EPLC welcomes Australia’s first ever dedicated, federal miscarriage funding
Tonight’s Federal Budget pledge of funds for miscarriage educational materials, support services and investigations into national data collection sends a strong message that early pregnancy loss care must be improved.
The Early Pregnancy Loss Coalition (EPLC) welcomes the Federal Government’s budget pledge of $7 million over four years for miscarriage educational resources and frontline support services, which will benefit up to 150,000 families affected by miscarriage each year.
A scoping study on national data collection for miscarriage will also be funded, meaning for the first time the sector will have visibility over Australia’s miscarriage rate and whether it is increasing, in order to create effective health policy.
“The EPLC and its 13 member organisations welcome both the funding and the statement this funding makes: we have to do better by people who experience early pregnancy loss at every single level,” said Isabelle Oderberg, EPLC Chair and Co-Founder, and author of the book: Hard To Bear: Investigating the science and silence of miscarriage.
“This is the first time any Federal Government has pledged money to miscarriage, untied to any other issue. While we are under no illusion that more funding is needed to provide the care, research and support this issue demands, this first step gives us all hope that in the not too distant future, people who grieve this loss will find more support, better care and understanding, and improved medical treatment, when compared to what many of us have experienced in the past.”
“Our thanks go to Assistant Minister for Health Ged Kearney and Minister for Health Mark Butler for giving this issue the space and attention it deserves. And of course to every single one of our organisational members who work so hard every day to bring improvements and care to this space.”
The EPLC also welcomes the inclusion of $49.1 million in budget funding for people experiencing endometriosis, with extended consultation times and increased rebates for specialist gynaecological care to be added to the Medicare Benefits Schedule.
Given that people who have endometriosis are believed to have an increased risk of early pregnancy loss, we also welcome this funding and acknowledge that many of these areas of women’s healthcare overlap.
“A win for any aspect of healthcare for women is a win for all of us,” Oderberg said.
About the Early Pregnancy Loss Coalition (EPLC)
The EPLC was founded in 2023 to advocate for improved care and support for people affected by early pregnancy loss (miscarriage) and their families. The coalition seeks to address gaps in care, communication, data, and research in this area, striving to provide a collective voice to the government and push for critical changes. www.eplc.au
For interviews or further information:
Email info@eplc.au
Phone 0435 966 251
EPLC Member Organisations
Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation
Australian College of Midwives
Australasian Society for Ultrasound in Medicine
Bears of Hope
Centre for Perinatal Excellence
Doctors for the Environment
Early Pregnancy Network Victoria
Miscarriage Information Support Service
Mums Matter Psychology
PANDA
Pink Elephants Support Network
Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
Red Nose
