Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day

Ms SAVVAS (Newland) (15:35): Today is a really important day: it is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day, which is an important time to break the silence and break the stigma surrounding miscarriage, stillbirth and neonatal death. This is a significant month for families who have been there, and speaking, often when those families cannot, cannot be discounted.

One of the things that bereaved families often talk about is the fact that people do not know what to say, so they do not say anything at all. But we know that talking matters. We know that saying the names of babies loved and lost matters. We know that awareness, education and advocacy is vital, not just in addressing the causes of pregnancy and infant loss but, of course, in advocating for those families who are grieving their children.

It has been one of the great privileges not just of my career, I think, but my life to find myself in a position where, in this important place, I can and do advocate for pregnancies and babies wanted, loved and lost. We do not know the exact figures, but roughly 110,000 Australians have a miscarriage every year, and over six babies every day are born still in Australia, double the national road toll. Another 600 babies each year lose their life in the first 28 days after birth. I do believe in this place it is of critical importance to speak up and speak proudly about those babies we hold only in our hearts.

I, like so many of us, have been very lucky to be elected here. It has given me an opportunity to say my baby brother's name and say it proud: Benjamin Isaac, who would have turned 25 just a few weeks ago, something my mum and my family never could have imagined we would have the opportunity to speak about during the depths of our grief. I went through life loving and knowing my baby brother, as I know so many older siblings have. I will always do what I can to break that silence for him and for the families who I know often are not able to.

I would like to acknowledge today the babies I have got to learn about as the Chair of the South Australian parliament's select committee into stillbirth. It has been a great privilege to give parents the opportunity to say their babies' names aloud and to hopefully find some purpose in their grief. Mum told me early on that she never thought my brother would have a legacy. I hope that our work as a committee is a legacy not only for our Ben but for each and every baby whose parents or loved ones have contributed to it. I want to thank those parents for honouring us with their stories.

I would also like to acknowledge today some wonderful people in the fight to speak up about those babies as well as the fight to support families and the fight to educate expectant parents. Here in South Australia, we are blessed to have the Red Tree Foundation, which provides counselling supports for bereaved parents who lose a pregnancy or a child up to 17. What a beautiful, beautiful role Red Tree plays for our families.

Tonight, I will join Red Tree for its first Wave of Light. Landmarks, including our parliament, will be lit red as bereaved families walk through our city with candles in memory of their little ones. It will be a privilege, as it always is, to walk with those families and hear their little ones' stories. I also acknowledge Red Nose, which plays a vital role around Australia providing similar supports to families. Finally, I would like to acknowledge those who advocate for prevention and awareness: our federally funded Stillbirth CRE, in conjunction with the Stillbirth Foundation.

Additionally, here in SA we have the incredible Still Aware, Australia's first stillbirth charity. How lucky I am that those wonderful people are based right here in SA. I get to connect with them in such a meaningful way on a regular basis and I feel incredibly grateful. I will be joining Still Aware again this week for their fundraising gala and do want to put on the record my thanks for all they do in memory of dear Alfie.

Today in this place, I acknowledge those babies again as I will continue to do as long as I am here in this parliament. To parents and family members and loved ones, I say this: I see you, I grieve with you, and I value the lives of your babies loved and lost.