EPLC launches 2026–2031 Strategic Roadmap in Melbourne

The Early Pregnancy Loss Coalition (EPLC) officially launched its 2026–2031 Strategic Roadmap— a bold national framework to transform how early pregnancy loss is understood, supported and addressed in Australia.

The roadmap marks a pivotal moment in EPLC’s journey as the national representative peak body, bringing together organisations to collaborate across the sector.

The launch of the document was hosted by the EPLC Chair Elizabeth Chatham and Executive Director & Co-Founder Isabelle Oderberg, with special guest speaker The Hon Rebecca White MP, Assistant Minister for Health.

We were joined by EPLC member representatives, policy advisors, partners and collaborators.

The EPLC’s mission is to improve education, health and service-based care for people who have experienced early pregnancy loss and their networks; to promote supportive communication that does not compound trauma; and to ensure decisions about miscarriage support are data- and research-driven. We further seek sector-wide funding for education, research and services providing physical and psychosocial care.

Scroll down to read more or view the photo gallery of the event. (Photo credits: Saville Coble)

Click hereto view a video of speeches made on the day by Minister White and EPLC’s Isabelle Oderberg

  • EPLC Chair Liz Chatham, Assistant Minister for Women The Hon Rebecca White MP, EPLC Co-Founder and Executive Director Isabelle Oderberg

    EPLC Chair Liz Chatham, Assistant Minister for Women The Hon Rebecca White MP, EPLC Co-Founder and Executive Director Isabelle Oderberg

  • EPLC Board Chair Liz Chatham with Victorian Women's Trust Board Member Mudiwa (Dee) Chipungu

    EPLC Board Chair Liz Chatham with Victorian Women's Trust Board Member Mudiwa (Dee) Chipungu

  • EPLC Chair Liz Chatham with Stillbirth CRE co-lead A/Prof Fran Boyle

    EPLC Chair Liz Chatham with Stillbirth CRE co-lead A/Prof Fran Boyle

  • EPLC Chair Liz Chatham and Australian College of Nurse Practitioners Senior Policy Advisor & Nurse Practitioner (Emergency) Rebecca Sedgman

    EPLC Chair Liz Chatham and Australian College of Nurse Practitioners Senior Policy Advisor & Nurse Practitioner (Emergency) Rebecca Sedgman

  • Liz Chatham (EPLC) & Professor Shaun Brenneke, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at University of Melbourne & Royal Women's Hospital Director of the Department of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Head of its Pregnancy Research Centre

    Liz Chatham (EPLC) & Professor Shaun Brenneke, Professor of OB/Gyn at University of Melbourne & Royal Women's Hospital Director of the Department of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Head of its Pregnancy Research Centre

  • PwC Partner Amy Stoneham with Miscarriage Information Support Service founder Melissa King

    PwC Partner Amy Stoneham with Miscarriage Information Support Service founder Melissa King

  • Guests at the launch of the EPLC Strategic Roadmap in Melbourne

    Guests at the launch of the EPLC Strategic Roadmap in Melbourne

  • Manager of Manager 1800 My Options at Women's Health Victoria Carolyn Mogharbel, Obstetrician & Gynecologist at Barwon Health and Early Pregnancy Network Australia lead Alexandra Bonner, MSI Australia CEO Adurty Rao

    Manager of Manager 1800 My Options at Women's Health Victoria Carolyn Mogharbel, Obstetrician & Gynecologist at Barwon Health and Early Pregnancy Network Australia lead Alexandra Bonner, MSI Australia CEO Adurty Rao

  • Women's Health Victoria CEO Sally Hasler & PwC Partner Amy Stoneham

    Women's Health Victoria CEO Sally Hasler & PwC Partner Amy Stoneham

  • Red Nose CEO Amy Cooper & Senior Obstetric Consultant / Clinical Academic at Women's and Children's Hospital Adelaide Dee McCormack

    Red Nose CEO Amy Cooper & Senior Obstetric Consultant / Clinical Academic at Women's and Children's Hospital Adelaide Dee McCormack

  • Multicultural Centre for Women's Health CEO Dr Adele Murdolo & Jean Hailes for Women's Health CEO Dr Sarah White

    Multicultural Centre for Women's Health CEO Dr Adele Murdolo & Jean Hailes for Women's Health CEO Dr Sarah White

  • EPLC Board Member Daryl Niemandt

    EPLC Board Member Daryl Niemandt

  • EPLC Co-Founder & Miscarriage Australia Co-Lead A/Prof Jade Bilardi

    EPLC Co-Founder & Miscarriage Australia Co-Lead A/Prof Jade Bilardi

  • EPLC Co-Founder and Executive Director Isabelle Oderberg, EPLC Chair Liz Chatham, Assistant Minister for Women The Hon Rebecca White MP

    EPLC Co-Founder and Executive Director Isabelle Oderberg, EPLC Chair Liz Chatham, Assistant Minister for Women The Hon Rebecca White MP

  • EPLC Volunteer Rachel Alembakis

    EPLC Volunteer Rachel Alembakis

  • Women's and Children's Healthcare Australasia Clinical Network Coordinator Sarah Elliott

    Women's and Children's Healthcare Australasia Clinical Network Coordinator Sarah Elliott

  • Victorian Women's Trust Board Member Mudiwa Chipungu

    Victorian Women's Trust Board Member Mudiwa Chipungu

  • MSI Australia CEO Adurty Rao

    MSI Australia CEO Adurty Rao

  • EPLC Co-Founder and Executive Director Isabelle Oderberg

    EPLC Co-Founder and Executive Director Isabelle Oderberg

  • Assistant Minister for Women The Hon Rebecca White MP

    Assistant Minister for Women The Hon Rebecca White MP

  • Assistant Minister for Women The Hon Rebecca White MP, speaking at the launch of the EPLC Strategic Roadmap 2026-2031

    Assistant Minister for Women The Hon Rebecca White MP, speaking at the launch of the EPLC Strategic Roadmap 2026-2031

  • EPLC Chair Liz Chatham with Assistant Minister for Women The Hon Rebecca White MP

    EPLC Chair Liz Chatham with Assistant Minister for Women The Hon Rebecca White MP

  • AIWH Sexual and Reproductive Health Unit Head Deanna Eldridge

    AIWH Sexual and Reproductive Health Unit Head Deanna Eldridge

  • Vijaya Lakshmi Karanam (Royal Women's Hospital & RANZCOG), Frances Bilbao (Mums Matter Psychology), Dr Nicole Highet (Centre for Perinatal Excellence), Assistant Minister for Women The Hon Rebecca White MP, Mudiwa Chipungu (VWT)

  • Mums Matter Psychology Founder Frances Bilbao, Assistant Minister for Women The Hon Rebecca White MP and VWT Board Member Mudiwa Chipungu

    Mums Matter Psychology Founder Frances Bilbao, Assistant Minister for Women The Hon Rebecca White MP and VWT Board Member Mudiwa Chipungu

  • Tim Baxter (EPLC), Schahed Behboudi (Pwc), Isabelle Oderberg (EPLC), Amy Stonehouse (PwC), Daryl Niemandt (EPLC), Liz Chatham (EPLC), Jade Bilardi (EPLC & Miscarriage Australia)

    Tim Baxter (EPLC), Schahed Behboudi (Pwc), Isabelle Oderberg (EPLC), Amy Stonehouse (PwC), Daryl Niemandt (EPLC), Liz Chatham (EPLC), Jade Bilardi (EPLC & Miscarriage Australia)

  • Red Nose CEO Amy Cooper

    Red Nose CEO Amy Cooper

  • Consultant Obstetrician, Clinical lead for recurrent miscarriage clinic at Royal Women's Hospital, RANZCOG Representative

    Consultant Obstetrician, Clinical lead for recurrent miscarriage clinic at Royal Women's Hospital, RANZCOG Member Representative Vijaya Lakshmi Karanam

  • AIHW Sexual and Reproductive Health Unit Head Deanna Eldridge

    AIHW Sexual and Reproductive Health Unit Head Deanna Eldridge

  • EPLC Chair Liz Chatham, PwC Senior Associate Schahed Behboudi and EPLC Board Member Samantha Stevens.

  • Vijaya Lakshmi Karanam (Royal Women's Hospital Melbourne & RANZCOG), Frances Bilbao (Mums Matter Psychology), Dr Nicole Highet (COPE: Centre for Perinatal Excellence), Assistant Minister fro Women The Hon Rebecca White MP, Mudiwa Chipungu (VWT)

    Vijaya Lakshmi Karanam (Royal Women's Hospital Melbourne & RANZCOG), Frances Bilbao (Mums Matter Psychology), Dr Nicole Highet (COPE: Centre for Perinatal Excellence), Assistant Minister fro Women The Hon Rebecca White MP, Mudiwa Chipungu (VWT)

Four strategic pillars

The Roadmap is anchored to four strategic pillars:

Care: Driving significant improvements in care for people who experience miscarriage and those who love and support them.

Communication: Modernising and sensitising language and communication to reduce stigma and prevent compounding trauma.

Data: Advocating for the collection of national miscarriage data to inform fit-for-purpose public health policy, funding decisions and service planning.

Research: Securing government funding for miscarriage research and care initiatives, including funding pathways through national research bodies.

Cornerstone project: a sector-wide priority setting partnership

At the heart of the strategy is the establishment of a Priority Setting Partnership (PSP) process. Through equal representation of people with lived experience, carers and clinicians, the PSP will identify and prioritise the most pressing research and non-research questions in early pregnancy loss.

The outputs of this process will culminate in the development of a National Miscarriage Roadmap — a unified, prioritised framework to guide funding, research commissioning and system reform over the coming years.

This approach builds sector-wide alignment, strengthens advocacy efforts and ensures that future investments reflect the real needs of families and frontline clinicians.

Alongside the National Miscarriage Roadmap, EPLC will drive a suite of “no regrets” initiatives aligned, including a language reform project and national media guidelines.

Building on strong foundations

The launch of the 2026–2031 Strategic Roadmap also recognises how far the Coalition has come. We have

  • Secured a $9.5 million Federal Government first ever dedicated miscarriage budget pledge for education, frontline support and research

  • Supported the development of RANZCOG’s first clinical guidelines for miscarriage care

  • Contributed to sexual and reproductive health data collection proposal by the AIHW

  • Presented several major policy submissions and appeared at parliamentary inquiries

  • Joined the government’s inaugural National Miscarriage Expert Advisory Group

These achievements demonstrate the growing recognition of early pregnancy loss as a critical health and social issue.