The Australian Breastfeeding Association (ABA) advocates for a breastfeeding inclusive society.
ABA does this by:
1. increasing awareness of the importance of breastfeeding and breastfeeding support amongst key policy and decision makers
2. developing strategic alliances with relevant and influential organisations.
Position statements
As the peak body and leading voice for breastfeeding and breastfeeding support in Australia, ABA has developed a series of position statements that explain our views on important issues:
Submissions
ABA aims to influence policymakers and impact policies to ensure they consider the needs of breastfeeding women by creating environments that enable women to breastfeed their babies, and removing barriers that prevent women from breastfeeding their babies.
ABA regularly responds to consultations by making submissions.
2020
- Submission to ACCC regarding Reauthorisation of the Marketing in Australia of Infant Formulas: Manufacturers and Importers (MAIF) Agreement for 10 years
- National Preventative Health Strategy
- Royal Commission into National Government Response to Natural Disasters
Alliances
Creating alliances with relevant and influential organisations amplifies ABA’s voice and increases ABA’s visibility and reach.
World Breastfeeding Trends Initiative (WBTi) assists countries to assess the status of, and benchmark the progress in, implementation of the Global Strategy for Infant and Young Child Feeding in a standard way. The WBTi assessment tool was designed by the International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN) for countries to use to benchmark and improve policies and programs that protect, promote and support the right of women and children to breastfeed. The tool scores countries based on the recommendations included in the 2003 Global Strategy for Infant and Young Child Feeding. A team was formed in Australia in 2017 to undertake the Australia’s first assessment. The Australian Breastfeeding Association is a part of the ‘core’ team along with Lactation Consultants Australia and New Zealand (LCANZ) and Breastfeeding Advocacy Australia. The assessment was completed and published in May 2018 and can be viewed here: https://www.worldbreastfeedingtrends.org/uploads/country-data/country-report/WBTi-Australia-2018.pdf.
IYCF-E Call For Action: Infant and Young Child Feeding in Emergencies – Call For Action – World Breastfeeding Trends initiative Australia (wbtiaus.com)
For further information on the activities of the WBTi Australian team check out their blog: www.wbtiaus.com.
Australian National Breastfeeding Strategy
The Australian National Breastfeeding Strategy: 2019 and Beyond is an enduring strategy which seeks to achieve an enabling environment for breastfeeding through policies, baby-friendly health settings, health professional education and training, and universal and targeted breastfeeding education and support services.
The strategy was developed in collaboration with all states and territories through the Breastfeeding Jurisdictional Senior Officials Group (BJOG), a Breastfeeding Expert Reference Group, and through public consultation. All Health Ministers endorsed the Strategy on 8 March 2019.