Tiny Sparks Baby Playgroup

If you are ready to get out into the community in a safe and supported way consider joining our Baby Playgroup, suitable for Neonatal Unit graduates up until your little ones are are walking. These sessions are in person on a Wednesday morning, held fortnightly in Shenton Park.

Playgroup will be led by Senior Speech Pathologist Amelia Bell with other clinicians attending different sessions throughout the term.

This group is about play, connection and support in a relaxed and welcoming environment. Registration is essential as group numbers are capped.

WKH Tiny Sparks Parent Circle

We are thrilled to bring a brand new program to life with our friends at Western Kids Health for 2026. We know that those early days of life at home can be tricky to navigate but you still might be looking for connection with others facing similar challenges to yourself. That’s why we have partnered to bring to life virtual coffee & connection sessions for those who have been recently discharged.

WKH Tiny Sparks Parent Circle will run weekly on a Tuesday afternoon from 1-2pm for 6 consecutive weeks. The sessions will provide a calm, supportive space for parents and caregivers to connect, reflect, and share experiences from the comfort of home.

Registration is essential as there are capped numbers.

EPIC: Guideline working group EOI

The Extremely Preterm Infant Centre of Research Excellence (EPIC-CRE) led by Professor Jeanie Cheong at the MCRI is developing a national Guideline for Growth, Health, and Developmental Follow-up for Children Born Very Preterm from School Age to Adulthood

The guideline aims to improve the quality of life and optimise health trajectories across the life course for children born very preterm, from school age to adulthood, supporting their increased risk of chronic and complex physical and mental health conditions and promoting consistent, coordinated care.

We are seeking individuals with lived experienced to join Guideline Development Group (GDG) to ensure the guideline is practical and relevant. The GDG will include diverse group from across Australia including clinical experts, researchers, people with lived experience, and representatives from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, CALD populations, and rural and remote regions. 

GDG meetings will be held virtually every 3 months (around 8 sessions) from early 2026 to late 2027. Each meeting will run approx. 2 hours, with 1-2 hours of document review between meetings. 

This work builds on the NHMRC-endorsed 2024 Guideline for Growth, Health and Developmental Follow-up for Children Born Very Preterm, developed by the Centre of Research Excellence in Newborn Medicine, providing recommendations from birth to preschool age. Available at CRE in Newborn Medicine.

We invite individuals born very preterm (18+ years) and caregivers of individuals born very preterm (school age or older) to join the GDG. You can express your interest by completing this short survey: https://redcap.link/zaz118h0 

Christmas 2025

Each year we strive to provide special gifts for families who will spend their Christmas in a Neonatal unit in Western Australia. This year our gifts consisted of gorgeous quilted Christmas Stockings made and donated by our wonderful Crafty Creator Collective, Baby’s First Christmas ornament with special thanks to Laser Artistry, a Christmas milestone card, beanie, pen and free 12 month membership to the Baby Play Academy thanks to the incredible Nicole Pates at Western Kids Health.

We spent our first Christmas in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at King Edward Memorial Hospital in Perth and it was such a tough time. Being split between siblings at home and our little one in the hospital was so very challenging. We’ve heard time and time again how special, seen and understood families feel when they receive a gift from us to mark a special occasion.

This Christmas we were truly delighted to pass the 10,000 special occasion gift mark and that’s all that to you and other members of our amazing community.

Strong Starts for Tiny Sparks webinar: Simple Strategies for Big Feelings

Please join us for the next free webinar in the Strong Starts for Tiny Sparks series hosted by Staci Grant, Occupational Therapist with Western Kids Health we will hear all about ‘Simple Strategies for Big Feelings’. This will include:

  • What’s actually going on when kids have big emotional reactions

  • What typical emotions look like in early childhood

  • Simple strategies for big feelings

  • When to reach out

📆 Thursday 27 November

⏰ 11am

🔗 Registration is essential https://forms.gle/687QVzndKmYrx2bc8