Human milk banking in the volunteer sector: policy development and actuality in 1970s Australia.

OBJECTIVE

to describe the development of rigorous milk banking policies in the voluntary sector in Australia, 1975-1979, by the non-government organisation, the Nursing Mothers' Association of Australia (now the Australian Breastfeeding Association), and the eventual abandonment of milk banking by the organisation.

DESIGN

historical article.

SETTING

Australia in the years 1975-1979.

CONCLUSIONS

during the period in which the policy development described here took place, conducting a milk bank to the rigorous standards set by the organisation required too heavy an investment of hours by unpaid volunteer coordinators to be sustainable.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

in establishing and continuing a successful milk bank, models which depend less on volunteer hours may be more sustainable.