Life's Little Treasures Foundation, which supports over 22,000 families with premature and sick babies in Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU) and Special Care Units (SCU) across Australia each year, aim to evaluate the impact of their products and services provided to families with a sick or premature child. Through a literature review, survey and focus groups involving the Foundation's families, this project will seek to establish the mental health impacts for parents with a premature or sick baby in the NICU or SCU, and the factors that positively impact parents' and families' wellbeing - including the value of having access to peer support. The project will also seek to understand families' experiences of the support provided by Life's Little Treasures Foundation. The findings of the evaluation will be used to inform Life's Little Treasures Foundation's products and services in the future and support their education and advocacy efforts to improve outcomes for parents and families.

Partner

Life's Little Treasures Foundation

Project team

• Ms. Felicia Welstead - CEO, Life's Little Treasures Foundation
• Ms. Maggie Lloyd - National Services Manager, Life's Little Treasures Foundation
• Ms. Amy Baker - Special Projects Coordinator, Life's Little Treasures Foundation
• Dr. Anna Cooper - School of Allied Health, ACU
• Dr Judith Hough - School of Allied Health, ACU
• Assoc. Prof. Laura Miller - School of Allied Health, ACU
• Dr Jill Cox, ACU Engagement
• Ms Vivien Cinque, ACU Engagement