Affinity Education Group reaccredited as Breastfeeding Friendly Workplace

Affinity Education Group has renewed its Breastfeeding Friendly Workplace accreditation with the Australian Breastfeeding Association, recognising practices designed to support breastfeeding employees and families across its early learning community.

Affinity Education Group has been reaccredited as a Breastfeeding Friendly Workplace by the Australian Breastfeeding Association (ABA), with the recognition applying from August 2026 to August 2027.

The early childhood education and care (ECEC) provider said the reaccreditation reflected its commitment to creating environments where breastfeeding is supported for both families attending its services and employees returning to work.

The accreditation applies across Affinity’s network, which includes Milestones Early Learning, Papilio Early Learning, Kids Academy, Aussie Kindies and Affinity Education.

The ABA’s Breastfeeding Friendly Workplace program recognises employers that provide practical support for employees who wish to continue breastfeeding when they return to work.

The program focuses on three key areas:

• time, 
• space and 
• supportive workplace culture.

This includes providing employees with appropriate breaks to breastfeed or express milk, access to a suitable private space and a workplace environment in which breastfeeding is supported.

For Affinity, the approach extends across its early learning services, where breastfeeding zones are available to employees as well as families.

Expectant and new parents working within the organisation can access these spaces as they navigate breastfeeding and their return to work.

Affinity said its approach was intended to ensure employees felt supported in continuing to breastfeed for as long as they chose.

Support is not limited to Affinity employees.

The provider said every service within its network has a dedicated breastfeeding zone available to families during drop-off, pick-up and visits.

Families considering an Affinity service can also view the breastfeeding space during a service tour and discuss how it can be used.

The approach recognises that starting or returning to ECEC can coincide with a period when a parent is continuing to breastfeed.

Providing a dedicated space can enable breastfeeding to remain part of a family’s routine while their child transitions into an early learning environment.

Affinity also acknowledged that breastfeeding experiences and circumstances differ considerably between families.

The provider directs families to additional information and assistance available through the ABA, including resources addressing different breastfeeding circumstances.

These include information for families breastfeeding multiples, parents with diabetes, families of babies with Down syndrome and LGBTQIA+ families.

The emphasis on different experiences reflects a broader approach to ensuring breastfeeding support is accessible to families with varying circumstances and needs.

The reaccreditation also highlights an important workplace consideration for the ECEC sector, supporting employees through the transition back to work following parental leave.

Continuing to breastfeed after returning to employment can require practical workplace arrangements, including appropriate spaces and sufficient opportunities to breastfeed or express milk.

The ABA identifies workplace support as an important factor in enabling employees to combine breastfeeding with paid employment.

Breastfeeding is also protected under Australian discrimination law. The ABA notes that employees have the right to breastfeed, express and store breastmilk at work and that discrimination against a person because they are breastfeeding is unlawful.

For ECEC approved providers, these considerations sit alongside broader efforts to create workplaces that recognise employees’ family and caring responsibilities.

Affinity’s reaccreditation will remain current until August 2027.

Rather than representing a one-off initiative, the accreditation requires organisations to maintain workplace practices that meet the ABA’s Breastfeeding Friendly Workplace requirements.

For Affinity, the renewed recognition encompasses both sides of its early learning community, families using its services and employees balancing work with caring for their own young children.

The provider said its continued participation in the program reflected its commitment to creating environments where breastfeeding families and employees feel welcomed and supported.

Affinity Education Group’s announcement is available on its official website.