In an endeavor to ensure all mothers and newborns in Queensland have access to crucial resources during the initial weeks of a baby’s life, the Palaszczuk Government has committed $500,000 in funding to facilitate the provision of baby bundles to those in need.
The financial support, extended to ‘A Brave Life,’ aims to furnish new mothers in hospitals with Baby Bundles. These bundles are meticulously designed to not only equip mothers with essential infant care items but also to connect them with vital support services.
Included in the Baby Bundles are diapers, wipes, swaddling blankets, baby attire, toiletries, and a baby bag. Additionally, informative materials emphasizing the significance of immunization, safe sleep practices, and guidance on accessing support networks will be included, fostering connections to support groups.
These invaluable bundles will be presented to expectant mothers during antenatal care or before their departure from the hospital with their newborns.
The Palaszczuk Government’s steadfast commitment to assisting young mothers through early intervention and support aligns with the forthcoming Women and Girls’ Health Strategy, expected to be finalized by year-end, and the First 2000 Days initiative.
Minister for Health, Mental Health, and Ambulance Services, as well as Minister for Women, The Honourable Shannon Fentiman, expressed her appreciation for the admirable work carried out by ‘A Brave Life’ in supporting Queensland mothers and their infants. She underscored the significance of this funding in aiding mothers who face heightened challenges, including homelessness, housing stress, domestic and family violence, trauma, relationship difficulties, and unplanned pregnancies.
Melissa Redsell, CEO and founding director of ‘A Brave Life,’ shared her personal journey as a young mother and the inspiration she drew from an organization that provided her with a similar bundle of gifts during the early weeks of motherhood. She stressed the importance of ensuring that new mothers feel adequately prepared for their baby’s arrival. Redsell noted that her organization had distributed 1,600 Baby Bundles annually since its inception six years ago, and this new funding would enable them to reach even more mothers in need.
This initiative signifies a proactive step towards supporting vulnerable mothers, underscoring the government’s commitment to providing essential resources to facilitate a strong start in the journey of motherhood.
