lactation nursing prayer room guideliens · web viewthe rooms provide a clean, private space for...
TRANSCRIPT
Lactation/Nursing and Prayer Room Guidelines
Lactation/Nursing and Prayer Room Guidelines Updated 27 November 2018
CONTENTS
Introduction................................................................................................................................................................... 2
Lactation and Nursing rooms......................................................................................................................................2
Prayer rooms................................................................................................................................................................. 3
Conditions of Use..........................................................................................................................................................3
Access............................................................................................................................................................................ 3
In Case of Emergencies................................................................................................................................................3
Conflicting Bookings....................................................................................................................................................3
Further Assistance........................................................................................................................................................3
Lactation/Nursing and Prayer Room Guidelines Page | 1
IntroductionThe Department of Education and Training (the Department) respects and values diversity. A key enabler of diversity is supporting employees to better manage their work and other responsibilities and treating all employees with fairness and respect.
Breastfeeding, defined “as the act of expressing milk” and religious belief or activity are both protected attributes under the Equal Opportunity Act 2010.
As part of the Department’s commitment to operate as an inclusive employer, a Lactation room is available for employees on the ground floor of 2 Treasury Place and a Nursing room is available on Level 6 of 35 Collins Street. A Prayer room is available on the ground floor of 41 St Andrews and on Level 4 of 35 Collins Street.
These guidelines set out the purposes and provisions of the rooms, how they may be accessed and the responsibilities of users.
Lactation and Nursing roomsThe Department’s Lactation and Nursing rooms supports the needs of women who may wish to continue to breastfeed their baby, and who may wish to express milk at work to support the continuation of breastfeeding once they return to work. These rooms also support all parents who may wish to feed their baby at work. This forms an important element in the Department’s commitment to family friendly policies. Flexible work policies operate in the Department and have been utilised by employees including those mothers who are breastfeeding or require lactation breaks.
The rooms provide a clean, private space for expressing, breastfeeding or bottle feeding. Lactation room is equipped with a comfortable chair, refrigerator, table, sink and nappy change area. Employees using the room are required to provide their own clear labeling for refrigerated expressed or bottled milk. Employees are requested to leave the room clean and tidy after use. This room is not available for child care.
The following is an excerpt from Australian Breastfeeding Association on the storage of breast milk for home use. Further information about breastfeeding can be obtained from the Australian Breastfeeding Association at: http://www.breastfeeding.asn.au/
Breast milk Room temperature Refrigerator Freezer
Freshly expressed into a closed container
6–8 hours (26ºC or lower). If refrigeration is available store milk there
No more than 72 hours. Store in the back of refrigerator where it is coldest
2 weeks in freezer compartment inside refrigerator. (-15ºC)
3 months in freezer section of refrigerator with separate door. (-18ºC or lower)
6–12 months in deep freeze (-20ºC or lower*)
Previously frozen— thawed in refrigerator but not warmed
4 hours or less (i.e. the next feeding)
Store in refrigerator - 24 hours
Do not refreeze
Thawed outside refrigerator in warm water
For completion of feeding
Hold for 4 hours or until next feeding
Do not refreeze
Infant has begun feeding
Only for completion of feeding, then discard
Discard Discard
*Chest or upright manual defrost deep freezer that is opened infrequently and maintains ideal temperature
Lactation/Nursing and Prayer Room Guidelines Page | 2
Prayer RoomsThe Prayer rooms are available for people of differing religious beliefs, or none at all, to spend time in prayer or contemplation. These rooms assist employees to meet their religious duties with minimal disruption to their work commitments. The rooms can also be of use to people wanting to meditate or reflect.
The room at 41 St Andrews has three separate and private areas. The room is kept unlocked and available for employee use at any time.
The room at 35 Collins is also kept unlocked and available for employee use at any time.
Conditions of Use Employees using the rooms are solely responsible for the care, supervision, safety and security of dependents at all times. The Department takes no responsibility for dependent(s) or for private property brought into the room. The rooms are left in a neat and tidy condition
Employees using the Lactation room must be signed in using normal security procedures. Security name tags must be worn by guests at all times.
The Prayer rooms should be considered quiet areas giving respect to others who may be in the room. Noise should be kept at an acceptable level in and around the rooms and must not disturb other activities on the floor.
Access Employees can book the Lactation Room at 2 Treasury through the eduMail room booking system. The room is listed as 2T_GRND_Lactation_Room_CAP1. It is unlocked when not in use.
The Nursing room at 35 Collins is not bookable and will be unlocked when not in use.
Both Prayer rooms are kept unlocked and are available for use at any time. There are no bookable provisions for these rooms.
For maintenance assistance for any of the rooms, contact [email protected] or submit a Facilities Maintenance Request form.
In Case of EmergenciesIn the event that a fire drill or emergency evacuation takes place, a floor warden will check the room and advise on the safest exit point.
For security assistance contact on 96372020 or 96373925. For out of hours emergencies at 35 Collins Street contact 9655 3614 and/or [email protected]
Conflicting BookingsThe lactation room and the prayer rooms cannot be booked or used for any other reason other than the intended purposes as outlined in these guidelines. There may be some occasions where there is more than one person wishing to use the room at the same time and joint use can be an option in some cases.
Further AssistanceFurther information, advice or assistance on any matters related to these guidelines is available by:
See the Department’s Flexible Work and Equal Opportunity Policies under A-Z HRWeb. accessing the A-Z topic list on HRWeb via email [email protected].
Lactation/Nursing and Prayer Room Guidelines Page | 3