Stillbirth CRE and BPAC Submission to the Victorian Maternity Taskforce

Prepared by the Bereaved Parent Advocacy Committee (BPAC), with support from the Stillbirth Centre of Research Excellence (Stillbirth CRE), this submission highlights critical opportunities to improve perinatal care for families impacted by stillbirth and neonatal death in Victoria.

The submission calls for urgent attention to key areas in perinatal care, including:

• Continuity of care in pregnancy after loss
• Standardised and equitable postnatal bereavement care
• Culturally safe palliative and memory-making support
• Mandatory bereavement training for healthcare professionals
• Genuine co-design with bereaved parents in maternity policy and research

This submission reflects the lived experience, insights, and hopes of bereaved parents across Australia. We are deeply grateful to all who contributed their time and knowledge.