ABA recognises Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the Land on which we work and live, and upon which our offices are based and our services operate.
We acknowledge that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women have been birthing and breastfeeding on Country for more than 60,000 years.
OUR REFLECT RECONCILIATION ACTION PLAN
Watch our National President, Executive Officer and RAP Working Group members share why this plan matters to ABA, and what it means for the families and communities we support.
Video: Board and RAP Working Group launch ABA's Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan.
Download our Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan
A roadmap for a more culturally safe Association
Through this Reflect RAP, we want to understand how to work from a more culturally informed place — and signal our willingness to learn from and share understanding with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, families and health workers.
Historically, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander babies were breastfed routinely, exclusively and on demand well into early childhood. Colonisation disrupted the passing on of these cultural breastfeeding practices, and the introduction of bottle-feeding and infant formula has contributed to lower breastfeeding rates among First Nations women today, particularly in urban areas.
Our RAP is one part of how we respond to that legacy — by listening to, learning from and partnering with First Nations families to support their own breastfeeding goals, in whatever way is useful to them.
4.9%
of babies born in Australia in 2020 were born to an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander mother
60+ years
of documented and undocumented partnerships between ABA and First Nations communities
PARTNERSHIPS ACROSS OUR 60+ YEAR HISTORY
Before writing this RAP, we mapped the partnerships and relationships ABA has built with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities since our earliest days. Here's a small part of what we found:
Deadly Dads - a workshop for Aboriginal men, run by Aboriginal men
The Deadly Dads workshop provides a space for Aboriginal men to yarn and learn about being a deadly dad and how to support their breastfeeding partner.
Community Breastfeeding Mentoring course
The 10961NAT Course in Community Breastfeeding Mentoring is a nationally recognised short course, designed to teach mentoring skills and basic breastfeeding information to people who support breastfeeding in the community including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workers.
Katherine, NT Kriol breastfeeding support cards
ABA Kathrine group have produced two postcards to connect local Aboriginal families to ABA's breastfeeding support and information. The postcards were made possible by grant funding and the translation was generously provided by the amazing Miliwanga Wernben.
For further details please contact ABA Katherine group ntregionoffice@breastfeeding.asn.au
The Marri Gudjaga Project
The Marri Gudjaga team is based on Dharawal country at the University of Wollongong and in Aboriginal maternal and child health services across New South Wales.
From 2020 to 2025, The Marri Gudjaga Project explored and evaluated how to effectively support Aboriginal women with breastfeeding. The project included training and evaluating Aboriginal Peer Support Workers as well as yarning with women and health professionals about ways to support breastfeeding. Through the collaborative effectos of an Aboriginal videography team in, one of the participating services (Gadhu) and the Australian Breastfeeding Association, these breastfeeding videos were developed.
The Marri Gudjaga Project was funded by the Medical Research Future Fund.
'Connecting through Country' Victoria Branch conference - 2022
The conference opened with a smoking ceremony conducted by Wadawurrung woman Stephanie Skinner (and the Vic branch has continued to open all our branch conferences since then with smoking ceremonies or other Welcome to Country ceremonies). A panel of three indigenous speakers talked about experiences of birth and breastfeeding, and Indigenous midwife Skye Stewart gave a keynote presentation titled 'Our Families, Our Country: Supporting us to Thrive'. Victorian volunteers appreciated the opportunity to learn how to be more inclusive in our volunteer work.
Song and stories with Gambirra Mob, ACT/NSW Branch conference - 2018
'Heartfelt thanks to the Australian Women’s Breastfeeding Association for inviting us on Saturday at Myuna Bay. A beautiful experience as we shared stories and experiences through music with the theme “My Story - My People - My Knowledge”. Powerful connections with a room full of women and children - and some fabulous dancers! ❤️' - Gambirra
West Pilbara Communities for Children (C4C) Breastfeeding and Early Nutrition Project - 2007-2009
This project targeted pregnant mothers and those with children in the 0-2 age group and encompassed the delivery of breastfeeding and early nutrition information across the entire West Pilbara including outlying Indigenous communities, families living remotely on stations, CALD and young mothers.
Letter from Nhulunbuy - 1999
Heather White describes her experiences organising and attending the Northern Territory NMAA Branch Conference.
Thallikool 1987
The project trained two Aboriginal mothers who had breastfed themselves as Outreach workers. The workers were equipped with skills to help other mothers to breastfeeding and give them support, hold group meetings, talk with women in communities and offer counselling in specific breastfeeding problems
Babies of the Dreamtime Video - 1985
The video was produced by the NMAA Aboriginal Outreach team in conjuntion with the NSW Department of Health at Lismore. The video explored the reasons why breastfeeding, for countless generations the birthright of Aboriginal babies, was no longer available to most Koorie jarjums.
Nursing Mothers' Aboriginal Outreach Program - 1983
This NSW Branch pilot program commenced in December 1983 and supported Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mothers to reach out to their own communities to promote the benefits of breastfeeding and and provide support to health workers as appropriate.
AUGUST 2026 - JANUARY 2028
What we'll focus on in our Reflect RAP
Our plan runs for 18 months across four areas set by Reconciliation Australia's RAP framework. Here's where we're starting.
Relationships
Building trust and connection
Identify First Nations stakeholders and organisations in our sphere of influence
Deliver Community Breastfeeding Mentoring and Deadly Dads Train-the-Trainer courses as commissioned
Take part in National Reconciliation Week, every year
Respect
Learning and cultural protocols
Build a business case for cultural learning across the Association
Understand Traditional Owners of the Lands and Waters where we operate
Recognise NAIDOC Week with staff, volunteers and branches
Opportunities
Employment and supplier diversity
Build a case for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employment at ABA
Understand current staffing to shape future opportunities
Explore procurement from First Nations-owned businesses, including Supply Nation
Governance
Keeping ourselves accountable
Maintain a RAP Working Group with strong First Nations representation
Report progress to the Board and our community every quarter
Submit our annual RAP Impact Survey to Reconciliation Australia