• Section 1 - Purpose 
• Section 2 - Application and Scope
• Section 3 - Principles
• Section 4 - General Principles
• Section 5 - Breastfeeding on Campus
• Section 6 - Flexible Work and Study Arrangements
• Section 7 -  Lactation Breaks
• Section 8 -  Roles and Responsibilities
• Section 9 - Support and Information

Section 1 - Purpose 

(1) This Guideline provides details about the breastfeeding facilities available at the University of Wollongong (the University) and describes the flexible work and study arrangements that may be utilised to support breastfeeding or lactating (referred to as breastfeeding) staff and students in their return to work and study. 

Section 2 - Application and Scope

(2) This Guideline applies to: 

1. staff of the University who are a parent or a carer; and 
2. students at the University who are a parent or a carer.

(3) This Guideline does not apply to: 

1. staff employed by other entities controlled by the University; and 
2. staff employed at campuses of the University outside of Australia. 

Section 3 - Principles

(4) This Guideline supports the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Policy, by providing guidance to staff and students on the facilities and support offered to breastfeeding parents and carers at the University. This Guideline should be read alongside the Flexible Work Arrangements Procedure and the Children in the Study and Work Environment Procedure. 

Section 4 - General Principles

(5) The University offers flexibility and support to enable individuals who are breastfeeding to effectively work and study on campus and take part in campus-related activities.

(6) The University recognises the benefits of breastfeeding for both the parent and child and supports staff and students who are breastfeeding their child while taking part in work or study on campus and in campus-related activities.

(7) The University also has a duty to ensure a safe work and study environment. All individuals need to consider any hazards to breastfeeding on campus and follow the Children in the Study and Work Environment Procedure and other relevant work health and safety policies and procedures. 

(8) Breastfeeding refers to directly breastfeeding, chest-feeding, or expressing breast milk for a child and/or for the breastfeeding person’s own health and/or comfort. 

(9) A lactation break refers to a break taken by a breastfeeding staff member or student to breastfeed a child, express breast milk and/or undertake any other breastfeeding-related activity. 

Section 5 - Breastfeeding on Campus

(10) All individuals are welcome to breastfeed on campus. This may include: 

1. Staff in work/study settings, except where there are health and safety concerns as outlined below; 
2. students in study settings, except where there are health and safety concerns as outlined below, noting that students must seek permission from a relevant lecturer to bring a child into class;
3. Staff and students during parental leave or when returning to work/study after parental leave; and 
4. pre-adoptive staff or students who would like to establish a milk supply. 

(11) The University provides dedicated Parents’ Rooms (for expressing, breastfeeding and other parenting needs) for the privacy and comfort of those who wish to use them. Parents Rooms can be found on the Parents Room - UOW Campus Map.

(12) Staff and students may breastfeed in other places across the University and must not be discriminated against if they choose to do so. There are, however, some premises where breastfeeding is not recommended for health and safety reasons, such as labs where there is a risk of exposure to chemical or biological hazards.

(13) Staff who chose to breastfeed on campus have access to free hire of a mini fridge to store items such as breast milk. To loan a mini fridge at Wollongong or Innovation campus please contact the Wellbeing Health and Safety Unit.

Section 6 - Flexible Work and Study Arrangements

(14) In accordance with the Children in the Workplace and Study Environment Procedure, students should seek permission from the relevant lecturer to bring a child into class. Permission to bring children to class is at the lecturer's discretion, though any reasonable request should be granted. Staff must similarly seek approval from the relevant supervisor to bring children to work, and all requests will be reasonably considered.

(15) Students who are breastfeeding may request flexible arrangements to enable them to meet the requirements of their study program, including alternate options for attending lectures and tutorials and sitting examinations. 

(16) Breastfeeding students can request flexible arrangements to support them with meeting their course requirements in relation to course work, assessment and practical work or clinical placement. Students should consult their lecturer or supervisor directly to arrange assignments or exams, or other assistance needed to support their studies.

(17) A breastfeeding staff member may wish to seek flexible work arrangements on top of lactation breaks. Such arrangements may include: 

1. graduated return to work;
2. part time hours;
3. varying hours of work; 
4. working from home; and 
5. reorganisation of lunch and tea breaks to accommodate breastfeeding needs. 

(18) Flexible work arrangements should be agree between a staff member and their immediate supervisor and consider both the individual staff member and work unit’s needs. Refer to the Flexible Work Arrangements Procedure for further guidance.

Section 7 -  Lactation Breaks

(19) The University offers the flexibility to take lactation breaks during work or study.

(20) Lactation breaks are available to staff who breastfeed and/or express breast milk during work hours as part of a negotiated flexible work arrangement, and no staff member will lose pay due to taking lactation breaks. When deciding the timing for lactation breaks, consider the needs of your team and your personal needs.

(21) Lactation breaks for students should be discussed between the student and relevant Supervisor, Subject Coordinator, Lecturer, or tutor. 

(22) The breast-feeding person and their child's needs will influence the number of times they will need to feed or express and for the duration. Therefore, the breaks an individual takes during work or study hours will reflect what is reasonable in their individual circumstances. There may also be variations in the age to which an individual chooses to breastfeed their child.

(23) All students and staff are required to treat their colleagues and fellow students who are breastfeeding with respect and refrain from any discriminatory behaviour.

(24) Discrimination against breastfeeding individuals in employment or education is unlawful as a form of sex discrimination under the Sex Discrimination Act 1984 (Commonwealth). Examples of unlawful discrimination on the grounds of breastfeeding in the workplace may include:

1. not allowing a staff member to breastfeed and/or to express milk; and/or
2. not making reasonable adjustments for lactation breaks to facilitate the breastfeeding process.

Section 8 -  Roles and Responsibilities

(25) Managers and Supervisors:

1. are responsible for enforcing the Breastfeeding in the Workplace and Study Guideline within their departments; and
2. must accommodate breastfeeding employees by providing flexible work arrangements and seeking advice from People and Culture staff where required.

(26) People and Culture staff:

1. are responsible for providing information and resources on breastfeeding in the workplace to all staff; and
2. will provide support to Supervisor/Manager and staff regarding policies and guidelines related to flexible work arrangements and breastfeeding in the workplace.

(27) Staff who wish to combine work and breastfeeding are responsible for:

1. discussing their conditions, with their Supervisor/Manager as soon as practicable and before the first break is taken;
2.  discussing the timing and duration of lactation breaks;
3. notifying their Supervisor/Manager when they depart and return to work, if an agreement to leave the workplace for lactation breaks has been arranged;
4. notifying their Supervisor/Manager if their breastfeeding needs change or cease so that the agreement can be updated as required.

(28) Parent and Carers:

1. are responsible for following the requirements of this Guideline and for providing suitable supervision of children whilst on campus.

Section 9 - Support and Information

(29) Information on Parental Leave, Parent Rooms and the Parents and Carers Network can be found on the UOW Intranet. Please contact the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Team (EDI) for further support.

(30) For more information about breastfeeding and work, contact the Australian Breastfeeding Association (ABA). The Australian Breastfeeding Association (ABA) has trained breastfeeding counselors available via the National Breastfeeding Helpline 7 days per week to provide information on breastfeeding concerns and questions about how to combine breastfeeding and return to work. Contact 1800 686 268 or visit the Australian Breastfeeding Association (ABA).