Canterbury Community Health nurses enhance support for diverse families.

Deborah Franklin loves her job as a Child and Family Health Nurse and Lactation Consultant – it’s a role she has been in for almost thirty years.  

“My passion is breastfeeding,” she said. “It’s very rewarding supporting families to meet their feeding goals. This can be providing information for newborns and older children.”

As a clinical nurse specialist, she helps parents and their families in the Canterbury area to navigate life with a newborn, specialising in infant feeding education and support, and early childhood development focusing on the first 5 years of life.

Deborah is based at the Punchbowl Community Centre Clinic and her role can take her across Campsie, Punchbowl, Belmore, Earlwood and Lakemba, local areas recognised for residents with diverse cultures and backgrounds, recently immigrated families, and refugee populations.

“You have to work in partnership with families, it is important to listen and hear what parents want and validate what they are saying. We are very fortunate to have access to interpreter services if required,” she said.

Deborah and her colleagues not only see families in the clinic, but also provide home visits in the local area for people with vulnerabilities or antenatal issues, and women who need support navigating access to health care services. 

“Our service is universal and free; anyone can access our service and have our support,” Deborah added. 

“We recognise that all families are different, and the Canterbury local area is culturally diverse, so we have an adaptable approach to caring for everyone. For example, some families like to have their partner or support person present during visits, which we welcome.”

This year’s World Breastfeeding Week theme is Closing the Gap, Breastfeeding Support for All. It’s a strong message that the District’s Community Health Services nurses support.

“Early Breastfeeding support can change a family's breastfeeding journey. Breastfeeding has shown many benefits for mother and child as well as the community, including less allergies, less infections, and research has even shown that it can reduce the risk of pre-menopausal breast, ovarian and endometrial cancer for the mother,” said Kim Dunlop, Canterbury Child and Family Health Nurse Unit Manager.

The Canterbury team are also providing a Language Enhancement Group for 1-year olds and their parents in Campsie, and offering a new flexible parents group, a children’s playgroup in partnership with STARTTS, and weekly social worker services in Lakemba. 

Feedback from parents and families about the service has been immeasurable for Deborah, who is encouraged by even just the simplest words of thanks.

“It’s nice to see when something you’ve advised or suggested that they come back and say, ‘oh yeah, I tried that and its actually working’,” she said. 

Sydney Local Health District’s Breastfeeding Support Clinic is available by appointment through a Child and Family Health Nurse or by calling the Child Health Information Link (CHIL) on (02) 9562 5400.

Breastfeeding support is available at all Child and Family Health Clinics in the District, including targeted clinics at Leichhardt, Croydon Health Centres, as well as Concord Hospital. Information and resources about breastfeeding are also available online.

Staff and visitors are welcome to celebrate World Breastfeeding Week and get more information in the Canterbury Hospital foyer on 6 August from 9am – 12:30pm.