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Table 2 Core components, activities or services that support breastfeeding and early parenting

From: Place of sanctuary: an appreciative inquiry approach to discovering how communities support breastfeeding and parenting

Community facilities for children and families*

The shopping centre as the village**

Services for diverse community groups*

Health services*

 • Green spaces, walking tracks

 • Playgrounds with well-maintained, safe equipment

 • Community centres

 • Community notice board

 • Access to parking for parents

 • Mothers groups

 • Australian Breastfeeding Association

 • Playgroups collocated with services

 • Local council events

 • Access to child care

 • Information for parents – mailed to each parent in community, annual parent directory, new resident welcome packs

 • Federal government local member welcome to new babies event.

• Cafes and restaurants welcoming and never being difficult in terms of supporting breastfeeding

• accepting of children

• shopping centre family room

• play areas

• open spaces for kids

• ‘POP UP’ playgroups in shopping centres

• Places available to feed babies

• Lots of facilities have baby change areas

• Specific services for Aboriginal women

• Community groups e.g. Turkish women’s groups

• Young parent program for example a specific mentoring program

• Culturally specific playgroups

• Bicultural workers

• Interpreters available and free to families

• World class maternity hospital

• Antenatal classes

• Breastfeeding class for young parents

• Caseload midwifery

• Midwifery @ Home

• Handover from hospital to community services

• Mentoring program – MASE

• Child and family health nursing services are available for parents and these nurses were considered knowledgeable and worked flexibly in the community

• CFHN helpline

• Breastfeeding drop in centre

• Immunisation clinics in community settings

• Good GP services

Other services:

• ABA helpline

Key

*Data generated at the workshops at sites 1 and 2

**Data generated through the focus group with retailers as well as through the workshops

Other community services*

 • NGO and others services meeting and collaborate

 • School hubs – support for whole family; provide adult education including language; offer employment pathways