Group home
Welcome to the Atherton Group!
Come along and meet new friends. Chat with mothers who have 'been there' and connect with our local breastfeeding counsellors and educators.
Currently there are no group activities in the Tablelands area but you are warmly invited to join the Cairns ABA group meet ups.
We support all families. Mums who are mixed-feeding, bottle feeding, exclusively expressing or not breastfeeding are always welcome. We chat in a relaxed setting and there is often access to a breastfeeding counsellor or educator who can assist you with any breastfeeding questions, worries or issues you may be having.
Breastfeeding Preparation Sessions run weekly during the evenings or at weekends. We encourage you to book in if you are pregnant and wanting to learn more about breastfeeding before your baby arrives.
Where we are
This group covers all of the Tablelands area covered by Mareeba Shire and Tablelands Regional Council. Towns include Mareeaba, Dimbulah, Mt Molloy, Atherton, Malanda, Yungaburra, Herberton, Ravenshoe. Kuranda residents are considered part of the Cairns group.
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. Information and support is only part of why we come - our regular attendees keep coming along because its fun to be part of our local group.
...I already go to a mothers' group or playgroup?
Yes. ABA meetings are more than a new parents' group, as the children are not all the same age - so you're not competing over who's child gets the next milestone first/sleeps longest/gains weight fastest... instead you get to see what's coming up from the children older than yours, and you can see how far your baby has come every time a newborn baby comes along. It really helps to get a broad perspective.
Our local group activities are also more than just a playgroup or a coffee catch up. Not only do you get to have a conversation with another adult whilst your child gets to play, you also have access to information about raising children and access to a breastfeeding counsellor or educator.
...I don't breastfeed?
Yes, as long as you don't mind seeing other people breastfeed! We know that sometimes things don't work out as you might have wanted; 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 parenting thing 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! ABA Local Group events are open to everyone. We just ask that you ‘sign-in’ using the QR provided to you by the group leader. This will give you access to free, ongoing Introductory ABA membership.
Joining ABA as a financial member provides us with much needed funding to continue to support mums, parents and families in the community.
Can’t make it to local group events or prefer to catch-up online? ABA Virtual Village is just a click away
Become an ABA member and get involved with your local group as a volunteer
Details
Calendar
Breast pump hire
Breastpump hire
Our group is not currently hiring breast pumps. Please check our map for availability in nearby groups.