Australian Preterm Birth Prevention Alliance

05/06/2026

Preeclampsia affects around 1 in 20 pregnancies and is one of the leading causes of preterm birth in Australia.

In this video, Alliance QLD Lead and Chair of the National Preterm Preeclampsia Implementation Pilot Working Group, Associate Professor Chris Lehner, discusses how improved screening in early pregnancy could help identify women at increased risk and support interventions that may prevent serious complications for mothers and babies.

Many women who develop preeclampsia have no obvious risk factors. That's why the Alliance is supporting the rollout and evaluation of preterm preeclampsia screening across maternity services around the country, helping ensure more women have access to evidence-based care early in pregnancy.

This important topic is explored in the 2026 edition of the Every Week Counts Magazine, where Associate Professor Lehner and Associate Professor Daniel Rolnik explain how earlier identification and prevention strategies have the potential to improve outcomes for women and babies across Australia.

Read the 2026 edition of the Every Week Counts magazine here: https://everyweekcounts.com.au/resources-for-women/

Women's Health Circle Rural Doctors Association of Queensland - RDAQ

02/06/2026

The stories behind the statistics matter.

This week, The West Australian shared the inspiring story of Sonia Burra-Robinson, who is using her experience of preterm birth and preeclampsia to help raise awareness for other women and families.

Sonia's journey is also featured in the 2026 edition of Every Week Counts magazine, alongside other stories of lived experience from families across Australia.

These stories are the heart of our publication. They provide hope, understanding and practical insight for women and families, while reminding healthcare professionals why every week of pregnancy matters.

A heartfelt thank you to Sonia and all the families who so generously share their experiences to help improve outcomes for future mothers and babies.

📖 Read the 2026 Every Week Counts magazine and explore stories from families whose experiences continue to shape and strengthen Australia's preterm birth prevention efforts at www.everyweekcounts.com.au/resources-for-women

We speak to Sonia about her experience with preterm birth and why it’s important to raise awareness on the matter, and the new announcement from the government.

02/06/2026

The 2026 edition of the Every Week Counts Magazine is out now!

This nationally distributed publication contains articles describing topics that every pregnant woman needs to know to ensure the best possible outcomes from their pregnancy.

If you are pregnant, considering a pregnancy, or involved in obstetric care, this magazine is for you!

Get your free copy of the magazine at the link in our bio or go to https://everyweekcounts.com.au/resources-for-women

Audio Credit: Soft landing by Ketsa

         pregnancy maternity

01/06/2026

The 2026 edition of the Every Week Counts Magazine is out now!

This nationally distributed publication contains articles describing topics that every pregnant woman needs to know to ensure the best possible outcomes from their pregnancy.

It’s also a critical resource for every health professional that is involved in maternity care.

If you are pregnant, considering a pregnancy, or involved in obstetric care, this magazine is for you!

Get your free copy of the magazine here: https://everyweekcounts.com.au/resources-for-women

Resources for Women Resources to help you in your pregnancy. Every Week Counts Resources These resources have been developed by clinicians in partnership with the Every Week Counts lived experience collective. 2026 Every Week Counts Magazine Find out how we are lowering the rate of early birth and m...

01/06/2026

We are incredibly proud to stand side-by-side with our consumers who so generously share their stories, often reliving some of the most challenging moments of their lives, to help improve outcomes for others.

Their lived experience is the face and heart of our work. It shapes our priorities, informs our programs and reminds us why preventing avoidable preterm birth matters.

The Australian Government's recent $6.8 million investment in the Every Week Counts program means we can continue working together to help more women access evidence-based care, strengthen culturally safe maternity services, and support hospitals across Australia to reduce early birth.

For thousands of Australian families, this funding represents more than a continuation of a program. It represents hope. Hope that more babies can stay safely in the womb for longer. Hope that more families can avoid the trauma of a preterm birth. Hope that more children can be given the healthiest possible start to life.

To every family who has shared their story, advocated for change, and helped drive this work forward – thank you. This achievement belongs to you too. ❤️

31/05/2026

A wonderful story in The West Australian highlighting the WA roots of Australia’s world-first preterm birth prevention program and the difference it is making for families across the country.

What began in Western Australia in 2014 has grown into a national movement to safely reduce rates of preterm and early term birth. The program’s success in WA, including a 20% reduction in preterm births at King Edward Memorial Hospital in its first year, helped pave the way for national implementation in 2018.

On Friday, a further $6.8 million Federal Government investment was announced which will support the expansion of the Every Week Counts Program and early pregnancy pre-eclampsia screening to more maternity hospitals nationwide, helping identify women at risk and prevent avoidable early births.

North Metropolitan Health Service

More pregnant women in Australia will be routinely screened for pre-eclampsia, a life-threatening condition that currently forces babies to be delivered early, thanks to a new WA-led program.

30/05/2026

Behind every funding announcement is a family.

We are incredibly grateful to Helen and Clara for sharing their preterm birth journey and helping put a human face to this important work.

Women with lived experience of preterm birth are the true heart of the Every Week Counts program. Their courage, advocacy and generosity in sharing their stories continue to drive change and improve outcomes for mothers and babies across Australia. 💙

Just 13 months ago, Clara weighed only 500 grams when she was born at the Royal Hobart Hospital.

Today, Clara is a beautiful success story of pre-term birth care. But we want to help more babies reach full term by supporting Australia’s world-first national program dedicated to safely reducing rates of pre-term birth.

Our Government is proud to fund the work of dedicated professionals who are helping more families safely welcome precious bundles into the world.

30/05/2026

Yesterday’s announcement of $6.8 million in Federal Government funding for the Every Week Counts program was a significant milestone for maternity care in Australia.

While the funding will help more women and babies benefit from evidence-based care, what made the announcement especially powerful was seeing two mothers with lived experience of extremely preterm birth standing at the forefront of the event.

Their stories are the true face and heart of our work.

By bravely sharing their experiences, they help remind us why preventing preterm birth matters and why every extra week of pregnancy can make such a profound difference for babies and families. Thank you Mikaela Dunn and Helen and Clara Phelan.

We are also incredibly grateful to the thousands of midwives, obstetricians, Aboriginal health professionals, researchers and maternity care teams across Australia whose dedication has helped make Australia the first country in the world to strategically reduce harmful early birth.

Together, we are helping more babies arrive at the right time and giving more families the healthiest possible start.

29/05/2026

📢 A major milestone for Australian maternity care. 📢

Australia’s world-first national preterm birth prevention program has received a $6.8 million Federal Government boost, announced by the Assistant Minister for Health, the Hon Rebecca White, at a special event at Royal Hobart Hospital today.

This investment into the Every Week Counts program will help expand access to early screening for preterm preeclampsia, strengthen culturally safe care initiatives for First Nations families, and support more maternity services across metropolitan, regional and remote Australia.

Most importantly, it means more women and babies will benefit from evidence-based care that helps pregnancies continue safely for longer.

We thank the Australian Government and Assistant Minister for Health, The Hon Rebecca White, for their ongoing support of this important national initiative, as well as the clinicians, midwives, Aboriginal perinatal leaders, researchers, consumers and families who continue driving this work forward every day.

15/05/2026

Thanks for having us St John of God Murdoch Hospital!

The latest in our Every Week Counts Collaborative Outreach Roadshow took place earlier this week at St John of God Murdoch Hospital.

Co-Chair of the Every Week Counts national program, Professor John Newnham, joined WA EWC midwifery lead, Jennifer Leverington, to outline the success of efforts across the nation to safely prevent preterm and early term birth.

Eight Western Australian hospitals and health services are among the 40 maternity hospitals across the country that are working together as part of Round 2 of our national program which is working to improve pregnancy outcomes for women across the country.