THE HON NICOLA ROXON MP 

Minister for Health and Ageing 

MEDIA RELEASE 

24 July 2009      

$5.1 Million for Better Support for Women with Post and Antenatal Depression 

The Rudd Government will invest $5.1 million over three years to enable four 

specialist organisations to provide telephone-based support for women experiencing 

post or antenatal depression, or grief following the loss of a baby that will link to an 

enhanced 24 hour hotline for pregnant women and new mums. 

The four organisations are Post and Antenatal Depression Australia (PANDA), SIDS 

and Kids Australia, Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Support (SANDS), and the Bonnie 

Babes Foundation. 

Postnatal depression affects almost 16 per cent of new mothers in Australia, while 

around 10 per cent of women experience depression during pregnancy.  

The new funding will enhance the ability for PANDA to provide support for expecting 

or new mothers with depression.  

In Australia, SIDS accounts for the deaths of more babies aged between one and 12 

months than any other known cause. 

In 2006, according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, there were more 

than 2,900 perinatal deaths in Australia. In addition, each year many more parents 

experience the loss of a baby early in the pregnancy. Sadly, one in every four 

pregnancies ends in a loss from miscarriage and stillbirth. 

SIDS and Kids Australia, SANDS and the Bonnie Babes Foundation will receive 

funding to support women and families who suddenly and unexpectedly lose a baby 

in the perinatal period, including through miscarriage or stillbirth.  

Women who experience post and antenatal depression, and parents and families 

who have experienced the loss of a baby, often find it helpful to speak to others who 

have had a similar experience.  

Peer support services can be of particular help in trying to cope during such difficult 

times.  

The new funding is in addition to the Rudd Government’s commitment to an 

expanded 24 hour, seven days a week national telephone helpline which starts 

operation from 1 July 2010.  Building on the pregnancy hotline, this helpline will allow 

a wide range of information, advice and referral services to be provided to women, 

their partners and families.  

The helpline will give an estimated 180,000 women and their families better access 

to advice and information relating to pregnancy and the demands of a new baby.  

The national helpline funding is part of the $120.5 million commitment announced in 

the 2009-10 Budget to improve access to maternity services for pregnant women 

and new mothers in Australia. This package includes support for eligible midwives 

through access to the MBS and PBS and extra scholarships for GPs and midwives 

and comes on top of our $55 million towards a national Perinatal Depression plan 

which is already providing services to the community. 

Providing early intervention and vital support is a key part of ensuring the best 

possible start in life for young Australians. 

This investment builds on the Government’s work in the early years including 

providing over $100 million to improve Indigenous child and maternal health services 

and $2.5 million in funding to help establish a national breastfeeding hotline. 

For all media inquiries, please contact the Minister's Office on 02 6277 7220.