Decolonising lactation care to support the initiation and maintenance of breastfeeding among First Nations women

This project is a partnership between RivMed (Wagga Wagga), Tharawal (Campbelltown), the Sax Institute and a number of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal researchers. It aims to understand how to best support First Nations women to breastfeed and apply this knowledge to develop and pilot test a comprehensive breastfeeding program for women at the two partner Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services (ACCHS).

It also aims to co-develop a framework for an Aboriginal lactation training program, incorporating the World Health Organisation Nurturing Care Framework and guidelines for breastfeeding. Initial discussions have begun with staff at RivMed to plan the project and an application to the Aboriginal Health and Medical Research Centre Human Research Ethics Committee is in preparation. An investigators’ meeting is planned for first quarter of 2024.

We respectfully acknowledge that the lands and waterways on which the Riverina Medical and Dental Aboriginal Corporation operates, and the communities we serve are the traditional lands of the Wiradjuri people. We pay our respects to our elders past and present and we will continue to fulfill our cultural obligations as a First Nations organisation operating on Wiradjuri country.

Always Was. Always Will Be.