Vicki Culling Associates

The Waves of Change conference on the Gold Coast in early August has extended the early bird pricing until 30 June.

Join leading clinicians, researchers, advocates, policy leaders, and bereaved parents for two inspiring days of connection, collaboration, innovation, and change in perinatal and stillbirth care.

https://forms.matereducation.qld.edu.au/waves-of-change-2026/

After last week's budget, this is where we are in the baby loss community. We were hoping, but not holding our breath, that this government might just consider the needs of bereaved whānau. We had done the mahi, presented them with a road map, and... nothing. We're told Tuituia te Kahu is being used as 'a critical point of reference', but that simply feels like more of the same. So here's to more energy, more awareness raising, more voices speaking of the need for this pathway; and let's not care about the dirt on our face, the blood on our knees, let's keep rising for yet another go! One day we'll see structured support for whānau when a baby dies.

Although this news is from last week, I wanted to celebrate that after so much hard work raising awareness and educating our government, Amanda and the team at Rei Kotuku were able to secure funding for pediatric palliative care. Ka rawe! This will make all the difference to so many families facing such heartbreak with their children.

This gives me an iota of hope that we might see funding for Tuituia te Kahu | The National Perinatal Bereavement Care Pathway

Government to spend $15.5m on palliative care for children The care would be delivered by dedicated specialist teams in both the North and South islands.

Upcoming courses, let your friends and colleagues know :-)
https://www.vca.co.nz/vca-online-learning.html

Australia continues to lead the world in funding for baby loss support, research and prevention. Shared from Paula Dillon, a midwife in Queensland and a bereaved mum. Thanks Paula x.

"2026 BUDGET SNIPPETS:
* Stillbirth: perinatal workforce and education continued...
- An additional $13.1 million over three years from 2025–26 to improve understanding of the causes of stillbirth, provide support to grieving families and prevent future occurrences. This includes $9.7 million over two years from 2026–27 to continue to support bereaved parents by maintaining the perinatal pathologist and perinatal loss coordinator workforce, and $3.5 million over three years from 2025-26 to continue a range of actions to reduce the stillbirth rate in Australia through community education and awareness activities.
* Perinatal mental health screening: extended
- $4.9 million in 2026–27 to extend work to achieve universal perinatal mental health screening across public antenatal and postnatal care settings.
* YourIVFSuccess fertility information service
- $1.2 million over two years from 2026–27 to continue providing
information and advice on fertility services through the YourIVFSuccess website."

Send a message to learn more

Aren't these urns just beautiful? Hannah is in Australia and provides them for free to bereaved families. I wonder if there's anyone in Aotearoa NZ who is doing anything similar? (And not necessarily for free).

About - Olive and Kin - Handmade ceramics and urns for bereaved parents Welcome to Olive & Kin, where every piece tells a story of resilience and hope. Founded by Hannah in the wake of her daughter Olive's passing, our pottery embodies the transformative power of grief into art. Explore our heartfelt collection, from bespoke urns to cherished homewares, each crafted wit...

Pania and I are so pleased to be joining the PADA seminar on birth trauma in Taupō at the end of the month.

🟢 Speaker update for Taupō

We are pleased to be joined by Vicki Culling and Pania Mitchell ✨ who will be sharing their knowledge and experience with you all at our PADA Wellbeing Series on May 27! 💜

Learn more about Pania and Vicki, and the work they do 💬

🔵 Due to unforeseen circumstances, Kate Hicks from Birth Trauma Aotearoa is no longer able to join us.

Get your tickets 👇🏼

Tommy's in the UK, changing the way miscarriage is treated and potentially preventing baby loss. Champions.

Tommy's Graded Model of Miscarriage Care Right now, most women and birthing people have to go through the devastation of 3 miscarriages before the NHS routinely provides follow-up care.

“A person's worth is measured by the worth of what (they) value.”
― Marcus Aurelius, Meditations (edited to be inclusive)

Precious babies, our maternity workforce/system, compassion and support when a baby dies - it certainly feels like those in power in Aotearoa NZ do not place any value on these important elements of our community.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/360971731/maternity-care-critical-juncture-and-strained-health-nz-says-where-are-gaps

https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/360971816/staffing-shortages-being-linked-baby-deaths-nz-hospitals-national-tragedy

https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/360971198/revealed-grave-concerns-over-pressure-workers-baby-deaths

https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/360967362/special-report-he-wasnt-given-fair-chance-why-newborns-death-rings-alarm-bells-our-maternity-system

Thanks to Nicholas Jones of Stuff for highlighting this appalling and urgent issue.

Staffing shortages being linked to baby deaths in NZ hospitals a ‘national tragedy’ The cases have been detailed in a Stuff investigation into the maternity system.

I've added a page with information on lactation after loss. Please share within your networks so health and caring professionals know there's some information gathered in one place that might be helpful.

lactation after loss Lactation after a baby dies is a topic that is not always easy to find information on. Here are a few websites offering information on suppressing lactation, gradual suppression, donating breast milk...