TasPorts

TasPorts recognised as a Breastfeeding Friendly Workplace

TasPorts is proud to be recognised as an accredited Breastfeeding Friendly Workplace by the Australian Breastfeeding Association. This accreditation reflects our commitment to creating a workplace where employees are supported to balance their work and family responsibilities in a way that is practical, respectful and inclusive.

TasPorts is a Tasmanian State-owned Company responsible for the safe and efficient operation of Tasmania’s multi-port system. Our people work across diverse office, operational, marine and field-based environments, supporting port operations that connect Tasmania with national and international supply chains. Because our workforce operates across different locations and working arrangements, it is important that our workplace supports are clear, practical and accessible.

TasPorts pursued Breastfeeding Friendly Workplace accreditation to strengthen the support available to employees who are breastfeeding, expressing breastmilk or returning to work after parental leave. We recognised that returning to work while continuing to breastfeed can involve practical, emotional and logistical challenges, and that a supportive workplace can make a meaningful difference to an employee’s experience. Accreditation provided an opportunity to review our approach, formalise our guidance, improve facilities and ensure our managers and employees have clear information about how breastfeeding can be supported at work.

The accreditation means TasPorts has embedded support for breastfeeding employees through dedicated guidelines, suitable facilities, reasonable lactation breaks, flexible work arrangements where practicable, and a clear expectation that employees are treated with respect and dignity. It also supports our broader commitment to gender equality, employee wellbeing, inclusion and positive return-to-work experiences for parents.

As part of this work, TasPorts has introduced Breastfeeding Guidelines and Breastfeeding/Expressing Room Guides to help employees and managers understand the support available. Employees can access private and appropriate spaces to breastfeed or express, facilities for storing expressed breastmilk, practical information about room use and hygiene, and support from managers and the People and Culture team. Where employees are not based near a designated room, or where operational requirements need to be considered, TasPorts works with the employee to identify reasonable and practical alternatives.

Supporting our people through different stages of their lives is an important part of creating an inclusive and respectful workplace. Becoming a Breastfeeding Friendly Workplace gives our people greater confidence that practical support, appropriate facilities and flexibility are available when they return to work. 

The benefits for employees are both practical and cultural. Breastfeeding employees have clearer information about their options before and during their return to work, managers have guidance to support consistent and respectful conversations, and teams have a better understanding of the importance of privacy, flexibility and dignity. By making these arrangements visible and normalised, TasPorts aims to reduce barriers for parents returning from leave and support employees to continue breastfeeding for as long as they choose.

One of the TasPorts employee who uses the room shared:

“Having a room I can use after returning to work has been really helpful. The couch is nice and comfortable, and having a fridge there makes storing expressed breastmilk so much easier.”

TasPorts is continuing to promote the accreditation across the organisation, including through internal communications, room resources, manager guidance and ongoing review of arrangements. The accreditation is not just a certificate; it is a practical reminder that small workplace supports can have a significant impact on inclusion, wellbeing and retention.