(PIPA)

www.pipa.org.au

Preterm Infants’ Parents’ Association Inc.

The Preterm Infants Parents Association Inc (PIPA) is a charity and public benevolent institution which offers practical and emotional support to parents of premature babies.
Parents of premature infants may experience an enormous amount of emotional trauma, stress, and grief and often need to cope with on-going health concerns and problems with their children.

It is often difficult for parents to understand the unfamiliar terminology of the specialised technology associated with their infant in the neonatal nurseries.

PIPA was formed in Brisbane in 1980 to try to offer whatever help is needed to families of premature babies. It is now the only statewide association still operating in Australia. It is also a founding member of the National Premmie Foundation Inc. This allows PIPA to network with other preterm infant parent support groups around Australia.

The self-help nature of PIPA is its strength and the characteristic that makes it different from other support mechanisms found in and around intensive care units. PIPA has contact with parents during their babies stay in hospital and this contact continues after their baby is discharged from the nurseries. PIPA offers a variety of support services which include, hospital visiting, support meetings, books, bi-monthly newsletter, preterm infant fact sheets, telephone contact, social functions for families with preterm infants, community education and other direct assistance as required.

PIPA volunteers are lay people, all of who are parents of premature babies. This helps us to understand the problems, issues and joys which other parents may experience. PIPA does not offer professional advice. It offers understanding, support, encouragement and friendship.

Contacts
President: Kim Abbott (07) 3863 4816

General Liaison &
Hospital Visitor Coordinator: Eileen Cooke (07) 3314 0115

Patron: Dr David Tudehope

Postal Address
PIPA Secretary
PO Box 400
RBH Qld 4029