Training with the Australian Breastfeeding Association... Have You Thought About It?

The Australian Breastfeeding Association (ABA) is a Registered Training Organisation offering nationally-recognised courses.

Training is offered only to financial members of the Association. Course fees include membership of the Association.

Courses offered by the ABA include:

Courses for volunteer roles:

10006NAT Certificate IV in Breastfeeding Education (Counselling)
10007NAT Certificate IV in Breastfeeding Education (Community)
TAE40110 Certificate IV in Training and Assessment

More info: https://www.breastfeeding.asn.au/training/public

I am currently undertaking both of the breastfeeding education courses through the ABA at the moment. I had hoped to be finished by now... just have to buckle down and get the assessments done!

I would recommend it.
I have nearly finished my Certificate IV in Breastfeeding Education (Counselling). It has taken me about 4 years so far, as I have had lots of other things on, so anyone who wants to do it, I say go for it - the only cost is the yearly ABA Membership fee and you can go at your own pace.

tk1999 - which group are you with?

I want to do it but unfortunately the ABA does not take into account already working mothers and I am unable to attend local meetings therefore I have essentially been deemed ineligible. I am pretty upset as whilst I understand that you need to be an active community participant etc it's just not doable for me around my work schedule.

That's not true. There are options for working mothers. Many of us have worked in the paid workforce and trained. But it is important you be involved in your group, but that could take many forms. ABA can't and doesn't descriminate against working mums.

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That's not true. There are options for working mothers. Many of us have worked in the paid workforce and trained. But it is important you be involved in your group, but that could take many forms. ABA can't and doesn't descriminate against working mums.

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Barb I'm really glad that's not the case all round and I was probably a little harsh in my original post but there weren't really any other options given to me. Another group nearby was meeting "some" evenings but I also don't drive which again was prohibitive to participation.

DC I've just finished my training and was working PT for most of it. I know I can't attend day meeting and we only meet once a month at night but I've signed on for email counselling, which is a great way to give back without messing up work.

I'm trying to work out when I can schedule in a helpline shift but it isn't mandatory to even be on helpline on a regular basis - they acknowledge that everyone's position is different and family always comes first.

There are ways - if you are passionate about it, look into it again. I am so glad I did, I've learned bucket loads.

I never knew this! Have just had a quick look and def think this might be something I'm into in the future. I'd like more mummy experience first :) I love the idea of being a community educator. I have a background in community development and live in a regional area with very limited BF, pregnancy and post natal services apart from hospital and gp services and a few very dedicated community members so think I could really offer something to the community here. Thanks for posting about it.


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DragonCookie - you don't have to go to meetings. I work full time and take maybe one day off per year to attend a meeting, but there are other ways you can get involved, e.g. helping out with Breastfeeding Education classes (these are usually run in the weekends), or working at the Baby Expo or other events where the ABA have a stand. Or you can do some admin work from home, e.g. answering emails for your local group. Don't be discouraged...

Im hoping to do some of their courses as well. Would love to get involved as a community educator and im hoping to do the training soonish so i can be involved when the kids are just a bit older :)

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This is something I've thought about doing but I've never really been to anything ABA related although being a member so is it too late to investigate my local group and get involved? I breastfed DD1 till she weaned just after 3, through a pregnancy and into tandem feeding, I'd love to help others but am I bit nervous about meeting up so late in the game!

JF definitely still get yourself involved!! No way is it too late :)

Sloane, that's great. You'll find it so rewarding.

Dantri - wow, sounds like a CE would be really beneficial out your way.

How exciting, so many new trainees possibly in the works! Then we can all meet up at conference :)

Would be really interested in this but not sure how useful I'd be as I'm a bit of a failure with breastfeeding. Had to exclusively express for 12 months for DS1, and now with DS2 have just reached 6 months of feeding and the pain has only just stopped. I've also had mastitis 10 times. Do they have a use for breastfeeding failures?

Wow, exclusively expressing for 12 months is pretty awesome in my eyes. Your experiences could be really beneficial in empathising with other mothers who are having difficulties.
Have you linked in with your local ABA group surprised?

No I haven't HotI. I got to the point with DS1 that I just didn't want yet another person trying to tell me how to breastfeed. I did ring the helpline lots, but my problems were so significant that I was a bit beyond help!

surprised - there is definitely a use for mums who have faced big breastfeeding challenges!

I'm slowly muddling through the counselling course. I'd only just started when I got pregnant, and computer screens made me spewy, so that was a spanner in the works. But I love it.

Surprised, it might sound wierd but there is more to the ABA than breastfeeding, the peer support can be great in good times and bad. i have met some really great women through ABA.

Sounds like you're very qualified indeed to empathise with other mums and support them through breastfeeding difficulties!

How much are the course fees? (I did look but couldnt find it anywhere lol). This is definitely something that interests me, I would love to be able to help women bf-ing and have thought about how I could never knowing these courses existed!

The cost is covered by the ABA, however you do pay an admin fee (annual), you need to be a paid-up member of ABA and commit to giving back at least 2 years of service after you qualify and maintain some level of involvement with your local group (e.g. running meetings, taking on a group role, organising fundraisers)

I'm currently training and should be finished by the end of this year (finally!). I took a long break from it after DD2 was born to enjoy my girls.
I should be a qualified counsellor on the helpline and emails by the end of it. Just need to get it finished now.

Surprised, you are not a breastfeeding failure, you are absolutely a huge breastfeeding success. Overcoming obstacles to give your little ones breast milk for so long is an amazing feat - you really need to pat yourself on the back and be proud of how well you've done. And absolutely you'd make a great ABA volunteer with all that experience. One of the very active counsellors exclusively expressed for the long term with one of her babies and she is so helpful for mums in the same situation.

DC, I trained while working ft the whole way through. It is a matter of taking opportunities to complete tasks and be involved, and if necessary making them (organising something for your group that you can take part in, at a time and place that suits you). I was very well accommodated with my time challenges. Also JF, about it being too late, my youngest had weaned months before I started training. It is never too late if this is something you really want to do.

Ive emailed the ABA about how to do the course. Ive had it suggested to me several times by friends and people I know but never thought my experience would be beneficial (I only managed to feed one out of 3 kids past 8wks and he was only fed til 12mths) but Ive chucked in my nursing studies because my real passion lies with midwifery (anything birth/baby related really) then I saw this post pop up! Im taking it as divine intervention as I had been thinking about what I could do now to tide me over until I can do my midwifery degree :)