November 2002

Silver celebration for SIDS and Kids

A self-help group which began as a result of a mother’s personal tragedy has celebrated its 25th anniversary at a special function hosted by the Victorian Government.

Health Minister John Thwaites hosted a reception for SIDS and Kids Victoria at Queens Hall, Parliament House, to mark the anniversary.

He praised the work of all SIDS and Kids staff, volunteers, parents, counsellors and supporters that has enabled the organisation to go from strength to strength over the past 25 years.

SIDS and Kids Victoria was established in 1977 by Kaarene Fitzgerald following the sudden death of her eight-month-old son.

Kaarene formed the organisation to raise funds to investigate SIDS and it soon became the focus for parents undergoing similar family grief.

Through fundraising activities such as the annual Red Nose Day, SIDS and Kids Victoria has played an important role in increasing public awareness about sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

The number of infants dying from SIDS has decreased from 106 deaths in 1990 to 16 deaths in 2001.

This has been achieved through important Australian and international research.

Much of this research has been funded by money raised by SIDS and Kids and the findings have been used to develop important community health education campaigns.

The first, Reducing the Risk of SIDS was introduced in Victoria in 1990.

It promoted putting babies to sleep on their backs, keeping them in a smoke-free environment and preventing them getting too hot.

It’s estimated that more than 3,000 babies’ lives have been saved since the program started nationally in 1991.