Australian Preterm Birth Prevention Alliance

17/08/2026

🏃 DOLLAR MATCH DAY IS BACK! 💙

There’s another chance to make your support go twice as far as Associate Professor Christoph Lehner takes on the Sydney Marathon to raise funds for Running for premature babies.

For Dollar Match Day, every dollar donated will be matched — doubling the impact of your contribution.

Chris is taking on 42.2km to help give babies born too soon across Australia the best possible start to life.

If you’ve been thinking about supporting Chris, today is the day to do it
💙 $25 becomes $50
💙 $50 becomes $100
💙 $100 becomes $200

Every donation — and every kilometre — helps support our shared goal of giving every baby every week we safely can.

👉 Support Chris and double your impact today: https://sm26.grassrootz.com/running-for-premature-babies/christoph-lehner

12/08/2026

Strong leadership creates the conditions for meaningful change.

The success of the Every Week Counts Program has always been driven by a clear vision, strong partnerships and a shared commitment to improving outcomes for women and babies across Australia.

As Co-Chairs of the program, the Alliance's Chair, Professor John Newnham, and WHA CEO, Dr Barb Vernon, continue to provide that leadership; bringing together clinicians, researchers, health services, governments and consumers behind a common goal: giving every baby the best possible start to life.

In their Welcome Message for the 2026 edition of the Every Week Counts magazine, John and Barb reflect on the progress we've made together, the opportunities ahead, and the partnerships that will continue to shape the future of pregnancy care in Australia.

We invite you to read their message and explore the latest edition of the magazine: https://everyweekcounts.com.au/resources-for-women/

07/08/2026

We're proud to see our Queensland Alliance Lead, Associate Professor Christoph Lehner, and Queensland Midwifery Lead, Deyna Hopkinson, presenting "Reducing preterm and early term birth safely – together as a team" at the Stillbirth CRE's Waves of Change 2026 conference.

Their presentation showcases the power of collaboration in improving pregnancy outcomes, highlighting the partnerships, practical strategies and implementation approaches that have helped maternity services across Queensland and Australia translate evidence into everyday care.

It's a fantastic opportunity to share the learnings from the Every Week Counts program and contribute to national conversations about preventing preterm and early term birth through teamwork, innovation and a shared commitment to better outcomes for women and babies.

Best of luck to Chris and Deyna, we know you'll do the Alliance proud!

05/08/2026

🏃‍♂️💙 Less than four weeks to go! 💙🏃‍♂️

The countdown is on.

In just a few weeks, Dr Christoph Lehner will line up at the Sydney Marathon, taking on 42.2 kilometres to raise vital funds for life-saving neonatal equipment for babies born too soon.

Every training run, every early morning and every kilometre brings Chris one step closer to the finish line – and one step closer to making a real difference for families facing the challenges of prematurity.

There's still time to help him reach his $10,000 fundraising goal.

Your support will help provide specialised equipment that gives Australia's smallest and most vulnerable babies the very best chance at a healthy start to life.

💙 Every donation makes a difference.
🏃 Every kilometre is for premature babies.
👶 Every step counts.

If you're able, please consider supporting Chris or sharing his fundraising page with your family and friends.

👉 Donate here: https://sm26.grassrootz.com/running-for.../christoph-lehner

Every Week Counts

03/08/2026

💜 Every story has the power to help another family.

No two pregnancy journeys are the same. For some families, the road to welcoming their baby is filled with unexpected challenges, uncertainty and strength.

Our growing collection of Every Week Counts lived experience stories shares the voices of women and families from across Australia who have experienced preterm birth and pregnancy complications.

These stories aren't shared for headlines.

They're shared so another parent knows they're not alone. So another woman feels empowered to ask questions and seek care. So families can find hope in someone else's journey. And so together, we can help improve pregnancy care for future generations.

Behind every story is courage, resilience and love. By sharing these experiences, families are helping raise awareness, support others and inspire positive change.

Whether you're currently pregnant, have experienced preterm birth, supported someone you love, or simply want to better understand what these journeys can look like, we invite you to explore these powerful stories.

💜 Read the stories or share your own here: https://everyweekcounts.com.au/womens-stories/

And if you have a story of your own, we'd love to hear it: https://everyweekcounts.com.au/get-involved/

28/07/2026

We’re incredibly proud to have recently launched a national campaign for the Every Week Counts Australian Preterm and Early Term Birth Prevention Program.

“I can wait to meet you” is a moving reminder that every week a baby can safely continue to grow in the womb makes a meaningful difference to their short and long-term health.

If there’s one message to take away from this campaign, it’s this: talk with your care team about safely giving your baby every week you can.

Learn more at: https://everyweekcounts.com.au/last-few-weeks-of-pregnancy/

27/07/2026

From uncertainty to empowerment. 💜

When Sonia Burra-Robinson unexpectedly went into labour at just over 29 weeks' gestation, her world changed in an instant. Her son, Alexander, weighed just 1.3 kilograms at birth and spent weeks in neonatal intensive care before finally coming home.

Today, Alexander is a happy, healthy 12-year-old, and Sonia is using her family's experience to advocate for greater awareness of preterm birth and preeclampsia. She believes every family should have access to information about the signs, risk factors and strategies that can help reduce the risk of preterm birth, before they find themselves in crisis.

Sonia's story is a powerful reminder of why education matters, why every pregnancy deserves the right care, and why every week really does count.

📖 Read "A sudden, early arrival provides awareness for future pregnancies" in the 2026 edition of the Every Week Counts magazine, featuring expert insights, practical advice and inspiring stories from families and clinicians working together to improve outcomes for mothers and babies: https://everyweekcounts.com.au/resources-for-women/

20/07/2026

She was the media’s sweetheart in Hobart as part of our recent federal funding announcement, and Clara Phelan’s story is a powerful reminder of why the Every Week Counts program matters.

Born at 29 weeks weighing just 499g, her story highlights the life-changing impact of preventing early birth and ensuring better pregnancy outcomes for more women.

“Having access to information, and a well-informed medical team who understood the risks and outcomes of preterm birth, made our journey possible,” mother Helen Phelan said.

Your experience of preterm birth can help raise awareness, improve care and strengthen prevention efforts. Share your story with Every Week Counts: https://everyweekcounts.com.au/get-involved/

Watch Helen and Clara's story here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OwC8v4K5y98

13/07/2026

📰 Making headlines in the Top End!

We're proud to see the Dangudbila pregnancy education app featured in the The NT News, shining a spotlight on an innovative, First Nations-led initiative that has the potential to transform maternity education across the Top End.

Co-designed with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, Dangudbila has been created to provide culturally safe, accessible and trusted pregnancy information that reflects the voices, experiences and priorities of the communities it is designed to support.

The app includes local language animations, podcasts and stage-by-stage pregnancy information aligned with Northern Territory maternity care, helping women access information when and where it suits them.

Congratulations to Dr Kiarna Brown, Jessica Murray, the team at Menzies School of Health Research, and all the women, families, community members and partners who have contributed to bringing this vision to life. This is a powerful example of what can be achieved when communities lead the design of solutions that are built with culture, trust and lived experience at their heart.

Read the story here: https://tinyurl.com/2jh49m9b

A newly launched Territory digital pregnancy education app is already being forecast to create big waves across the Top End – particularly for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women.

08/07/2026

Every pregnancy is unique, but there are practical, evidence-based steps that can help reduce the risk of preterm birth.

In the latest edition of the Every Week Counts magazine, our WA Every Week Counts Maternity Lead, Jennifer Leverington, shares a simple, empowering guide to the conversations every woman should have with her healthcare provider throughout pregnancy.

From booking early pregnancy care and understanding your personal risk factors, to asking about cervical length measurement, continuity of care, smoking and va**ng cessation support, and recognising the warning signs of preterm labour, Jennifer outlines the key actions that can make a real difference.

Knowledge is one of the most powerful tools we have. By helping women understand the steps they can take and encouraging early conversations with their care team, we can give more babies the chance to stay safely in the womb for longer.

Read Jennifer's article, "Steps to Reduce Your Chance of Preterm Birth," in the 2026 Every Week Counts magazine and help us spread these important messages to women, families and healthcare professionals across Australia: https://everyweekcounts.com.au/resources-for-women/

North Metropolitan Health Service