Strong Starts for Tiny Sparks

New program alert!

We are thrilled to be bringing a new offering to the table in 2025. Strong Starts for Tiny Sparks will be a series of monthly webinars on topics of interest to the community.

Bringing your baby home from the NICU is a huge milestone—one that comes with excitement, but also new challenges. You want to support their development, but between feeds, naps, and everyday life, who has time to “add in” play?

✨ Here’s the secret: Play doesn’t have to be something extra. It can be part of what you’re already doing! ✨

In this free webinar with Tiny Sparks & paediatric physiotherapist Nicole Pates (@nicole_kidsphysio), we’ll show you how to:

✔️ Make daily routines (like bath time & mealtime) playful for babies and toddlers under 3 🛁🍽️
✔️ Use simple tricks to boost connection & communication 🗣️💛
✔️ Turn “must-dos” into FUN moments 🎶✨

📅 Date & Time

📍 Online | FREE | 27th February at 2pm

👶 Perfect for parents of NICU graduates aged 0-3 years!

Spaces are limited—RSVP now!

HBF Run for a Reason 2025

Perth, it’s time to lace up and make every step count! 💙 Join Tiny Sparks WA at the HBF Run for a Reason 2025 and help us support WA families navigating premature and high-risk pregnancies.

Whether you walk, jog, or run, your participation makes a huge impact on little fighters and their families. 💪👶 Every step you take helps us provide life-changing support, resources, and advocacy.

✨ How to get involved:
✅ Sign up for the run! 🏅
✅ Choose Tiny Sparks WA as your charity 💖
✅ Spread the word & rally your squad! 📢

Let’s run with purpose and spark hope together!

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.

Not just the tiny ones

Recently published work from the Murdoch Children's Research Institute (MCRI) reveals that children born at later gestations, 32-36 weeks gestation, have differences in their academic performance and behaviour when compared to children born at term.  You can find and read the paper here:

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2826283

Whilst we continue to work with the Preterm Birth Prevention Alliance on safely reducing rates of preterm and early term birth across Australia this work doesn't take away from the fact that each year tens of thousands of Australian children are born early or sick.  The majority of them falling into the 'mid to late preterm' category.

Most Follow-up Programs that exist continue to focus on the sickest and tiniest babies often leaving a big gap!  Whilst we continue to work with others to drive change in this area, it does take time.  The families living the experience today need help, support and guidance.  Here is what you can do:

  • Tell your healthcare professionals your child was born early or sick and ask them to consider that when making a diagnosis or treatment plan.

  • Join our Nurturing NICU Families program to help support early development and wellbeing, it's free! Info here: https://www.tinysparkswa.org.au/nurturing-regional-nicu-families

  • If you have access to follow up, go to the appointments prepared with questions.

  • If you are concerned organise a check in…

    - You can self refer to go on a public waitlist for speech, OT, physio, etc.

    - Wait lists can be long, better to get your name on a list and decide not to go when a spot opens up, than wait to put your name down.

    - Don't feel like you are being listened to, you know your child best, get another opinion.

    - You don't need a diagnosis to access services.

    - Private options are available.

    - Not sure who to see, what to say or where to go? Connect with us for peer support and we can help with general advice.

  • Consider research opportunities.

We are working hard with others who are passionate and dedicated to drive change and create new opportunities, watch this space for more to come on that in 2025.