Australian Breastfeeding Association
Encyclopedia
The Australian Breastfeeding Association (ABA) is an Australian organisation of people interested in the promotion and protection of breastfeeding
. Amongst these are breastfeeding women and their partners and health professionals such as doctors, lactation consultants and midwives. ABA was founded in Melbourne
, Victoria in 1964 as the Nursing Mothers' Association, with the primary aim of giving mother-to-mother support to breastfeeding women. It is Australia
's leading source of breastfeeding
information and support.
The Association is supported by health authorities and specialists in infant and child health and nutrition, including a panel of distinguished honorary advisers. ABA is recognised internationally as a source of accurate information about breastfeeding management and research.
after having difficulty breastfeeding her first child. Doctors and nurses at the time were not trained to handle breastfeeding problems and with the modern nuclear family
there were few older women to turn to for advice, so the founding members supported each other, thus creating the model for mother-to-mother support than continues today.
The other founders were Glenise Francis, Pat Patterson, Jan Barry (a member of the Coles family
), Pauline Pick and Sue Woods.
In 1981 she received an Advance Australia Award and in 1993 was Family Circle
magazine's 'Woman of the Year.' She was awarded an Order of the General Division of the Order of Australia
(OAM) in 1978.
In 2001, NMAA changed its name to Australian Breastfeeding Association and Paton was included in the Victorian Honour Roll of Women as part of the Centenary of Federation's Ordinary Woman: Extraordinary lives.
In March 2004 Paton became an Australian Living Treasure
. On the 2006 Australia Day Honours list Mary Paton OAM, was awarded the higher honour of Member (AM) in the general division - 'for service to the community as the founder of the Nursing Mothers' Association of Australia, and to the development of policies, protocols, management, support and training methods to assist nursing mothers and their babies.'
On March 20th, 2009, a national breastfeeding helpline was launched to improve on the previous state-level helplines. This is a free service available to everyone. The helpline operates seven days a week, twenty-four hours a day on a roster system. Trained volunteers have undertaken the ABA breastfeeding counsellor training course to qualify, and have each breastfed at least one baby for at least nine months.
Email counselling is also available through their website. Subscribers receive a bi-monthly magazine, Essence, discounts on breastpump hire and through their retail arm "Mothers Direct" (www.mothersdirect.com.au) and many other benefits. The association publishes a variety of literature on breastfeeding, backed by a panel of distinguished advisers, and has a comprehensive website.
Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding is the feeding of an infant or young child with breast milk directly from female human breasts rather than from a baby bottle or other container. Babies have a sucking reflex that enables them to suck and swallow milk. It is recommended that mothers breastfeed for six months or...
. Amongst these are breastfeeding women and their partners and health professionals such as doctors, lactation consultants and midwives. ABA was founded in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Victoria in 1964 as the Nursing Mothers' Association, with the primary aim of giving mother-to-mother support to breastfeeding women. It is Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
's leading source of breastfeeding
Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding is the feeding of an infant or young child with breast milk directly from female human breasts rather than from a baby bottle or other container. Babies have a sucking reflex that enables them to suck and swallow milk. It is recommended that mothers breastfeed for six months or...
information and support.
The Association is supported by health authorities and specialists in infant and child health and nutrition, including a panel of distinguished honorary advisers. ABA is recognised internationally as a source of accurate information about breastfeeding management and research.
History
Mary Paton founded the Nursing Mothers' Association with five other mothers in MelbourneMelbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
after having difficulty breastfeeding her first child. Doctors and nurses at the time were not trained to handle breastfeeding problems and with the modern nuclear family
Nuclear family
Nuclear family is a term used to define a family group consisting of a father and mother and their children. This is in contrast to the smaller single-parent family, and to the larger extended family. Nuclear families typically center on a married couple, but not always; the nuclear family may have...
there were few older women to turn to for advice, so the founding members supported each other, thus creating the model for mother-to-mother support than continues today.
The other founders were Glenise Francis, Pat Patterson, Jan Barry (a member of the Coles family
Coles Group
Coles Group Limited was an Australian public company that operated numerous retail chains. It was Australia's second-largest retailer, behind Woolworths Limited...
), Pauline Pick and Sue Woods.
In 1981 she received an Advance Australia Award and in 1993 was Family Circle
Family Circle
Family Circle is an American women's magazine published 15 times a year by Meredith Corporation. It began publication in 1932 as a magazine distributed at supermarkets such as Piggly Wiggly and Safeway. Cowles Magazines and Broadcasting bought the magazine in 1962. The New York Times Company bought...
magazine's 'Woman of the Year.' She was awarded an Order of the General Division of the Order of Australia
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
(OAM) in 1978.
In 2001, NMAA changed its name to Australian Breastfeeding Association and Paton was included in the Victorian Honour Roll of Women as part of the Centenary of Federation's Ordinary Woman: Extraordinary lives.
In March 2004 Paton became an Australian Living Treasure
Australian Living Treasures
Australian Living Treasures are people who have been nominated by the National Trust of Australia. The first list of 100 Living Treasures was published in 1997....
. On the 2006 Australia Day Honours list Mary Paton OAM, was awarded the higher honour of Member (AM) in the general division - 'for service to the community as the founder of the Nursing Mothers' Association of Australia, and to the development of policies, protocols, management, support and training methods to assist nursing mothers and their babies.'
Services
The ABA has groups across Australia which hold regular discussion meetings for mothers. Breastfeeding education seminars are run for expectant parents; community education continues through all levels of education from pre-school to tertiary and members visits mothers in hospital to introduce the association and its services. ABA also holds regular seminars and conferences for health professionals. Many groups hire out electric breast pumps. All meetings are run by trained volunteer breastfeeding counsellors, all of whom have successfully breastfed and have successfully completed an extensive training program.On March 20th, 2009, a national breastfeeding helpline was launched to improve on the previous state-level helplines. This is a free service available to everyone. The helpline operates seven days a week, twenty-four hours a day on a roster system. Trained volunteers have undertaken the ABA breastfeeding counsellor training course to qualify, and have each breastfed at least one baby for at least nine months.
Email counselling is also available through their website. Subscribers receive a bi-monthly magazine, Essence, discounts on breastpump hire and through their retail arm "Mothers Direct" (www.mothersdirect.com.au) and many other benefits. The association publishes a variety of literature on breastfeeding, backed by a panel of distinguished advisers, and has a comprehensive website.