Tuesday, 17 October 2023

Southern Metropolitan Region

Georgie CROZIER (Southern Metropolitan) (15:37): (458) My constituency question is for the attention of the Minister for Health. Emma is a constituent who is passionate about providing support to women who have suffered an early pregnancy loss and the effect it has on their families. Approximately 23,000 women in Victoria experience this heartbreak each year. Many of these women suffer their loss alone, with shame and stigma leaving many with ongoing mental health issues. I was pleased to support my former colleague Margaret Fitzherbert, who successfully moved a motion in this place in 2018 for recognition of International Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day. There is a further awareness campaign throughout the month of October for early pregnancy loss, so I ask: will the government commit to providing the necessary funds as requested by the Pink Elephants Support Network in its application for the women’s health and wellbeing support groups and programs grants to assist with this important work that supports so many women and their families at this difficult time?