“Success is underpinned by a team effort, with collaboration between families, communities, service providers and governments.
FASD requires a national approach, linking in closely with local solutions. We are acknowledging the scale of the issue in Australia and intensifying efforts to address it.”
The Minister for Indigenous Health and Minister for Aged Care, Ken Wyatt AM, said the Government’s approach to FASD was to invest in activities which have been shown to be effective.
“This plan will show us the way forward to tackle the tragic problem of FASD – guiding future actions for governments, service providers and communities in the priority areas of prevention, screening and diagnosis, support and management, and tailoring needs to communities.
Alongside the plan’s release, I am pleased to announce a new investment of $7.2 million to support activities that align with these priority areas.
This funding will enable work to start immediately and help protect future generations and give children the best start possible.”
Minister for Health Greg Hunt said the Government is committed to reducing the impact of FASD on individuals, families and communities.
Download a PDF copy of Plan
National Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Strategic Action Plan 2018-2028
” The forum delegates agreed that there was an urgent need for action to prevent FASD in our Top End communities, and across the Northern Territory.
It is essential that our responses do not stigmatise women or Aboriginal people.
It is important that we don’t lay blame, but instead work together, to support our women and young girls.
Everyone is at risk of FASD, so everyone must be informed the harmful effects of drinking while pregnant.
Our men also need to step up and support our mothers, sisters, nieces and partners, to ensure that we give every child the best chance in life.”
Read over 25 NACCHO Aboriginal Health and FASD articles published over 6 years
The Federal Government is stepping up its fight against Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) today by unveiling a new national action plan and more than $7 million in new funding.
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder is the term used to describe the lifelong physical and neurodevelopmental impairments that can result from fetal alcohol exposure.
FASD is a condition that is an outcome of parents either not being aware of the dangers of alcohol use when pregnant or planning a pregnancy, or not being supported to stay healthy and strong during pregnancy.
This funding will enable new work to get underway and build on proven programs – to help protect future generations and give children the best possible start in life.
Key Points of action plan
FASD will be tackled across a range of fronts – including prevention, screening and diagnosis, support and management, and priority populations at increased risk of harm.
PREVENTION: $1.47 million including new consumer resources and general awareness activities – including national FASD Awareness Day, translation of awareness materials into a variety of First Nations languages, and promotion of alcohol consumption guidelines, and bottle shop point of sale warnings.
SCREENING: $1.2 million to support new screening and diagnosis activities, which will include reviewing existing tools and developing new systems and referral pathways, to assist professionals in community settings.
MANAGEMENT: $1.2 million goes to management and support activities, including tailored resources for people working in the education, justice and police sectors.
LOCAL TARGETING: $1.27 million to develop targeted resources, to meet local cultural and community needs.
BUILDING ON SUCCESS: $1.55 million to continue proven activities – with support for Australia’s FASD Hub, a one-stop shop containing the FASD Register and public awareness campaigns.
The Strategic Action Plan also establishes an expert FASD Advisory Group – which will report to the National Drug Strategy Committee on the progress being made, while promoting successful models and highlighting emerging issues and evidence.
From the FASD Workshop in Perth this week
The plan is committed to breaking FASD’s impact on
- Encounters with the law
- Family breakdowns
- Deaths in custody
- Suicides and chronic health conditions
FASD requires a national approach, linking in closely with local solutions.
We are acknowledging the scale of the issue in Australia and intensifying efforts to address it.
The activities and actions outlined in the priority areas of the Plan are intended to guide future action – they are not compulsory and can be adopted as needed, along with other interventions and programs, based on local needs.
Activities should be evidence informed and based on best available research and data – actions should be tailored to individual communities and regions.
Since 2014, the Liberal National Government has provided almost $20 million in direct funding to tackle