Baby Friendly Health Initiative (BFHI) education tools

BFHI Staff education requirements (PDF)

The following tools are available to educate staff on BFHI and best practice breastfeeding standards.

All WNHS BFHI eLearning packages are now available within the NMHS Moodle site (external site). Any difficulties please contact samantha.davies@health.wa.gov.au

WNHS / KEMH staff:

Log into Moodle and self-enrol in the required eLearning package. Some DNAMER professional development courses require a password which is provided in a welcome email.

Non-KEMH staff:

Access the packages using guest access and password. The password is available on the relevant package enrolment options page.

For queries contact samantha.davies@health.wa.gov.au at DNAMER.

For midwives, student midwives, lactation consultants (Group 1)

Group 1 are those who counsel and assist mothers with breastfeeding or provide education in relation to breastfeeding, in any part of the maternity unit, antenatal clinic and/or neonatal nurseries. For example, lactation consultants, midwives (antenatal, birthing unit, postnatal and domiciliary), registered or enrolled nurses who work permanently or on a casual basis in the maternity unit and/or neonatal nurseries and paediatric unit personnel who frequently assist mothers with breastfeeding or breast expression.

Group 1 staff must undertake a further eight hours of breastfeeding education every three years.

BFHI education tools (external site)

For doctors and allied health staff (Group 2)

Group 2 are those who may provide general breastfeeding advice but don’t assist mothers with breastfeeding. For example, obstetricians, paediatricians, other medical personnel, most paediatric unit personnel (unless they frequently assist mothers with breastfeeding or breast expression), registered nurses who care for postnatal mothers and their babies when midwives are not available (e.g. in small facilities), speech pathologists, physiotherapists, pharmacists and dietitians who advise or provide care related to infant feeding or lactation to mothers and/or their babies.

Complete BFHI Introduction / Group 2 (external site)

For ancillary, peri operative and recovery room staff and relevant non – clinical staff (Group 3)

Those who have contact with pregnant women and mothers but don’t assist mothers with breastfeeding and don’t provide infant feeding advice as part of their role. For example, ward clerks, auxiliary volunteers, some physiotherapists, perioperative and recovery room personnel (unless they assist with skin-to-skin contact and the first breastfeed, in which case they are Group 1).

Complete BFHI Group 3 (external site)