Prematurity Awareness Month
Each year in Australia, more than 26,000 babies are born before 37 weeks of pregnancy and are considered premature. Premature birth can have a significant impact on a baby’s health and development, particularly for those born very early. While advances in neonatal care continue to improve outcomes, prematurity remains one of the leading causes of death and disability in children under five worldwide.
In Australia, around 8% to 9% of babies are born prematurely. Although this rate has remained relatively stable in recent years, outcomes can vary depending on access to care, location and individual circumstances.
For First Nations communities, government data shows that premature birth rates are significantly higher, at approximately 1.7 times the rate among non-Indigenous babies. This highlights ongoing disparities in maternal and infant health outcomes.
Increasing awareness, advancing research and ensuring access to neonatal care are vital to improving outcomes for babies born too soon.
Prematurity Awareness Month takes place every November, bringing together families, healthcare professionals and communities to raise awareness of premature birth and its impact.
It is a time to:
- Increase understanding of preterm birth
- Highlight the importance of neonatal care
- Support families affected by prematurity
- Celebrate the strength of babies born too soon, including those who have survived and those who were lost
Purple is the official colour of Prematurity Awareness Month. It symbolises sensitivity, compassion and hope. Throughout November, communities around the world come together to “Go Purple” in support of premature babies and their families.
World Prematurity Day is held each year as part of a global movement to raise awareness and drive change. Traditionally observed on 17 November, it is now officially recognised on 15 November under the World Health Organization’s global calendar.
Today, an estimated 13.4 million babies are born prematurely worldwide each year, representing more than 1 in 10 births globally.
Many complications of prematurity can be prevented or treated with timely, specialised medical care, highlighting just how critical access to appropriate equipment and trained healthcare teams is.
Why Running for Premature Babies Supports This Month
Running for Premature Babies supports Prematurity Awareness Month and World Prematurity Day to help improve outcomes for Australia’s most vulnerable newborns because:
- Prematurity is a leading cause of death and long-term health challenges in young children worldwide
- Thousands of Australian babies are born too soon each year
- Demand for specialised neonatal equipment continues to grow
- Access to the right care at the right time can mean the difference between life and death
Funds raised support vital neonatal equipment in hospitals across Australia, including humidicribs, ventilators and life-saving monitoring technology, helping give premature babies the best possible start in life.
Get Involved
Throughout November, we invite you to take part in Prematurity Awareness Month and help create a lasting impact.
You can do this by:
- Joining the Premmie Marathon Challenge
- Wearing purple and sharing your support
- Fundraising for life-saving neonatal equipment
- Helping spread awareness in your community and online
Together, we can create a sea of purple and show our support for babies born too soon and the families who love them.
See FAQs Below
Get Involved
Run with us
Donate
Join the Premmie Marathon Challenge
FAQs
When is World Prematurity Day?
World Prematurity Day is held each November. From 2026, it is officially recognised on the 15th November under the World Health Organization’s global calendar.
What is prematurity?
Prematurity (or preterm birth) refers to a baby being born before 37 completed weeks of pregnancy.
What is the official colour for prematurity awareness month?
Purple.
How Running for Premature Babies Helps Support NICUs, SCNs and maternity unit
Running for Premature Babies plays a crucial role in supporting NICUs, SCNs and maternity units across Australia by providing the vital equipment that gives sick and premature babies a better chance of survival.
As one of the country’s most impactful charitable foundations in neonatal care, the organisation has raised more than $12 million since 2007, enabling the donation of over 172 pieces of critical neonatal equipment - including humidicribs, monitors, ventilators & resuscitation cots - to hospitals nationwide. This equipment directly supports NICUs and SCNs in caring for extremely vulnerable newborns, helping to improve survival rates and long-term outcomes.
Running for Premature Babies also funds cutting edge neonatal and perinatal research, helping advance the care of premature infants and improve future treatment options.
Beyond funding, the charity raises awareness of prematurity and the immense demands on NICUs, highlighting the reality that 1 in 10 babies in Australia is born prematurely, many requiring intensive care that can cost thousands of dollars per day. The charity celebrates all prematurely born children, both living and lost, with many supporters having lived experience of prematurity.
Through community running events and nationwide fundraising efforts, Running for Premature Babies empowers everyday Australians to make a tangible difference, helping hospitals provide the specialised care needed to give premature babies their best possible start in life.
You can read more about our impact here.
By giving today, you can help fund urgently needed neonatal equipment that supports hospitals and saves the lives of sick and premature babies. Give today and help fund urgently needed neonatal equipment that will save the lives of sick and premature babies.
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