Contact Details

Shop 19, Rapid Creek Shopping Centre
Trower Road
RAPID CREEK NT 0810

Telephone: 08 8948 5311 or 1300 308 307
Fax: 08 8948 5244
Email:

Mailing Address

Located in Darwin, literally the Top End of Australia. Our remoteness from other capital cities is illustrated by the following:

Darwin – Adelaide 3051 km
Darwin – Brisbane 3429 km
Darwin – Sydney 4301 km
Darwin – Melbourne 3789 km
Darwin – Perth 4049 km

The Northern Territory covers approx 1,346,200 sq km and is almost 20 per cent of the total area of Australia. There are some principal centres along the main north-south highway, the Stuart Highway or more commonly known as “The Track”. The locations of these regional centres and distances are approximately as follows:

Darwin – Katherine 300 km
Darwin – Tennant Creek 1000 km
Darwin – Alice Springs 1500 km

Other regional centres not located on The Track are Jabiru (250 km from Darwin) and Nhulunbuy (650 km from Darwin, accessible only by air in the Wet Season).

The Association services are available Territory wide. Given the remoteness of many towns and communities, the Association utilises the resources of local health clinics. All health clinics, hospitals and community centres are provided with educational materials on safe sleeping practices for infants and reducing the risks of SIDS and some other forms of sudden and unexplained death.

Patron

Barbara McCarthy

Committee

Chairperson: Chris Paynter
Deputy Chairperson: Tracey Scott
Secretary: Margaret Richards
Treasurer: Naomi Wright
Committee Members: Margaret Wildin, Debbie Gardner-Munroe, Marg Phelan

Staff

Executive Officer: Peter Kearns
Counsellor/Educator: Margaret Lambert

History

Our Association was established in 1985 by a SIDS parent who whilst struggling with her own loss attempted to support others in a similar situation.

On 24 March 1993, a meeting of the people involved with SIDS NT was convened under the guidance of Ms Manne Ivory and the National SIDS Council of Australia with the aim of formalising the operation and structure of the group. This group consisted of ten interested people from diverse backgrounds, only one being a SIDS parent.

On 10 November 1993, the Sudden Infant Death Association of the Northern Territory held its inaugural meeting following its incorporation on 22 October 1993. An Executive Committee of seven members was elected with Mrs Kath Hayes holding the position of founding Chairman.

The National Board at its meeting on 17 November 1993 approved the Association’s application for membership to the National SIDS Council of Australia. Since that time, there have been many changes in terms of the composition of the Committee.

In 1999, the SIDS organisations throughout Australia formally expanded their wide range of services to include support for families whose child dies suddenly and unexpectedly, from 20 weeks gestation through to two years of age, regardless of cause. The Northern Territory extends its service beyond these ages and offers support for the death of a child from conception onwards. In the Northern Territory, our Association will give support to any families or associated friends and groups who suffer the loss of an infant or child of unspecified age.

The Association is attempting to address the occurrence of sudden infant death within the indigenous communities throughout the Territory. To this end, in 2000, the Association undertook a major educational campaign specifically targeted at these communities. This involved the production of a video, brochures and posters for indigenous audiences, copies of which are distributed to all health clinics throughout the Territory. This campaign is still current and resources now include a powerpoint presentation for indigenous people.

In March 2002, our Association has embraced the new name, SIDS and Kids NT, reflecting the change of name of the National parent organisation and reflecting the nature of our expanded services.