PM steps in to save Red Nose charity after $6m funding blow

Anthony Albanese on Tuesday personally intervened to save Australia’s only charity for parents who lose a child after The Daily Telegraph revealed the organisation had been dealt a $6m funding blow.

Anthony Albanese has personally intervened to save Australia’s only charity for parents who lose a child.

Mr Albanese told 2GB radio he would restore funding for charity Red Nose after The Daily Telegraph revealed the organisation had been dealt a $6m funding blow.

The decision was taken by the Department of Health after a change to the way grants were handed out but has now been reversed by the Prime Minister.

Parents were shocked after The Daily Telegraph revealed on Tuesday Australia’s only specialist support service for those who lose their child would be dramatically wound back after a devastating $6m funding blow from the federal government.

The PM said the funding cut was a “bureaucratic error” and pledged to deliver $2 million per year for the next three years to keep the charity’s services running.

He said he had no prior knowledge of the funding decision but acted quickly to reverse it once he was made aware.

“Occasionally, frankly, they just get it completely wrong. And on this, they’ve got it completely wrong,” he said.

“That’s why we have a political system—so that sensible decisions can be made in cases like this.”

The charity has previously received funding for about a decade under the Commonwealth’s bereavement support funding initiatives.

The news would have meant the end of the 24/7 phone helpline.

Jamie Lee with her six-week-old daughter Celine and son Nelson. Picture: Richard Dobson

Red Nose Australia CEO Amy Cooper welcomed the news, thanking the Prime Minister for recognising the importance of the charity’s work.

“That is incredible news. So thank you, Prime Minister, for recognising the support that our grieving families need,” she said.

The charity was set to launch a major campaign alongside a petition piling on pressure on the federal government to restore the funding ahead of the federal election due by May.

“This is a devastating blow to over 13,000 bereaved families who will no longer receive specialised support, every year,” Nick Xerakias, Chair of the Board at Red Nose, and a bereaved father himself, said.

“Red Nose has been providing tailored support for bereaved families for close to 50 years.

“There is no alternative to the very specialised services we offer. Tragically, many families will have nowhere to turn, when they need support the most.”

Sydney mum Jamie Lee lost her son Henry in 2021 and turned to Red Nose for help.

Ms Lee said the service helped her process her grief which gave her the strength to go on and have two more children, Nelson, 2, and six-week old Celine.

William Sparling and partner Jamie Lee with their son Nelson and 6 week old daughter Celine. Picture: Richard Dobson

“They are one of the unique charities, it’s not like Lifeline as the support provided is general (with Lifeline) and it’s not specific to pregnancy loss and stillbirth,” she said.

“If I lost Red Nose, I would not have called Lifeline because Red Nose had very specific people to talk to.

“(It allowed) us to regroup so quickly and have kids so soon after losing Henry because we were supported and able to process our grief.”

Ms Lee said pregnancy and infant loss is already a taboo topic with limited support in the hospital system.

“When we lost Henry, the hospital we gave birth at, we didn’t feel there was too much support.”

The federal government was contacted for a comment.

Originally published as PM steps in to save Red Nose charity after $6m funding blow