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About The Program

Teddy Love Club pregnancy & infant loss support (TLC) supports parents and families who have experienced any gestation loss of a baby to miscarriage, termination for foetal abnormalities, stillbirth & neo natal death. TLC works directly with bereaved families to help them cope and recover after the heartbreak of pregnancy and infant loss. There is no other organisation in Australia that works so specifically with people at the very point of their loss and which stays with them, for years if necessary, as they recover and rebuild their hope

The TLC program provides support to bereaved families at the very beginning of their loss by the giving of a traditional TLC teddy bear, something tangible to hold on to before they have to leave the hospital with such empty aching arms. No other organization provides this type of connection and beginning relationship with bereaved families. For many of us it means so much, to be able to let another know they are not quite so alone. By donating a Teddy Bear it gives parents a way in which to acknowledge their own baby. At the same time it is a gesture of thoughtfulness and understanding for a newly bereaved parent. This wonderful gesture has grown from the help of many other families (in honour of their own precious baby or babies) becoming involved in reaching out to more bereaved parents and making the TLC program what it is today.

Please know you are always welcome to get in touch with us. We are always here for you

Statement of Purpose

The Initial Purpose of the Teddy Love Club program (TLC) is to provide bereavement support to families throughout Australia who have experienced any gestation pregnancy and infant loss to miscarriage, genetic inducement of labour, stillbirth and or neonatal death either recently or in the past.

The program aims to provide continuity of support services & resources to all bereaved families experiencing the loss of their baby across Australia. To help prevent emotional issues from sadness and isolation through to depression & trauma from the bereavement of miscarriage, genetic inducement of labour, stillbirth or neo natal death. We strive to ensure the TLC program is always very personal and caring.

TLC Vision

To provide every maternity hospital across Australia with the TLC program
To offer every bereaved family with a TLC bear and resource pack.
To continually improve, update and provide TLC services to bereaved families across Australia.
To provide support groups in every state of Australia
To secure government funding
To achieve our goal of having a TLC Pregnancy & Infant Loss Support Centre
To encourage community involvement through volunteering for the program.
To increase TLC & pregnancy & infant loss awareness•

Mission Statement

To provide support and understanding to bereaved families throughout Australia who have experienced the loss of their baby at any gestation

TLC Objectives

The primary purpose is to assist bereaved parents, family & friends (who suffer the loss of their baby / child at any gestation, due to miscarriage, genetic inducement of labour, stillbirth, neonatal death or later) in their individual grief process and to aid in their isolation, suffering and distress.
To deliver teddy bears directly or indirectly to bereaved families. The teddy bears are predominantly donated to hospitals to be given to parents before leaving the hospital without their baby to provide a small relief to the distress & feelings of helplessness of suffering such loss. Teddy bears are also given directly to bereaved parents after suffering a loss of their baby or babies by management or volunteer committee members.
To collect donated teddy bears, or receive donated monies in order to
purchase teddy bears
cover appropriate costs.
To provide counselling, support & understanding to bereaved parents by way of personal contact, email, postal & telephone contact as well as home & hospital visits. Facilitated by Teddy Love Club parent support workers who have been trained in bereavement counseling.
To provide a 1800 free call telephone number for telephone counselling support.
To provide the Teddy Love Club pregnancy and infant loss support resource pack to bereaved parents through the hospitals and or directly to the bereaved parents, family and friends.
To supply bereavement grief and loss written resources, brochures, regular newspaper and access to Teddy Love Club pregnancy and infant loss support library of bereavement grief and loss books.
To provide a comprehensive & informative Teddy Love Club pregnancy and infant loss website.
To provide bereaved parent support meetings with the facilitators having been trained in bereavement counselling. Also provide opportunity to connect, relate & network with other bereaved parents who have experienced pregnancy and infant loss
To provide a safe place to hold the regular support meetings for parents, families & friends to connect, share & gain support and understanding amongst others in similar situations. Facilitators having been trained in bereavement counselling
To supply hospitals with requested bereavement resources & supplies that directly help and aid bereaved parents in hospital.
To provide information and quick easy access to other community bereavement services & resources.
To create pregnancy and infant loss awareness and to advocate for bereaved parents to hospital staff, media, public & other organisations.

TLC Organizational Structure

The TLC program is governed by a board of management.
The orgranisation consists of:
A management committee
Qualified and trained parent support workers
State coordinators across Australia
Volunteer committees throughout each state
National support team

Please click here to view our organisational chart