NurtureProgram resources for families with a premature or sick baby

Miracle Babies Foundation is Australia’s leading organisation dedicated to supporting families impacted by premature or sick newborns, and the hospitals that care for them. Each year, roughly 48,000 babies in Australia require care in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) or Special Care Nursery (SCN), with some 27,000 born prematurely—experiences which often carry long-term emotional and family impacts.

Purpose & Mission
Miracle Babies’ purpose is “to improve, support and enhance all lives impacted by a premature or sick birth.” In partnership with families and health professionals, the organisation builds a community rooted in peer support, evidence-based education, advocacy, and use of parent voice in research to drive positive change. Their Our vision is “happy and healthy families reaching their potential,” underpinned by values of empathy, community, commitment, and respect.

Programs & Services
Miracle Babies offers a full continuum of support: from high-risk pregnancy through hospital stays and post-discharge phases. Key services include:

NurtureLine: a 24-hour helpline for families facing perinatal and neonatal challenges.
NurtureTime: in-hospital peer support connecting current NICU parents with those who’ve been through it.
NurtureGroup: post-discharge support groups and play groups for families.
Support to hospitals in the form of equipment grants, capacity building, and advisory partnerships.
History & Reach

Founded in 2005 by mothers who had neonatal experiences at Liverpool Hospital, the charity began locally and has since scaled to serve families and NICUs nationwide. Over time it has expanded hospital partnerships, educational outreach, peer-support programming, and equipment funding across Australia's 23 NICUs.