Links

PROFESSIONAL ORGANISATIONS

International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners

The International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners (IBLCE) is a non-profit organisation governed by a Board of Directors. It was established to develop and administer the certification examination for lactation consultants. The IBLCE examination is the premier, internationally recognised measure of competence in lactation consulting. Founded in 1985, the IBLCE has administered annual examinations, in multiple languages and at numerous sites around the world. IBLCE has been fully accredited by the prestigious US National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA), the body which sets stringent standards for certifying organisations.

 

Candidates who pass the IBLCE examination attain the designation IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant). Currently there are over 17,000 IBCLCs worldwide. IBCLCs adhere to a Code of Ethics and provide substantive breastfeeding assistance and skilled technical management of breastfeeding problems.

 

The IBLCE office in Australia - serving the Asia Pacific region and Southern Africa
www.iblce.edu.au

 

International Lactation Consultant Association

The mission of ILCA is to advance the lactation consultant profession through leadership, advocacy, professional development, and research.
www.ilca.org

 

MOTHER TO MOTHER SUPPORT GROUPS

The Australian Breastfeeding Association

The Australian Breastfeeding Association (ABA) is an 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.
www.breastfeeding.asn.au

 

La Leche League (pronounced 'la leh-chay')

Founded in 1956 by seven women who had learned about successful breastfeeding while nursing their own babies, La Leche League is the only organization with the sole purpose of helping breastfeeding mothers. Now 8,000 Leaders and 3,000 local Groups strong in the United States alone, La Leche League Groups meet regularly in communities worldwide to share breastfeeding information and mothering experience.
www.lalecheleague.org

 

ADVOCACY GROUPS

Advisory Panel on the Marketing in Australia of Infant Formula (APMAIF)

The Advisory Panel on the Marketing in Australia of Infant Formula (APMAIF) was established to monitor compliance with and advise the Government on the Marketing in Australia of Infant Formula: Manufacturers and Importers (MAIF) Agreement. www.health.gov.au/internet/wcms/publishing.nsf/Content/health-pubhlth-strateg-foodpolicy-apmaif.htm

 

Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative

Hospitals and maternity units set a powerful example for new mothers. The Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative ( BFHI ), launched in 1991, is an effort by UNICEF and the World Health Organization to ensure that all maternities, whether free standing or in a hospital, become centers of breastfeeding support.
www.unicef.org/programme/breastfeeding/baby.htm - UNICEF site
http://www.acmi.org.au/bfhi/bfhi_intro.html - BFHI in Australia

 

Baby Milk Action

Baby Milk Action is a non-profit organisation which aims to save lives and to end the avoidable suffering caused by inappropriate infant feeding. Baby Milk Action works within a global network to strengthen independent, transparent and effective controls on the marketing of the baby feeding industry. www.babymilkaction.org

 

International Baby-Food Action Network

IBFAN consists of public interest groups working around the world to reduce infant and young child morbidity and mortality. IBFAN aims to improve the health and well being of babies and young children, their mothers and their families through the protection, promotion and support of breastfeeding and optimal infant feeding practices.
www.ibfan.org/english/gateenglish.html

 

Global Initiative for Mother Support

GIMS for Breastfeeding, a global initiative coordinated by the Mother Support Task Force of the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA), aims to create the appropriate environment of awareness and support for a mother to initiate and sustain breastfeeding. As defined by GIMS, mother support is any support provided to mothers for the purpose of improving breastfeeding practices for both mother and baby.
www.waba.org.my/gims/index.html

 

World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action

WABA is a global network of organizations and individuals who believe breastfeeding is the right of all children and mothers and who dedicate themselves to protect, promote and support this right. WABA acts on the Innocenti Declaration and works in liaison with UNICEF.
www.waba.org.my (WABA)
www.unicef.org (UNICEF)

BREASTFEEDING PRODUCTS

Marcalan

A naturally derived, hypo-allergenic, purified lanolin for the relief of sore and damaged nipples. marcalan.com.au