ADVICE RATING |
 4.59 (Highly recommend) from 10 votes (113 Visits) |
I would like to bring to everyone’s attention that the Australian government is conducting an enquiry into breastfeeding. All parents, especially mothers, can express their opinion on how more mothers can be assisted with breastfeeding. This is a historic opportunity for parents to have their say on the support 
they have or have not received, and how they think women could be better supported to breastfeed in the future .I urge all of you to write a submission. The submission need not be a complicated affair. All you need to do is write a letter about your breastfeeding experience and how things could have been made better for you or what helped you.
“The Committee shall inquire into and report on how the Commonwealth government can take a lead role to improve the health of the Australian population through support for breastfeeding. The Committee shall give particular consideration to:
A. the extent of the health benefits of breastfeeding;
B. evaluate the impact of marketing of breast milk substitutes on breastfeeding rates and, in particular, in disadvantaged, Indigenous and remote communities;
C. the potential short and long term impact on the health of Australians of increasing the rate of breastfeeding;
D. initiatives to encourage breastfeeding;
E. examine the effectiveness of current measures to promote breastfeeding; and
F. the impact of breastfeeding on the long term sustainability of Australia’s health system.”
Here are some suggestions that might help you get started:-
D: - Initiatives to encourage breastfeeding. - What do you think will help women in the future?
· Make sure all Drs and nurses are educated about breastfeeding; in particular attachment and how to deal with common problems,
· let women know about the places they can go to or call for help
· Advertising in magazines and media outlets informing the wider community.
E: - Examine the effectiveness of current measures to promote breastfeeding. - you might describe the things you think would have helped you, or did help you, and the barriers that you encountered, such as poor or inconsistent advice, a lack of support from family or the health care system, not enough information about breastfeeding in the antenatal courses....
Details can be found on www.aph.gov.au/committee/haa or by contacting the committee secretariat on (02) 6277 4145.
Submissions should be sent to (include an electronic version if possible):-
The Secretary
Committee on Health and Ageing
House of Representatives
PO Box 6021
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
Email haa.reps@aph.gov.au
Submissions need to be made by 28th February 2007.
PS if its not appropriate to have this in the advice section please let me know. Just thought perhaps more peole would notice it here.
(January 2007) (
