Canberra-based support organisation SIDS and Kids ACT will amalgamate with its national body but has promised there will be no job losses or reduction in services.
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It will mean there will be no local board or chief executive officer but the organisation is adamant the move is a positive one, designed to reduce duplication and free up funds to be invested in front-line operations to help improve the safety of children and support bereaved families who have lost a child.
Canberra fundraising, including the world-record Christmas lights, will continue to be managed at a local level, and the ACT will have representation on the national board.
The ACT board will stay in place for a transition period over the next 12 months, with the change in effect from April 1.
SIDS and Kids ACT chairman Michael Williams said current staff would be redeployed to other positions, including CEO Lisa Ridgley, who was likely to obtain a position in marketing.
"We're going to retain all current staff and our existing service levels will stay at least at their current levels and over time they'll actually improve and increase," he said.
"We think it's a fantastic, positive move."
SIDS and Kids ACT currently responds to two new calls for support from someone affected by the loss of a child or pregnancy each week.
It provides a 24-hour free telephone counselling service and its Safe Sleeping education arm delivers more than 70 free workshops each year. Other services include a Puggles playgroup and various support groups.
"In the short term, people will not see any changes at all and as things do change, they will be positive changes," Mr Williams said.
"There will be better online access for bereavement support, they'll be 24-hour counselling access to people. The research and education will be expanded. We can't see a negative in all of this."
SIDS and Kids ACT has been operating under a federated structure for almost two decades.
"At the moment with separate organisations, it puts a lot of pressure on resources, human and financial, and we can hope to eliminate some of that," Mr Williams said.
Rivett mother Candy van Poppel has used the services of SIDS and Kids ACT for more than five years and has high hopes the organisation would continue to do its good work under the new arrangement.
Her son Millan was stillborn at 39 weeks, after a healthy pregnancy, in November, 2010.
"I think within the first week I had a bereavement counsellor come to my house and from there, I got information of all the services SIDS provides," she said.
"I attended the monthly support group for about a year and from there I met a whole range of women who will be my friends for a lifetime.
"I became pregnant again and used their pregnancy after loss support group and I've done that three times."
Mrs van Poppel and her husband, Mark, now have three daughters, Eva, four; Maddie, two; and Isla, six months. She continues to find the support she needs at SIDS and Kids.
"If you're having a down day, there's always someone to talk to," she said.
"I hope with the amalgamation it's a positive thing that makes the bereavement support services stronger.
"Even though I'm five years on, I'm still grieving. It just changes everything. It's nice to know I can still go in there and even attend the Puggles playgroup and have that connection with other mums and other families who get it."
Under the new structure, there will be one national CEO and four general managers across the nation.
SIDS and Kids national chief executive officer Leanne Raven was delighted with the ACT's decision to join with the other states at a national level.
"Within the national structure new opportunities such as on-line support for our regional families and national-based advocacy can be explored," she said.
* Anyone in need of counselling support can call the SIDS and Kids 24-hour phone line on 1800 138 300.
