Radio National Breakfast Changing Australia: Peter Cursley and saving babies
Mar 22, 2026
Peter Cursley, founder of the Newborn Intensive Care Foundation who turned personal loss into decades of neonatal fundraising. He recounts Hannah’s story and why small comforts and targeted equipment matter. He explains keeping donations local, the idea of short-term 'projecteers' over ongoing volunteers, and calls for stronger government support for neonatal care.
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Doctor Recorded Tough Conversation
- Peter Cursley received a recorded conversation from the doctor because he couldn't absorb information in the delivery room.
- He listened to the cassette at 3am and realized he had missed the doctor's explanation about his daughter's critical condition.
Immediate Fundraising Born From Staff Compassion
- Shortly after Hannah's death Peter and his wife decided immediately to raise funds for the neonatal unit because of the staff's compassion.
- He noticed basic equipment failures, like a trolley wheel coming off, highlighting funding gaps.
Comfort Enables Early Bonding In NICU
- Comfort items like recliner chairs and breast pumps materially improve mother-baby bonding in NICU.
- Peter points out kangaroo cuddling in a recliner helps start bonding even when babies are seriously ill behind perspex cots.