Press Release
A new national advocacy movement, the 58 Days Campaign, has officially launched today, calling on the Federal Government to close a significant gap in Australia’s welfare safety net. The campaign urges Tanya Plibersek, Minister for Social Services, to reform Paid Parental Leave (PPL) legislation to support families whose infants are hospitalised in neonatal intensive care units (NICU) or special care nurseries.
Under current settings, many parents of premature or sick babies are forced to exhaust their PPL entitlements while their child is still in a humidicrib. This leaves families with little to no paid time at home once their baby is finally discharged. The 58 Days Campaign seeks a dedicated leave extension that accounts for the "stolen time" spent in hospital, ensuring that a baby’s arrival date does not dictate the quality of care and bonding they receive at home.
The campaign is spearheaded by Rachel Gillett, whose own experience served as the catalyst for the movement. Her son was born at just 29 weeks and 5 days, arriving 58 days before his expected due date.
"When a baby is born months early, the celebrations are replaced by clinical alarms and constant uncertainty," says 58 Days Campaign founder, Rachel Gillett. "I spent three months on hospital bed rest before my son was even born, with only 20 days of sick leave available. We were plunged into a financial and emotional crisis before we even held our child. No parent should have to choose between their bank balance and being at their sick baby's bedside."
Research indicative of the broader crisis, provided by the Miracle Babies Foundation, reveals that 8 out of 10 families with premature babies experience significant unexpected financial impacts. With more than 48,000 babies requiring neonatal unit care in Australia each year, the 58 Days Campaign argues that the current "one size fits all" PPL model is failing thousands of citizens.
A Real-World Gap in Support
For families in the NICU, the "standard" parental leave experience does not exist. While a parent of a full-term baby might spend their first 12 weeks bonding at home, a NICU parent spends those same weeks navigating medical emergencies and hospital parking fees. When the baby is finally healthy enough to go home, the "timer" on their paid leave has often nearly run out. This forces many primary carers, particularly women, back into the workforce prematurely, which can jeopardise the long-term health outcomes of the child and the mental health of the parents.
The Call to Action
The 58 Days Campaign is calling for: A legislative amendment to the Paid Parental Leave Act to provide additional, flexible leave for parents of babies hospitalised for more than two weeks. Greater recognition of the "pre-birth" hospitalisation period often required for high-risk pregnancies. A commitment to ensuring that parental leave officially "starts" only when a baby is discharged from neonatal care. The campaign invites all Australians to join the thousands who have already signed the national petition to show Minister Plibersek that the time for reform is now.
About 58 Days Campaign
Based in Menangle, the 58 Days Campaign is a grassroots advocacy organisation dedicated to improving welfare and family support for parents of premature and sick babies. Founded by Rachel Gillett following her own 58-day journey with a micro-preemie, the organisation works to ensure that Australian families are not financially penalised for medical circumstances beyond their control.
Media Contact: Rachel Gillett Founder, 58 Days Campaign 58dayscampaign@gmail.com
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