Every Moment Matter National Campaign Launched
NOFASD Australia would like to congratulate the Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education (FARE) on the launch of the Every Moment Matters – a national awareness program about alcohol, pregnancy, and breastfeeding.
Every Moment Matters aims to empower Australians by providing clear information about the risks of drinking alcohol during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
It will demonstrate support for alcohol-free pregnancies and improve public awareness of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) – a disability caused when a developing baby is exposed to alcohol before birth.
Federal Government investment into FASD Support and Awareness
NOFASD Australia is pleased with the announcement from the Morrison Government on its investment of more than $37 million for Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) diagnostic services to increase access and reduce waiting times, as well as launching a new National Awareness Campaign for Pregnancy and Breastfeeding Women.
From November 30, in an Australian first, a new awareness campaign to increase awareness of the risks associated with alcohol consumption during pregnancy and breastfeeding. The campaign aims to support and inform women to make healthy choices while planning and during a pregnancy to reduce the risk and the incidence of FASD.
Minister for Health and Aged Care, Greg Hunt, said the Morrison Government was providing $27.4 million to the Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education (FARE), who will deliver the campaign. “The campaign will feature messages for the general public, priority groups such as women at higher risk of alcohol exposed pregnancies, health professionals, and Indigenous populations,” Minister Hunt said. “It also builds on our ongoing commitment to support women and families to stop drinking when trying for a baby and during their pregnancy, to prevent babies from being born with FASD, and help babies born with this condition.”
The Morrison Government is also supporting children with FASD and their families by investing $9 million to expand diagnostic services in New South Wales (including regional locations), regional Victoria and Southern and Central Queensland.
Minister for Regional Health, Dr David Gillespie, said it’s important that all families and children that need these support services can access them when and where they need them, regardless of where they live.
This funding brings a total Government investment in the fight against FASD to more than $78 million since 2014.
National FASD Awareness Campaign Launched
Senator GRIFF (South Australia) (13:42):
“Today marks the beginning of an important national awareness campaign about the dangers of drinking while pregnant. I have been advocating for more recognition and understanding of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, known as FASD, for many years. I am thrilled to finally see this campaign realised from today.
The message is simple. It tells women and the people around them that every moment and every drop matters when you are pregnant. Many people, including some health professionals, think that the occasional drink won’t hurt, but the truth is that any alcohol can hurt a developing baby.
I congratulate everyone who has made it happen: FARE, the Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education; NOFASD Australia; and the federal government for their financial support. We all have a part to play in fighting FASD.”
NOFASD Australia’s Reconciliation Action Plan
NOFASD Australia developed a Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) in 2020. A RAP working group was established to include Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non-indigenous participants, as well as a NOFASD board member, staff member and individuals with lived experience of FASD.
The RAP working group commenced with the first level Reconciliation Action Plan, a Reflect RAP. NOFASD’s Reflect RAP focuses within the organisation, building staff knowledge and workplace cultures as well as providing a roadmap towards developing and building upon relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stakeholders. The Reflect RAP sets out the initial steps to prepare NOFASD to move on to successive RAPs. The RAP working group hope to progress to an Innovate RAP in 2021/2022.
We were delighted to receive approval and endorsement for the first NOFASD Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan during NAIDOC Week 2021 from Reconciliation Australia. Our RAP has started to be embedded into our working practises, seeing workplace recognition of Sorry Day, Reconciliation Week and NAIDOC week.
The NOFASD team look forward to continuing to work towards reconciliation in Australia as we collaborate with Aboriginal parents, carers, researchers and health professionals to ensure that we are being culturally sensitive, culturally responsive and being led by experts in the field.
Senate Inquiry into FASD – released 17.03.2021
The Senate Community Affairs References Committee report into Effective Approaches to Prevention and Diagnosis of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) and strategies for optimising life outcomes for people with FASD. Released: 17th March 2021
GOWI Evaluation Report
“Getting on With It”: A Course by Caregivers, for Caregivers – Pilot Overview and Evaluation Report. Commissioned by: NOFASD Australia.
Citation: Gibbs, A., Harrington, S., Robinson, C, Brooks, C. & Dedman, C. (2020). ISBN: 978-0-6488721-1-5
Education and Learning Issues Paper Response
Education and Learning Issues Paper Response: A submission to the Royal Disability Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability
Citation: NOFASD Australia (2020). Education and Learning Paper Response: A Submission to the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability. ISBN:978-0-6488721-2-2
Royal Commission (Disability) FASD Issues Review FINAL Feb 2021
A SUBMISSION TO THE ROYAL COMMISSION INTO VIOLENCE, ABUSE, NEGLECT AND EXPLOITATION OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITY
NOFASD Australia – 2 February 2021
Suggested Citation:
NOFASD Australia (2021). Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Issues
Review Report: A Submission to the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability.
https://www.nofasd.org.au/fasd-news
ISBN: 978-0-6488721-4-6
