News from the Room
Every 16 Seconds: A Call to Break the Silence
Every 16 seconds, a baby is stillborn somewhere in the world.
That’s not a typo. That’s the reality.
Every 16 seconds, a family’s world stops.
A nursery remains untouched.
A name is whispered instead of celebrated.
And a parent is handed grief instead of the joy of a newborn.
Stillbirth is not rare. But it is rarely spoken about.
When Billie was stillborn, we were thrown into that silence.
I remember the room. The weight of it. The way the world outside kept turning while ours came to a halt.
In the early days, I searched for stories like mine—to feel less alone, less broken. I wanted someone to say, "This happened to me too, and I survived."
That’s part of what led to Room Eleven. Not as an answer, but as a place to ask the questions out loud.
Why aren’t we talking about this?
Why is the loss of a baby something people shy away from?
Why do so many families feel like they have to grieve in silence?
Stillbirth isn't a rare tragedy—it’s a global issue. But without awareness, without stories, without honest conversations, it stays hidden in the shadows.
Room Eleven doesn’t exist to fix grief. It exists to name it. To hold space for it. To remind people they are not alone.
Behind that statistic—every 16 seconds—is a baby. A heartbeat. A family.
And behind every one of those families is a story worth listening to.
This is stillbirth statistics, but we cannot forget the many other forms of baby loss. So, If you’ve lived this loss, I see you.
If you haven’t, I ask you to sit with this truth: baby loss is real. It’s devastating. And it deserves our attention.
Not just today. Not just when the stats come out.
Always.
The 411
This Week at Room Eleven
Scooting For Hope: lIVESTREAMS AND trp
Things are starting to take shape.
I had an exciting conversation with a production company that specialises in livestream shows—they're keen to get involved and already have some brilliant ideas. We're talking camera cars, multi-angle setups, and my personal favourite: live commentary during the stream. Even better, this opens the door for members of the community to join us on the day and share their own stories of grief & resilience, creating something truly powerful together.
It also brings a new opportunity for businesses, big and small, to get behind the event. From digital banners on the livestream and physical signage along the route, to the option of co-streaming the event via their own branded channels—there are so many ways to get involved. Not only does this help raise awareness and funds, but it’s also a unique chance for brands to reach an engaged and values-driven audience. If you know a business that might want to be part of it, send them my way!
And finally, a shoutout to the legends at The Resilience Project—they're generously donating some merch for us to raffle off during the event. Love their work.
Weekly Musings
New Tech I’m testing: Spatial.io
In my ongoing mission to find new ways to reach more people and create meaningful opportunities for connection, I’ve started exploring Spatial.io—a platform that creates immersive virtual spaces where people can meet, talk, and experience things together, almost like being in the same room (without needing to leave your couch).
Think of it like Zoom meets the Metaverse. You create a 3D avatar, enter a fully customisable virtual space, and interact with others in real time. You can host meetings, events, or casual drop-ins, all in a much more engaging way than your average video call.
For Room Eleven, this could be a game-changer. It opens the door for virtual grief circles, creative workshops, community catch-ups, and even pop-up storytelling events—especially for people who might not be able to attend in person. It's accessible, it’s innovative, and it’s one more way we can continue making space for grief, growth and connection.
If you’re curious or just want to check it out, head to spatial.io, create a free account, build your avatar, and shoot me a message. I’ve got a virtual meeting space ready to go, and I’d love to test it out with some familiar faces.
What I’m watching: Blackberry
BlackBerry is a semi-satirical drama that tracks the meteoric rise and spectacular fall of the company behind the world’s first mainstream smartphone. Based on real events, it dives into the chaotic partnership between the visionary engineers at Research In Motion and the ruthless businessman who helped turn their ideas into a global empire—until Apple changed everything.
Now, I wouldn’t put this film up there with The Big Short or The Social Network, but it has a similar energy—sharp, stylish, and full of tension.
Glenn Howerton is a standout. Years of playing the unhinged Dennis on It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia seem to have prepped him perfectly for his role as Jim Balsillie, the intense, take-no-prisoners co-CEO of BlackBerry’s parent company. His performance alone is worth the watch.
If I had one criticism, it’s that I wanted more insight into the early development of the BlackBerry itself. The story picks up after the initial idea and design are already in place, so we miss out on some of that ‘eureka!’ innovation moment.
But here’s what really stuck with me: BlackBerry was the market leader. They dominated. But they didn’t evolve. With little competition, they got comfortable, resting on their laurels instead of innovating. Then Apple came along and changed the game completely. To make matters worse, at the height of their success, BlackBerry was also under investigation by the SEC for fraud. It all caught up with them.
The lesson? Being comfortable is great—but you can’t stay there. You’ve got to keep evolving, keep improving, and stay ready to reinvent.
This week has been a reminder that growth often starts with a conversation—a phone call, a new piece of tech, or even a film.
From our big livestream plans starting to take shape, to trialling virtual meeting spaces with Spatial.io, it feels like Room Eleven is standing right on the edge of something exciting. And watching BlackBerry—a story of innovation, comfort, and collapse—only reinforced the point: success is never final, and comfort can quickly become a trap.
The organisations that survive, the people who thrive—they’re the ones who keep moving. Who stay open to what’s next, even when things are going well. That’s what we’re trying to do here. Not just talk about grief and growth, but live it. Keep experimenting. Keep expanding. Keep making space for connection, in new ways and new places.
Takeaway for the week:
Pick one area of your life where you’ve been sitting too comfortably, and do something—anything—that helps you expand from there.
Let’s keep moving.
See you next week!
Rob
Giving Back
Donate a Still Billie Box
Our care packages for families who’ve lost their baby, named after our baby daughter Billie. Offering comfort during what should be a joyful season. Your donation can make a real difference in allowing us to provide free Still Billie Boxes to hospitals across Australia.
Room Eleven is a social enterprise business and does not qualify for DGR status.