Feel Free to Feed Campaign and Contest
January 12, 2008 by Angela White, J.D., breastfeeding counselor
Filed under breastfeeding, nursing in public
Here’s a shout-out to Australian readers! The rest of us could learn from the Australians, who are taking a proactive approach to gaining support for breastfeeding in public. Rather than expressing outrage and staging nurse-ins (which do have their place) after an incident occurs, the Australian Breastfeeding Association is promoting the “Feel Free to Feed Campaign” in an effort to grow support for breastfeeding mothers at home, in public, and in the workplace.
The Campaign
The campaign aims to raise the public profile of breastfeeding, making it more acceptable and accessible to new mums and their babies. The focus is on three key awards that support breastfeeding away from home: the ABA’s Breastfeeding Welcome Here and Breastfeeding Friendly Workplace Accreditation, and the international Baby Friendly Health Initiative….
~ Breastfeeding Welcome Here A free sticker kit for businesses and organisations to display their welcoming attitude to breastfeeding. The kits are awarded to businesses that have a welcoming attitude from staff and management, a smoke-free environment and room to move a pram. Breastfeeding Welcome Here businesses are featured on the Australian Breastfeeding Association website breastfeeding.asn.au. Phone 03 9885 0855 for further information on obtaining a kit.
~ Breastfeeding Friendly Workplace Accreditation (BFWA) Employers can show they support a family-friendly work culture. With 44 percent of mothers returning to work within the first 12 months of their baby’s life, Breastfeeding Friendly Workplace Accreditation recognises and promotes best practice in meeting the needs of breastfeeding mothers in paid work. Not only does this help mothers and babies, it makes good business sense. For more information, visit breastfeeding.asn.au/bfinfo/mfwp.html.
~ Baby Friendly Health Initiative (BFHI) This international project aims to give every baby the best start in life, starting with a healthcare environment where breastfeeding is the norm and mothers and babies are supported. The BFHI Ten Steps To Successful Breastfeeding are the global standard by which health services are assessed and accredited. Go to bfhi.org.au to find out more.
The Contest
In conjunction with the Feel Free to Feed campaign, the sponsors are running a contest for residents of Australia and New Zealand. Mums are invited to write in with their experiences breastfeeding at work or in public. The best stories will be published in My Child magazine and writers will receive a prize package worth AUD $450, and one winning story will be named Breastfeeding Story of the Year during World Breastfeeding Week 2008 for a prize package worth AUD $3,640! The contest runs until August 1, 2008. The terms and conditions can be found here.
Share Your Story
Readers of Breastfeeding 1-2-3 are always invited to share their stories here on the blog. Email me with your experience breastfeeding at work or in public.
What a great package to support women and babies. You’re right. We can learn a lot from Australia.
Hello I am an Australian mother who recently had her baby at the Logan Hospital which is supposed to be a “Breast Feeding Friendly” hospital that encourages breastfeeding. They have posters all over the walls including in the baby change room. When I returned to the hospital 3 months later for an appointment, my baby was due for a feed- but there was nowhere private & comfortable for a mother to breastfeed!! So much for supporting breastfeeding!