Breastfeeding Friendly Workplace

10 Apr 2024 Health care and services

Western Health is proud to receive the prestigious accreditation as a Breastfeeding Friendly Workplace, recognising our commitment to gender equality in the workplace.

The Australian Breastfeeding Association accreditation showcases Sunshine Hospital's commitment to creating a work environment with the space, time and supportive culture that enables employees to breastfeed.

Western Health is proud to be a Breastfeeding Friendly Workplace

Western Health Executive Director, People, Culture and Communications, Adjunct Professor Sandy Schutte

"It's recognition of our commitment to being an inclusive workplace that supports staff throughout their life stages."

"Providing a supportive workplace environment for employees to breastfeed demonstrates a commitment to staff well-being, but it is also a powerful retention and recruitment tool."

Sunshine Hospital has a Staff Lactation Room where mothers can breastfeed or express milk.

It also has family friendly workplace policies in place to support staff and their families.

As one of the major providers of maternity services in Victoria and an organisation that has a workforce that is 77 per cent female, we know how important it is to remove barriers to breastfeeding.

Western Health Director of Maternity Services and Deputy Executive Director, Nursing and Midwifery, Adjunct Professor Tanya Farrell

"Research has shown breastfeeding provides health and nutritional benefits for children with positive lifelong impacts."

An increasing number of women are returning to work within the first year of their baby's life.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), breastfeeding rates drop significantly when women return to work.

Joan Kirner Women's and Children's (JKWC) at Sunshine Hospital is also one of only two maternity services in metropolitan Melbourne to hold the coveted Baby Friendly Health Initiative (BFHI) accreditation.

Developed by the WHO and UNICEF in 1990, the BFHI program recognises hospitals who provide world-class support to parents by promoting, encouraging and supporting breastfeeding.

*Western Health staff member Lily breastfeeds her son Flynn