Breastfeeding in Public
People often contact the Australian Breastfeeding Association to
find out more about their right to breastfeed in public places. The right of
women to breastfeed in public without discrimination is enshrined in law. That
means breastfeeding is okay at work, at public venues, in shops and on public
transport.
Mother's Rights - the law
source:
Victorian Equal Rights and Human Rights Commission
Discrimination is treating someone unfairly or less favourably because of a
personal characteristic. In Victoria it is against the law to discriminate
against a woman because she is breastfeeding a child or expressing milk.
Example
Lee goes to the movies with her baby and a friend. While Lee is waiting to go
into the cinema, she breastfeeds her baby. An usher tells her she cannot feed
her baby in the foyer because it is embarrassing other patrons.
When is discrimination against the law?
Discrimination laws apply to public behaviour, not to private conduct.
Public areas covered by the law include accommodation, clubs and club members,
disposal of land, education, employment, goods and services, sport and local
government.
Examples
Susan’s employer rules that employees cannot take breaks other than scheduled
lunch and tea breaks. This may indirectly discriminate against Susan, who is
breastfeeding and wants to return to work, as it will be impossible for her to
express milk as needed.
Clare returns to work part-time after maternity leave and leaves expressed
breast milk with her baby’s carer. At lunchtimes she returns home to breastfeed
her baby, meaning she takes an hour and a half for lunch instead of the standard
hour. Her supervisor tells Clare that other staff have complained. Clare
explains why she needs the extra time and offers to work later to make it up but
her supervisor refuses, saying it is unfair to allow her a longer lunch break.
Discrimination - Breastfeeding Factsheet - PDF Format (69KB)
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"Breastfeeding Welcome Here" kit
A "Breastfeeding Welcome Here" sticker and kit has been
produced to improve community acceptability of breastfeeding in public through
the accreditation and promotion of breastfeeding friendly businesses.
Accreditation criteria for breastfeeding friendly venues
that display the sticker or folder are:
The national Australian Breastfeeding Association (ABA)
'Breastfeeding Welcome Here' sticker aims to compliment existing stickers
previously produced by local breastfeeding coalition groups around Australia.
ABA recognises and supports the work these groups have done around Australia.
The list of breastfeeding friendly venues in Australia is
acquired mostly from those venues that have registered via the ABA website. ABA
is aware that this list may not be complete at any given time as not all venues
that support breastfeeding and display the 'Breastfeeding Welcome Here' sticker
or folder have registered on the our website.
'Breastfeeding Welcome Here' kits are available from:
Australian Breastfeeding Association
PO Box 4000
Glen Iris Vic.3146
Phone 03 9885 0855
Fax 03 98850866
Email info@breastfeeding.asn.au
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