Breastfeeding Coalition Tasmania

There are many things that local communities can do to support breastfeeding. Most strategies to support breastfeeding have a low budget impact and will provide significant benefits to families, the community, the environment and the economy.

Ways that local government can support breastfeeding

• Encourage the inclusion of breastfeeding facilitates in local council development planning processes.
• Provide appropriate parenting facilities, environments and messages for breastfeeding in public places. This may include the development, update and dissemination of a list of venues containing breastfeeding friendly facilities within local areas.
• Ensure that parenting facilities are available at community events. This could be a shaded area with some chairs allocated for parents of young children.
• Foster a supportive working environment for breastfeeding employees. This may include promoting breastfeeding friendly workplaces and participation in the Australian Breastfeeding Association workplace accreditation program.
• Encourage local child care services to adopt policies and practices that support breastfeeding. Ensure that council operated child care services and schemes are supportive of breastfeeding.
• Encourage local businesses to become breastfeeding friendly. This may include participation in the Australian Breastfeeding Association's free 'Breastfeeding Welcome Here' program.
• Raise awareness about support services available in the local community and ensure that people know how to access these services.
• Support local breastfeeding and parenting support groups such as the Australian Breastfeeding Association. This may include inclusion of group details in local community directory and on website.
• Ensure that the staff of Council services and facilities are aware of anti-discrimination legislation in relation to breastfeeding.
• Include a page on breastfeeding information and services on your Council website.

The Cradle Coast Authority have developed a Healthy Communities Toolkit supporting local government to build healthier Tasmanian Communities