The Department encourages the health professional bodies to continue to provide advice and resources to assist health professionals in gaining skills in breastfeeding advice. Responsibility for training of health professionals rests with the respective health professional bodies and the employing organisation.
At present, we are encouraging hospitals and community settings to adopt the United Nations Children’s Fund’s Baby Friendly Initiative, as evidence shows that the proportion of babies breastfed at birth increases by more than 10 per cent. on average over four years when hospitals implement the Baby Friendly standards. Part of this package includes training for midwives and health visitors to help mothers establish breastfeeding and to support them in the early weeks.