Consumer Representative Opportunities

Some of the hospitals that we work with are seeking Consumer Representatives to join their projects. If you are keen and meet their recruitment criteria please send an email to chair@tinysparkswa.org.au and we can connect you with the right team to send an official expression of interest.

BUNBURY HOSPITAL

Looking for a consumer with a lived experience of preterm birth. This project relates to the National Preterm Birth Prevention Program.

JOONDALUP HOSPITAL

Looking for a consumer who had a baby admitted to their Neonatal Unit. This project relates to delayed cord clamping.

BENTLY MIDWIFERY BIRTH CENTRE

Looking for a consumer who birthed their baby at Bently Hospital before or after the redevelopment. This project relates to the National Preterm Birth Prevention Program.

WHAT’S INVOLVED?

Each of the project teams will have their own specific requirements however generally you might be asked to attend meetings at the hospital. To share your thoughts and ideas on information provided to families, to provide suggestions on how to improve that information so that it is accessible to a wide audience and includes everything families may like to know. You should be comfortable sharing your opinion in a group setting. You should be able to work as part of a team. Have good listening and communication skills.

STAMP RSV Study

Researchers from The Kids Research Institute Australia are hoping to learn more about how respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, affects your family.

They are wanting to speak with parents/carers of young children at a higher risk for RSV infections. Researchers will ask how RSV affects your family, and what information is important to you when learning about RSV immunisations.

Researchers would love to hear from you if you have a child aged under 2 years who:

·                     was born very pre-term (32 weeks or earlier), and/or

·                     has a heart or lung condition, and/or

·                     has a chromosomal abnormality

How do I get involved?

If you’re keen to get involved, please click on the following link for more information, and to sign up to the study: https://redcap.link/iwyyb1dw

Baby Moves VIEW - Co-design Project

The University of Melbourne Department of Physiotherapy is recruiting participants to co-design the Baby Moves VIEW (Video Evaluation Web) system.  

Babies who are born sick often have their movements checked to screen for movement problems, including cerebral palsy.  Baby Moves VIEW is an app for parents to record and safely send videos of their baby’s movements to health professionals for assessment.  

The team is looking for parents of babies/toddlers aged 3 years or younger. You may have had a baby who needed care in a NICU recently, or had movement screening using the General Movements Assessment, or have a child with cerebral palsy. Parents are also welcome to apply if their baby has been medically well as we want parents with a variety of experience.  

They are also looking for health professionals who work with babies/toddlers aged 0-3 years old and know about the General Movements Assessment.  

Participants will collaboratively design aspects of the Baby Moves VIEW system over six 90- minute workshops and be reimbursed for their time. It will be a small group of eight parents and health professionals, so not all who express interest will be selected to participate.  

Participants will be reimbursed for their time.  

For more information, and to express your interest, visit https://go.unimelb.edu.au/z7ip  or email Amanda (amanda.kwong@unimelb.edu.au)

Expressions of interest close on the 2nd of May 2025

Christmas 2025

A Christmas spent in hospital is an incredibly challenging time for families, especially those who are separated from their family or friends. Having first hand experience of Christmas in NICU our team have been providing special occasion gifts not just for Christmas, but other occasions too, since our inception in 2013. This year was no different.

We were super grateful to have two lovely volunteers who used their corporate volunteer days to come along to Tiny Sparks HQ and pack a whopping 325 Christmas gifts! Whilst the largest Neonatal Units are located in Perth some country hospitals do have dedicated bed space to care for baby’s needing some additional care and attention after birth. Our programs ensure that every family, no matter their location receive the support they need.

Our Christmas gifts are generously supported by the small Perth family run business Foote & Flame with stockings generously sewn and donated by the Tiny Sparks Crafty Collective.

Telethon 2024

It’s always amazing to be part of the Telethon action! We loved being part of the Charity Trail and meeting loads of families. It is such a special event, this year the total truly blew us away. Being a Telethon beneficiary makes helping more families through our programs so much easier.