Support breastfeeding employees. Strengthen your workplace.
Breastfeeding Friendly Workplace (BFW) accreditation recognises organisations that create supportive environments for breastfeeding employees through policies, facilities and workplace culture.
Developed by the Australian Breastfeeding Association, the accreditation helps organisations remove barriers to breastfeeding and support employees to successfully balance work and family life.
Become recognised as an employer that values inclusion, wellbeing and family-friendly workplaces.
What is a Breastfeeding Friendly Workplace?
Accredited organisations demonstrate three key elements:
- Time: Provide reasonable lactation breaks so employees can breastfeed or express during work hours.
- Space: Provide a suitable private space for breastfeeding or expressing.
- Supportive Culture: Create an environment where breastfeeding employees feel respected, included and supported.
Why become accredited?
Supporting breastfeeding employees benefits both your people and your organisation.
- Attract and retain talented employees: Employees are more likely to stay with organisations that support their family responsibilities.
- Strengthen workplace culture: Create a more inclusive, supportive and positive environment for parents returning to work.
- Demonstrate leadership: Show your commitment to employee wellbeing, gender equality and family-friendly workplace practices.
- Meet workplace obligations: Align with Australian workplace legislation and best-practice standards relating to discrimination, workplace health and safety, and employee support.
- Enhance your reputation: Differentiate your organisation as an employer of choice and promote your accreditation in recruitment and marketing materials
What's included with the accreditation?
When you sign up for accreditation, you'll receive access to:
- A comprehensive online accreditation toolkit
- Learning modules and guidance resources
- Policy development support
- Templates and practical tools
- Information on legal responsibilities and best practice
- Ongoing support from the BFW team throughout the accreditation proces
How the accreditation process works
Step 1:
Submit an Expression of Interest Form
It's quick and easy form, to receive your free quote for accreditation cost
Step 2:
Receive and accept your quote
Within 7 business days, we'll email you a quote for the cost of accreditation. Once accepted and paid, you'll get access to the online toolkit and modules to begin your accreditation
Step 3:
Work through the online toolkit and modules
Access to resources and learning modules on legal responsibilities, policy development, facilities and workplace culture
Step 4:
Submit required documents
To gain Breastfeeding Friendly Workplace accreditation, submit necessary documents and surveys that meet the standards of time, space and supportive culture.
Step 5:
Accreditation Achieved for 12-months
Once all the submitted documents have been reviewed, you'll be granted accreditation valid for 12-months
Step 6:
Maintaining Ongoing Accreditation
Each year, we confirm your contact details and renew your accreditation with a quick compliance survey and fee, plus a quality audit every two years.
Frequently Asked Questions
Costs vary based on organisation size and structure. Submit an Expression of Interest to receive a free, no-obligation quote
Most organisations complete accreditation within 3-6 months for small to medium organisations and 6-12 months for larger or multi-site organisations. This allows time to review current practices, implement any required changes, and coordinate across teams or locations.
You have 12 months from enrolment in the Toolkit to complete and submit all accreditation requirements. Timeframes may vary depending on factors such as internal approval processes, organisational complexity, or building modifications.
We understand that delays can occur along the way. Our team will work closely with you to help manage any challenges, provide guidance and support, and keep your accreditation journey on track.
Larger workplaces are generally expected to provide a suitable space, however this does not need to be a dedicated breastfeeding room. Many organisations successfully use multi-purpose rooms, provided they offer privacy, comfort and can be made available when needed, still meeting the accreditation standard requirements.
We understand that space can be limited, particularly in smaller workplaces or unique environments. The BFW team works with each organisation to identify practical solutions that meet the accreditation requirements.
Yes. The BFW team provides guidance, resources and support throughout the accreditation process
Accreditation is valid for 12 months. To maintain accreditation, organisations complete a simple annual renewal process and every two years, organisations complete an audit to confirm BFW standards are being maintained.
The accreditation process is designed to be practical and achievable. Most organisations will need to submit a small number of documents through the BFW eToolkit, including:
- A breastfeeding policy or guidelines
- Information about breastfeeding and expressing facilities across your worksites
- A self-assessment survey and photos of identified spaces
- A draft employee communication announcing accreditation
- Photos of ABA/BFW resources displayed in the workplace
If your organisation has more than eight sites, only a sample of facilities is required.
Trusted by organisations across Australia
Organisations from a variety of sectors have achieved Breastfeeding Friendly Workplace accreditation and are demonstrating leadership in supporting working parents. Accredited organisations report positive employee feedback and value the accreditation as a practical way to strengthen workplace culture.
‘We have received welcomed feedback from team members regarding our implementation of an adequate space and facility where parents have the privacy, space, time to breastfeed.’
JLL, accredited since 2022
‘The inclusion of our BFW accreditation in our recruitment and induction materials, has been mentioned as a positive action by candidates and new staff. The accreditation aligns with our culture of care and accountability and demonstrates our commitment to our employees experience.’
Pharmacy Guild of Australia, accredited since 2011
‘It’s been a first year for our accreditation. I am very glad we took the step forward to take up accreditation. The team at BFW has been super supportive and friendly in answering our questions and ensuring we are set up for success.’
Paul Ramsay Foundation, accredited since 2023
Ready to become accredited as a Breastfeeding Friendly Workplace?
Join organisations across Australia that are creating more inclusive, supportive and family-friendly workplaces.
Submit an Expression of Interest today and receive a free, no-obligation quote
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