” NACCHO recently partnered with the Menzies School of Health Research and the Telethon Kids Institute (TKI) to develop and implement health promotion resources and interventions to prevent and reduce the impacts of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and young children.”
” Although high rates of alcohol consumption have been reported across all Australian populations, research shows that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women are more likely to consume alcohol at harmful levels during pregnancy, thereby greatly increasing the risk of stillbirths, infant mortality and infants born with an intellectual disability.”
FASD is an umbrella term used to describe the range of effects that can occur in individuals whose mother consumed alcohol during pregnancy.
These effects may include physical, mental, behavioral, developmental, and or learning disabilities with possible lifelong implications.
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Prevention and Health Promotion Resources (FPHPR) were developed for the 85 New Directions: Mothers and Babies Services (NDMBS) across Australia. (see part 2 below )
These resources primarily focused on prevention of FASD, but also provide information about sexual and reproductive health, smoking and substance abuse.
The Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Prevention and Health Promotion Resources Project ended at 30 June 2017.
FASD Awareness Day Resources
Share the International FASD Awareness Day images and messages NACCHO and FARE have provided on social media. This can be as simple as retweeting from the Pregnant Pause account and using the tags #FASDAwarenessDay and #PregnantPause.
More info on FARE’s projects aimed at preventing alcohol exposed pregnancies can be found here: Pregnant Pause and Women Want to Know.
Download Australian Guide to the diagnosis of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD)
Australian-guide-to-diagnosis-of-FASD-
Part 1 Consultation National FASD Strategy 2018 – 2028 closes 15 September
The Australian Government Department of Health is undertaking consultations to inform the development of the National FASD Strategy 2018 – 2028.
The Strategy will provide a national approach for all levels of government, organisations and individuals on strategies that target the reduction of alcohol related harms relating to FASD, reducing the prevalence of FASD in Australia and provide advice and linkages on the support which is available for those affected by the disorder.
The objectives of the National FASD Strategy 2018 – 2028 are:
- strengthen efforts and address the whole-of-life impacts of FASD;
- address the whole-of-population issues;
- support collaborative cross sectoral approaches required to prevent FASD in Australia; and
- provide information and support those living with and affected by the disorder.
You are able to continue and save your written submission at any time during the process by clicking on the button ‘Save page and continue later’ below. You will be asked to provide an email address, where a link of your submission will be sent to the email address. You can continue with your submission by pressing on the link.
The online written submission portal will close at midnight on 15 September, 2017.
If you have further questions about the consultation process or have difficulty with the online platform, please contact Siggins Miller Consultants at 1800 055 070 or email us at fasdstrategy@sigginsmiller.com.au.
It should be noted that the 1800 number provided is a message bank service in which you can leave your inquiry, a senior Siggins Miller staff member will endeavor to return your call within 72 hours.
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” The Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Prevention and Health Promotion Resources Package – ‘the Package’
Is designed to equip Australian health professionals with the knowledge and skills needed to develop, implement and evaluate community-driven solutions to reduce alcohol consumption, tobacco smoking and substance misuse during pregnancy, and to cut down on the number of unplanned pregnancies in their communities.
During 2015–17, the Package was delivered to staff from participating New Directions: Mothers and Babies Services (NDMBS), a national program to increase access to child and maternal health care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families.”
Download the 4 Page brochure
FASD_Resources_Package_Summary
And read the 20+ FASD NACCHO articles published
Why are these resources needed?
Although high rates of alcohol consumption have been reported across all Australian populations, research shows that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women are more likely to consume alcohol at harmful levels during pregnancy, thereby greatly increasing the risk of stillbirths, infant mortality and infants born with an intellectual disability.
Addressing the effects of alcohol consumption during pregnancy, and in particular FASD, requires both an understanding of how the cultural context, historical legacy and social determinants affect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and the importance of working in partnership with communities and relevant organisations.
When surveyed, most health professionals reported they did not ask their clients about alcohol use in pregnancy, or provide women with information about the effects of alcohol on the fetus.2 Challenges included limited knowledge and resources among health professionals to tackle the issue, along with a lack of confidence in advising clients. As such, we determined that resourcing and educating health professionals were critical factors to implementing a whole-of-community approach to preventing FASD in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
Piloting the Package
We piloted two days of training with 80 health professionals from 40 participating NDMBS sites, with the aim of increasing:
- awareness and understanding of alcohol, tobacco and other substances use during pregnancy and of FASD
- awareness of existing FASD health promotion resources and of how best to use these resources within primary health care services in line with their community needs
- knowledge and skills to develop, implement and evaluate community-driven solutions to reduce alcohol consumption, tobacco smoking and substance misuse during pregnancy, and reduce unplanned pregnancies
What’s in the Package?
Health promotion resources targeted at five key groups:
- Pregnant women
- Women of child-bearing age
- Grandmothers and aunties
- Men
- Health professionals
Five discrete training modules to assist health professionals share FASD prevention information and use the resources effectively within their community:
- Introduction: FASD Prevention and Health Promotion Resources Package
- Module 1: What is Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder?
- Module 2: Brief Intervention and Motivational Interviewing
- Module 3: Monitoring and Evaluation
- Module 4: Sharing Health Information
Training support materials to assist health professionals in delivering their own FASD training:
- Facilitator manual
- Participant workbook
Download the 4 Page brochure
FASD_Resources_Package_Summary
For more information
Dr Christine Hannah 07 3169 4201
christine.hannah@menzies.edu.au