Since the NHMRC Infant Feeding Guidelines were released in 2012, new commercial trends have emerged, often marketed as solutions for modern infant feeding challenges. Join us as we unpack some of these market-driven offerings and discuss why critical evaluation and clear guidance are vital for safe practice.

This is a follow-on session after the successful ‘Let’s talk CODE’ panel in August where we discussed BFHI and the WHO CODE, where we’ll delve further into how to navigate common and emerging issues currently facing midwives and families.

This free panel will be hosted by Education Manager Kristy Watson, and feature Panelists Kathleen Halliday, Dr Jennifer Hocking and Julianne Germain.

Panelists
Julianne Germain
Julianne is an RN and midwife who has been an IBCLC for over 25 years, working in the public and private hospital systems and as a lactation consultant in private practice. She’s been the Program coordinator for the ACM Baby Friendly Health Initiative for the last 2-3 years, guiding and supporting hospitals and child health services throughout Australia to achieve BFHI accreditation. Julianne is a passionate breastfeeding advocate, published researcher and previous ABA counsellor.

Dr Jennifer Hocking
BA | BN | GradDipMid | MMid | PhD | RM RN | FACM
Jen worked as a midwife in the Australian public maternity system for 20 years, has taught undergraduate midwives in the tertiary sector and completed a PhD that was a focused ethnographic study of lactation consultant practice. She now works for the Australian Breastfeeding Association as a breastfeeding information advisor. Jen is a fellow of the Australian College of Midwives.

Kathleen Halliday (she/her)
Kathleen is a dedicated Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) and an Advanced Accredited Practising Dietitian (AdvAPD) who integrates her expertise in dietetics and lactation. With extensive experience in community health and hospital settings, she currently serves as a lactation consultant at a tertiary public hospital in Melbourne, where she also leads efforts towards Baby Friendly Health Initiative (BFHI) accreditation.

Additionally, she evaluates health services nationwide as a BFHI assessor for ACM. Kathleen is also a graduate researcher at La Trobe University, delving into perinatal care for trans and gender-diverse individuals, actively engaging healthcare providers in understanding their roles in this area.