The 9th day of the 9th month is globally acknowledged as International FASD Awareness Day, and the whole of September is now known as FASD Awareness Month. Symbolising the 9 months of a pregnancy, FASD Awareness can be shared in many ways. We encourage you to get involved!
You may choose to host an online FASD Awareness event. Our Information Pack provides ideas. You could download and distribute FASD Fact Sheets, play a webinar, provide an online presentation using our FASD 101 PowerPoint slides, or play a documentary such this 20 minute New Zealand documentary or this Australian episode of 60 minutes. NOFASD Australia also has printable posters for display.
Help us spread the word on Social Media
The NOFASD team would love you to help us raise awareness in the lead up to FASD Awareness Day on the 9th of September and have prepared some clues to help you do this on the social media platforms where you are active.
With coronavirus cases still existing in Australia, everyone’s health and safety is of paramount importance. Please consider hosting an online event if there are health risks associated with a public event.
At NOFASD we are once again raising awareness through the Red Shoes Rock campaign, this time with a uniquely Australian twist. Red Shoes Rock was started by RJ Formanek, an adult with FASD, who decided to wear red shoes to stand out, be noticed and have some fun starting FASD conversations. Please feel free to share our images and video and please hashtag #FASDawareness and #RedShoesRock
We would love to hear how you are recognising International FASD Awareness Day! Please share your events on our Twitter, Facebook and Instagram pages or email admin@nofasd.org.au with photos and a story about your event.
If you are planning a face to face event please feel free to contact us to request fun and informative FASD Awareness resources, many of which include the Red Shoes Rock theme.
FREE Online FASD Events
Join us for a FREE online 2 hour webinar on FASD – The Invisible disability you may see in Out of Home Care every day.
Date: Monday 5th September 2022
Time: 12pm – 2pm AEST (10am AWST)
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) is sometimes misdiagnosed as ADHD, autism, or other disorders. Children and young people who are misdiagnosed are at risk of not receiving the right support, being misunderstood, or even blamed for behaviours caused by their disability. Foster and kinship carers have difficulty accessing funding for needed services, and lack of support contributes to the risk of adverse long term outcomes. Aboriginal kinship carers are particularly under-resourced.
People involved in out-of-home care play a central role in recognising and supporting the needs of children and young people with FASD.
In this jointly run, online event between the CETC and NOFASD Australia, you will hear from experts and carers about the importance of recognising FASD, the experiences of foster and kinship carers, and the kinds of support and strategies that can help children and young people reach their full potential and increase placement stability.
NOFASD Australia will be launching a new resource for the out-of-home-care sector to raise awareness of FASD, ‘The Invisible disability you may see every day.’. This resource has been created in conjunction with the Foundation for Alcohol Research & Education (FARE) and funded by the Australian Government Department of Health.
Speakers include:
Sophie Harrington – NOFASD Australia
- Introduction to FASD and why it’s an issue for Out of Home Care
Neil Reynolds – Carer and educator
- Why it’s important for professionals working in OOHC to understand FASD and what support carers need
Dr Robyn Williams – Senior Research Fellow, Curtain University
- Supporting Aboriginal Kinship Carers in the light of systematic challenges, and some ways forward
Prue Walker – FASD specialist, CETC
- The research – prevalence and impact of FASD in OOHC; diagnosis and implications
Dr Vanessa Spiller – Clinical Psychologist and carer
- An approach to supporting children, young people and families – effective strategies and resources.
Click here for more information or to register
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder: Shining a light on a hidden disability Webinar
NOFASD in partnership with ARACY, The Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth are running a webinar titled: Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder: Shining a light on a hidden disability
Diana Harris, Lead for Knowledge Translation at ARACY and Sophie Harrington, Chief Operating Officer for NOFASD, will discuss the importance of raising awareness of FASD so that this hidden disability becomes more visible within Australia. ARACY was established in 2002 by former Australian of The Year, Professor Fiona Stanley AC, and continues her vision of using the best available evidence to help all children and young people in Australia to thrive.
Click here for more information and to register
We hope you will join us in raising awareness of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder and the importance of alcohol-free pregnancy!
If you have any questions or concerns about alcohol use in pregnancy, or FASD, please contact us or call the NOFASD Australia helpline on 1800 860 613.
Read more NOFASD Australia blogs or learn how to get involved with FASD Awareness Month!
