Megan Norbury.

Thanks to support from Stockland CARE grants and their Baldivis Shopping Centre, we can continue to offer NurtureGroup families a stimulating and enriched environment to progress their children’s developmental and social skills.

You can learn more about NutureGroups HERE, and other ways businesses and individuals can give back HERE.

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