Group home
Welcome to the Mornington Peninsula Group!
Come along and meet new friends. Chat with mothers who have 'been there' and connect with our local breastfeeding counsellors and educators.
Our local group offers a non-judgmental, supportive atmosphere to all families to share their parenting experiences, and access accurate information about babies and breastfeeding.
We support all families. Those who are mixed-feeding, bottle feeding, exclusively expressing or not breastfeeding are always welcome. We chat in a relaxed setting and there is always access to a breastfeeding counsellor or educator who can assist you with any breastfeeding questions, worries or issues you may be having.
What we offer
We meet twice a month on Wednesdays and once a month on a Friday at Frankston North Community Centre, 26 Mahogany Ave, Frankston North. Our local group catch-ups are welcoming and friendly. Our trained volunteers are available for breastfeeding support if required, however most of our families attend to socialise and for connection. Many great friendships have started at the Australian Breastfeeding Association catch-ups.
Gatherings are informal. Our discussion topics are introduced and guided in a relaxed way by one of our volunteers. Everyone is encouraged to share their experiences and questions in our discussions. We offer you a hot drink, and there is always time for a social chat after our discussion.
Are you expecting a baby? Our Breastfeeding Education Live sessions run weekly during the evenings and at weekends. They're a great way to prepare for breastfeeding before your baby arrives. Then come along and meet the group. This is so much easier to do before the birth, rather than afterwards when you are trying to find your feet as a mum and everything is new!
Where we are
Our group area covers the peninsular and bay side suburbs from Portsea to Mordialloc.
Info & Chat
Learn more about breastfeeding and parenting. Speakers can include a breastfeeding educator, health professional or a mum with lived experience.
Breastfeeding drop-in
Your questions and concerns about breastfeeding answered by our local breastfeeding counsellors.
Can I still come to local group events if...
...I haven't had my baby yet?
Yes - attending meetings while you're pregnant is a great way to see other women breastfeeding and learn more about it. Many of us nowadays don't have much experience with babies until we have our own, so we need all the help we can get!
You might also like to check out our popular breastfeeding education classes.
...everything is going fine?
Yes! You don't need to be having problems with breastfeeding or anything else to come along and enjoy some interesting conversation and connect with local mums. It’s not just about getting Information and support. Our regular attendees keep coming along because it’s fun to be part of our local group.
...I already go to a mothers' group or playgroup?
Yes! ABA meet ups are more than a new parents' group. There are babies and children of different ages so there’s no competition over whose child reaches the next milestone first/sleeps longest/gains weight fastest. Instead, you get to see children older than yours and find out what's ahead for you. You can also see how far your baby has come every time a newborn arrives. It really helps to get a broad perspective.
Our local group activities are also more than just a playgroup or a coffee catch up. You get to have a conversation with another adult while your child plays. You also have access to information about raising children and can chat to a breastfeeding counsellor or educator.
...I don't breastfeed?
Yes, as long as you don't mind seeing others breastfeed. We know that sometimes things don't work out as you’d planned. We have members who are exclusively breastfeeding, pumping and bottle feeding, mixed feeding, and exclusively formula feeding.
Everyone is welcome: no judgement, no competitions, no 'alpha parents'. We're all in this together.
...my child is not a baby any more?
Yes! Mums don't stop needing support once their child is mobile or starts walking!
...I'm not an ABA member?
Yes! Our social activities and meet ups are open to all.
You’re also welcome to check out our 'Info and Chat' sessions once or twice as a non-member. On-going participation is a benefit of becoming an ABA member.
Not a member yet? No problem, you can join us today. Signing up is easy.
Become an ABA member and get involved with your local group
Details
Calendar
Breast pump hire
Breast pump hire
Our group hires electric breast pumps for you to express milk for your baby. ABA members receive a 50% discount on pump hire. Not a member yet? No problem, it's easy to join and access your discount.
Hiring pumps through ABA
All breast pumps for hire are hospital-grade. They are available for short-term or long-term hire.
Both the Ardo Carum and Ardo Calypso breast pumps are endorsed by the Australian Breastfeeding Association. Ardo is in full compliance with the International Code of Marketing Breastmilk Substitutes (WHO Code).
When hiring through your local ABA group you get an initial consultation to work out the best options for you and information on how to maximise your expressed milk and how to store it safely. You can contact your breast pump hire officer for more help along the way if you need it. All funds raised through breast pump hire go towards supporting your local group.
Breast pump hire is run by dedicated volunteer breastfeeding counsellors and educators who provide the service from their homes. As busy people with work and family commitments, we ask for your understanding if we are unable to respond as promptly as you desire. There are many families wanting to hire pumps so there are often times when all local pumps are already hired out.
Breast pump hire contacts
To check breast pump availability, check the table below or call our breast pump hire officer. If no pumps are available locally check the map for pumps available in nearby groups.
| Location | Contact |
| Langwarrin |
Christie: 0424 022 625 (text or call) |
| Seaford |
Jess: 0434 510 149 (text or call) |
|
Mornington |
Mary: 0406 156 713 (test or call) |
Weekly hire rates
Christie: 0424 022 625
Christie: 0424 022 625
Jess: 0434 510 149
Jess: 0434 510 149
Jess: 0434 510 149
Jess: 0434 510 149
Mary: 0406 156 713
Mary: 0406 156 713
Mary: 0406 156 713
You will also need a milk collection kit to connect to the pump you hire. If you do not already have one, you can buy the kit when you hire a pump.
- ARDO CARRUM double kit is $60
- MEDELA SYMPHONY double kit is $70 (single person use)
- Payment Via EFT preferred prior to pick up
- Pick up from private residence
- Pick up time flexible from 0800-2000
- Hire for 1 week - 6 months or more
- Equipment for pump available at time of hire
- Hire comes with comprehensive expressing information and links to resources
COVID-19 health measures for pump hiring
Our guidelines for interactions with families and the cleaning of our pumps include:
- the ABA Breast Pump Hiring Officer being well and not having been in contact with anyone who is sick
- options for completing paperwork and payment online
- collecting/returning the breast pump from/to the ABA Breast Pump Hiring Officer’s doorstep
- stringent cleaning of returned pumps (Please note that it is standard practice that all mothers hiring our pumps are required to purchase their own milk collection kit which is available to buy at the time of hiring.)
- getting breastfeeding and pumping support via telephone on the Breastfeeding Helpline 1800 686 268
- accessing information on expressing from our website.
Read more about expressing
Browse the information booklets in our Marketplace, including:
