Guidelines On Supporting Breastfeeding Women In The Workplace

The NSW Nurses' Association, recognising the increasing number of breastfeeding women in the workforce, supports workplace initiatives to promote the continuation of breastfeeding. It is the Association's view that breastfeeding provides positive benefits to women and their children and is to be encouraged as the preferred method of infant feeding.

The New South Wales Nurses' Association recognises that there are positive benefits to employers and the profession, in supporting breastfeeding mothers in the workplace.

The NSW Nurses' Association recommends that:

1. Workplaces should support the continuation of breastfeeding for women who wish to do so on return to work.
2. Workplaces must, in accordance with award provisions, provide appropriate facilities, including a private area set aside for the purpose of breastfeeding, expressing and storage of expressed breast milk.
3. Workplaces should provide appropriate breaks for the purpose of breastfeeding or expressing breast milk.
4. Workplaces must consider on request, flexible work and leave arrangements to facilitate the continuation of breastfeeding.