The Australian Lactation Consultants' Association (ALCA Ltd)
 ALCA is the only national, non-profit, incorporated professional association for Australian International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLCs/LCs).
Incorporated in 1987, ALCA was the first organisation to represent Australian IBCLCs. In over a decade, ALCA has made a significant contribution towards its fundamental goal: the protection, promotion and support of breastfeeding as the optimal choice for both infant and maternal health. Australia now has the highest number of LCs per birth rate of any country in the world.
ALCA is an affiliate of the International Lactation Consultant Association (ILCA), which has official Non-Government Organisation (NGO) status within the World Health Organisation.
ALCA has the following:
Constitution; Standards of Practice; ALCA Rules and grievance procedures; mandatory Professional Indemnity Insurance for all LCs in private practice (p27); and Code of Ethics for IBCLCs.
For the past 20 years, our aim has been to protect, support and promote breastfeeding, and promote and support of the profession of lactation consultant: Provides mutual support and education for Australian Lactation Consultants; Fosters an awareness in health professionals of human milk feeding as an important preventative health measure, and provide continuing professional education; Creates an awareness in the community of the importance of breastmilk and breastfeeding and of the hazards of breastmilk substitutes; Provides a forum for discussion and regular communication between lactation consultants; Produces written and audiovisual materials on issues of concern to lactation consultants and to professional and lay counsellors; Evaluates and critically analyses existing programmes about lactation in universities, colleges and other relevant institutions; Develops new curricula, responding to institutional organisational needs; Makes representation to relevant authorities on issues of concern to lactation consultants and serve as an advisory body for such authorities; Liaise with manufacturers/providers of goods and services used by breastfeeding women and evaluate such goods and services; Maintains a directory of appropriately certified lactation consultants and human milk banks in Australia; Cooperates with other organisations, within Australia and overseas, having aims and objectives in whole or in part similar to those of ALCA; Encourages, stimulates, establishes funds for and aids research and investigation into all aspects of lactation and infant feeding; Supports the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes, interpreted by the World Health Organisation and the World Health Assembly; and Is a non-party political and non-sectarian organisation.
Top Full membership with voting rights is open to IBCLCs only. ALCA also offers non-voting membership to Associate members - non-IBCLC supporters who receive ALCA Galaxy Journal 3 times a year. All ALCA Members are eligible to serve as National Council members and to vote in every election as well as on proposed amendments to the Rules of the Association. Members are bound by the Rules, and ALCA Standards of Practice, which are issued upon joining ALCA Ltd. These Rules and Standards can be found in the Appendices section. Top An LC in private practice consults in a private clinic, or see mothers and their babies in the mothers' home or at the maternity hospital. They help resolve breastfeeding or lactation problems, teach the art of breastfeeding, assist mothers to develop and improve their mothering skills and provide an ongoing support system for them both. In the early weeks after a baby's birth, a newborn may have difficulty attaching and feeding, so that the mother develops sore cracked nipples, mastitis (infection of the breast), an over or under supply of milk, or simply not coping with the intense demands of a new baby. Breastfeeding can continue from many months to a number of years, hence mothers can have another set of problems relating to an older baby. A Lactation Consultant is there for both mother and baby, and can help with a one to one approach. Typically the first consultation will be one and a half to two hours, and after that there may be follow up calls on the phone and subsequent shorter visits. Circumstances may dictate a longer consultation, but with any health problem, the sooner it is addressed, the quicker the resolution. This view of a private practice LC is supported by ALCAs Private Practice Policy for our members (in development) and expects all members in private practice to abide by the ALCA Rules, ALCA Standards of Practice, the IBCLC Code of Ethics and have Professional Indemnity Insurance. When the policy has been finalised it will be published in Galaxy. ALCA is looking into ways of supporting our members who take this step and enter private practice. Keep an eye on the webpage as we are planning to have a PP section for people who are seeing clients as private practitioners. Top ALCA's journal, ALCA Galaxy, is published three times a year, in October, February and June of each year. ALCA Galaxy is an informative publication which has attracted subscribers from many different countries and professions, keeping them up to date with social, political, scientific and clinical matters relevant to health workers dealing with breastfeeding women. ALCA members receive ALCA Galaxy as part of their membership and are encouraged to contribute by writing or emailing to the editorial team via the National Office. All members are encouraged to contribute and any contributions should be sent to the editor as shown on the National Council contact list for inclusion in the next available Galaxy issue. Back issues of Galaxy are available from National Office.
Top ALCA has a membership badge that when worn, tells colleagues and clients that you are a LC who is a member of ALCA. The badge features our mother and baby, highlighted by a beautiful Australian night sky. Badges can be bought from National Office and cost $15.50 incl. GST. We suggest that you also wear your ALCA badge with your ILCA/IBLCE badge. This will show everyone that you are a LC with an IBCLC qualification who is also a member of ALCA. Top ALCA is run by an elected National Council which allows for representation from all states of Australia.
National Council makes policy for ALCA and coordinates activities within Australia and overseas, keeping members informed and supported as they work to promote better maternal and child health through the realisation of ALCA's Aims and Objectives. Any ALCA Member is eligible to stand for election to, and hold any office of, National Council. Elections take place every two years; the next election will be held at the 2008 Annual General Meeting. ALCA is an organisation administered by a Board of between 6 and 12 council members. These members are the office holders of ALCA and administer ALCA to enable the Association to achieve its goals. The current National Board members are listed, along with their profile, on the National Board area of this website. ALCA encourages members in form groups in localised geographic areas to meet, hold seminars and generally exchange ideas - National Office has a list of contact persons for these groups. The name and contact details will only be provided to ALCA members. Top ALCA has a National Office in Canberra and the Board employs a contracted Secretariat which manages the day to day operations of ALCA and is responsible for all membership and finance matters. Enquiries regarding membership and benefits, courses etc can be directed to National Office and will either be dealt with immediately or referred onto the appropriate person. Issues concerning breastfeeding strategies and other initiatives that effect human lactation are dealt with by the Board, and ALCA contributes to strategies within Australia by being involved with national initiatives and other breastfeeding organisations. ALCA Board meets for a weekend every three months to discuss business and plan for the future. Reports are tabled at these meetings, and minutes taken. Members are informed of the general direction of ALCA through the President's Report in Galaxy. Each Director has a position and responsibilities. These are outlined in the Policy and Procedure Manual currently kept at National office. An agenda is usually put out two weeks before the meeting and Directors asked if they wish to contribute anything more. Existing business is discussed, and new business attended to. At the end of these meetings, directions are given for projects that need to be done over the next three months, ready for the next planning meeting.
Top ALCA is registered for the GST.
All Directors, groups and National Office are subject to a Finance Policy, which dictates how they can spend ALCA money. We have a strict Reimbursement Policy, which supplements our Finance Policy, and this ensures that ALCA is only liable for authorized expenditure. Every year, ALCA's financial records are audited by a company auditor in accordance with company law, and these statements are available to all members upon request to National Office. Top ALCA uses in-house committees to look into particular issues and report back on them. Currently we have some very important issues being discussed and these fall under three main committees.
The ALCA Private Practice Committee investigates and reports on a wide variety of issues concerning IBCLCs in private practice. ALCA has a Private Practice Policy in development and as noted above, ALCA expects all members in private practice to abide by the Rules, standards of Practice, the IBCLC Code of Ethics and have Professional Indemnity Insurance. The Health Rebates Committee is concerned with obtaining information about rebates from medical funds for IBCLC care of lactating women and their babies. This project is well underway and further information can be obtained from National Office. The Editorial Committee ensures that the content of ALCA Galaxy meets a high standard and is relevant to ALCA's Aims and Objectives.
Temporary Standing Committees are convened to organise events such as conferences and speaking tours. Please let National Office know if you would like to assist with organising such an event in your area. Top Both ALCA and ILCA have Standards of Practice for Lactation Consultants.
ALCA also has a set of Rules which binds all members. Part of those rules is that all ALCA members in private practice must have professional indemnity insurance. Top All IBCLCs must adhere to the IBLCE Code of Ethics. These ethical principles guide the profession and outline commitments and obligations of Lactation Consultant to self, client, colleagues, society, and the profession. The Code of Ethics also protects the health, safety, and welfare of the public. Copies can be obtained from NO or direct from IBLCE.
Top Once a year an Annual General Meeting is held where all members are invited and are able to vote on matters arising in the meeting. The main purpose of this meeting is to elect office holders for the coming year and to accept or reject the audited accounts for the past financial year. The Annual General meeting is held each year around Oct/November, and all financial members are welcome to attend. Nomination forms for Board positions and notification of the AGM will be sent out each year with the June Galaxy - please watch out for this so you can exercise your democratic rights within your professional association. Top Members may also request a Special General Meeting to discuss matters that are too pressing to wait for the yearly Annual General Meeting. ALCA uses 'RENTON: guide for meetings and organisation' for its committee/meetings procedures and abides by Renton when deciding on how to handle special issues that need a decision from the full membership. i.e. a postal vote on an issue may be sought where it is too difficult to have all members meet at the same time. Top |
