Secure the future of ABA's Breastfeeding Helpline

The Australian Breastfeeding Association (ABA) has received Australian Government funding since 2008 to deliver its 24/7 Breastfeeding Helpline and LiveChat services, train and support volunteer breastfeeding counsellors and educators, and provide education for health professionals.

Under the current Government, ABA’s historic 4-year funding cycles have been reduced to 12-months, making long-term planning impossible. In FY26, ABA faces a funding shortfall that threatens business-as-usual operations.

ABA’s Helpline and LiveChat services are vital public health infrastructure. In FY24 alone, over 57,000 calls and chats were made to ABA volunteers, providing free, evidence-based support to families across Australia ...

The Australian Breastfeeding Association (ABA) has received Australian Government funding since 2008 to deliver its 24/7 Breastfeeding Helpline and LiveChat services, train and support volunteer breastfeeding counsellors and educators, and provide education for health professionals.

Under the current Government, ABA’s historic 4-year funding cycles have been reduced to 12-months, making long-term planning impossible. In FY26, ABA faces a funding shortfall that threatens business-as-usual operations.

ABA’s Helpline and LiveChat services are vital public health infrastructure. In FY24 alone, over 57,000 calls and chats were made to ABA volunteers, providing free, evidence-based support to families across Australia - day and night, including weekends and public holidays. These services reduce pressure on the health system and deliver high-impact, cost-effective care that clinical services cannot replicate.

ABA’s current funding proposal seeks a 4-year, $14.8 million investment to:

Sustain the Breastfeeding Helpline and LiveChat services, including end-of-life system upgrade
Support for ABA’s volunteer workforce
Expansion of culturally safe, multilingual access
Continued delivery of gold-standard health professional education

With 96% of new mothers wanting to breastfeed, and breastfeeding recognised for its lifelong health, economic, and environmental benefits, ABA’s services are essential to families and communities nationwide.

ABA needs your help. Let your Federal MP know how important these services are to you, and ask them to advocate for full funding of ABA’s proposal in next year's budget.

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Please act: Secure the future of ABA’s Helpline and LiveChat services

249 emails sent

Your email will inform your Federal MP that the ABA National Breastfeeding Helpline and other ABA services are important to you and why. If you have time you can add a paragraph sharing your personal experience of ABA's services in the letter below

Find your local rep

Subject:

I am writing as a constituent and supporter of the Australian Breastfeeding Association (ABA) to ask for your advocacy on behalf of local families for the full funding of ABA’s National Breastfeeding Helpline and LiveChat services.

These services, which have been funded by the Australian Government since 2008, are a vital part of Australia’s public health infrastructure, providing free, evidence-based breastfeeding support 24/7. In FY24 alone, over 57,000 calls were made - helping families when other services were unavailable and reducing pressure on the health system. Since 2008, the Helpline has supported more than 1.2 million families.

Despite this impact, ABA’s funding cycle has been reduced to just 12-months, making long-term planning impossible. The Australian Government's current funding commitment for FY26 falls short of what is needed to sustain business-as-usual operations.

ABA has submitted a proposal to the Australian Government for a 4-year, $14.8 million investment to:

- Maintain 24/7 Helpline and LiveChat services including end-of-life system upgrade

- Expand culturally safe, multilingual access

- Support and train ABA’s volunteer workforce

- Deliver gold standard health professional education

These services are not only cost-effective but irreplaceable. ABA’s peer-support model delivers high-quality care that complements clinical services and reaches families in moments of real need.

I urge you to write to the Hon Mark Butler MP, Minister for Health and Ageing, requesting full funding of ABA’s proposal in next year's budget. Your support will help ensure that thousands of families - including those in our community - continue to receive trusted support during early parenthood.

I would also welcome the opportunity to meet with you - either in person or online - to discuss the importance of breastfeeding support and the impact ABA’s services have on families in our electorate. Please let me know if a meeting can be arranged.

Thank you for your time and commitment to the health and wellbeing of families in Australia..

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