ABA - Who are we?

Australian Breastfeeding Association (formerly Nursing Mothers' Association of Australia) is a voluntary organisation established in 1964 to encourage and support women who wish to breastfeed their babies. ABA strives to create an awareness of the importance of human milk in the community whilst recognising that Breastfeeding is just one part of skilled and loving mothering.

Marrickville Group is based in the inner western suburbs of Sydney. It encompasses the suburbs of Marrickville, Dulwich Hill, Tempe, St Peters, Campsie, Canterbury, Belmore, Hurlstone Park, Earlwood & Undercliffe, although anyone is welcome at our meetings. If you are interested in becoming a member of ABA & want to find a group in your area there is a group locator on the ABA national website, from there you can also link to the webpages of other groups (if they have one).

ABA membership enables you to become part of an Australia-wide network of mothers who care about breastfeeding. It offers friendship and support from other breastfeeding mothers; information and support from trained Breastfeeding Counsellors and an informative and entertaining bi-monthly newsletter. Statistics show that, as a member of ABA, you are more likely to enjoy your breastfeeding relationship.

Your membership helps support the Breastfeeding Counsellor network, giving women access to accurate breastfeeding information. It makes it possible to educate the community about breastfeeding, with talks at schools, clinics, hospitals and many other places. All this makes it easier for your sisters, neighbours and daughters to breastfeed in the future.

Counsellors are mothers who have breastfed their own babies and trained extensively with ABA. There are about 90 Groups and 350 Counsellors in NSW. The Sydney Helpline receives about 40 calls a day and many more mothers are helped at meetings and elsewhere in the community. (Now there is also e-mail help available).

If you have not subscribed to ABA you can do so online through our national website. You can also join ABA by contacting your local Group. If you require counselling for a breastfeeding matter please call the Breastfeeding Helpline on (Sydney) 8853 4999.

Visitors are always welcome at Marrickville Group, please see our local activities section for details.

Further information can be found on the ABA National Site