FASD Awareness Day
An international awareness campaign giving voice and support to those affected by prenatal alcohol exposure.
September 9th is International FASD Awareness Day
The 9th day of the 9th month recognises the importance of staying alcohol-free throughout the 9 months of pregnancy. Community events throughout the month of September provide opportunities to raise awareness about FASD and the risks of prenatal alcohol exposure, to support pregnant women and families, and to share this prevention message around the world. Read more about the history of International FASD Awareness Day.
Join our free FASD training and online training events click here
Most importantly contact us as soon as possible now to order a Resource Pack to support your September FASD Awareness event so that we can post a free resource pack to you in plenty of time to be ready for your activity.
NOFASD Stakeholder Kit for FASD Awareness Month
The FASD Awareness 2023 Stakeholder Kit provides 6 social media tiles that you can post on your social media pages during September, together with suggested text and links to resources to assist others in learning more about FASD. The social media tiles are available in two formats – one that suits Facebook, LinkedIn and X (formerly Twitter) and another sized for Instagram. Please refer to the word document below which provides more information and download the tiles you wish to use. NOFASD thanks you in advance for your support during September Awareness Month!
Here’s a preview using clickable image gallery, but you can find the master files for download and use below in the Stakeholders Kit section.
Red Shoes Rock campaign 2023
This year NOFASD Australia is delighted to be partnering with the Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education (FARE), the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO) and the FASD Hub Australia in a co-branded “Red Shoes Rock” campaign throughout September (FASD Awareness Month).
The Red Shoes Rock Stakeholder Kit ’23 is available for download below and NOFASD encourages you to use some of the resources provided to assist in raising awareness of FASD during September. You can also learn more about this co-branded campaign at: www.redshoesrock.org.au
NOFASD Information Pack provides ideas to host an event, post on social media, display information, or have conversations with people in your community
Download FASD Fact Sheets to distribute at an event.
Play a webinar, or provide your own presentation using our FASD 101 PowerPoint slides.
NOFASD Australia also has printable posters for display.
DL alcohol free pregnancy cards click here
Preventable disability brochure click here
FASD facts brochure click here
30 evidence based FASD facts for health professionals click here
NOFASD Australia FASD Awareness Day Social Kit Instructions click here
Find out more about the Red Shoes Rock movement.
Red Shoes Rock for:
Turning invisibility into visibility
Starting conversations
Changing stigma into understanding and acceptance
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.
Click here to find some easy instructions on how you can do this.
It is estimated that 2-5% of Australians have FASD. Learn more
Why are we rocking our Red Shoes?
The Red Shoes Rock movement was started in 2013 by RJ Formanek, an educator and advocate living with FASD. He decided to wear red shoes to stand out, be noticed and have fun starting conversations about FASD. In his blog FASD: Presumption of Competence, RJ describes the challenges of living with a hidden disability: “Our brains really are structured differently, and they operate differently … and try as we might we cannot always fulfill those expectations placed upon us.” RJ Formanek is also the founder of the Facebook support group for adults with FASD, called Flying with Broken Wings.
In 2014 Jodee Kulp from Better Endings New Beginnings, a graphic designer and parent of an adult with FASD, stepped in to help RJ build visibility and get the word out. Jodee has made huge contributions as a co-founder of this volunteer-run movement. Their goal is to build awareness and momentum to celebrate FASD Awareness Day. Jodee and the Red Shoes Rock team provide a range of graphics which are free to print or share on social media. View them here.
Read more about the Red Shoes Rock movement.
Don Pentz, an artist and friend of NOFASD Australia, created and donated these beautiful animal images, providing an Australian theme for the Red Shoes Rock movement. Bookmarks, fridge magnets, brochures and t-shirts are available to anyone who plans to host an event for FASD Awareness in September. Contact us to request resources.
What you can do:
We encourage you to get involved! You might like to host an event, post on social media, display information, or have conversations with people in your community. Our Information Pack provides ideas. You may wish to download FASD Fact Sheets to distribute at an event, play a webinar, or provide your own presentation using our FASD 101 PowerPoint slides. NOFASD Australia also has printable posters for display.
Please have fun with the Red Shoes Rock campaign – an opportunity to get creative! Step out in your red shoes and post photos on social media. You might even like to get your pets involved! #RedShoesRock #FASDawareness
This year the NOFASD website will feature a calendar where you can check for what events are being held around Australia in support of FASD Awareness month. We are keen to hear about both events that are open to the public and also the private events that are being planned (i.e.: within workplaces, schools or homes).
Not sure what you could do for a FASD Awareness activity? Here are some ideas:
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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.
Resources
NOFASD Australia is distributing bookmarks, fridge magnets, posters, brochures and t-shirts to individuals and organisations who plan to host an event for FASD Awareness in September (please be mindful of your community’s COVID-19 situation and restrictions when planning events). View our resources and contact us before September 1st to request a resource pack.
These free resources below can be downloaded and printed, or shared electronically, for a FASD Awareness event. Click the links to download:
FASD Awareness Day Information Pack
FASD Facts Brochure – what everyone needs to know
FASD 101 PowerPoint slides – to easily deliver your own FASD presentation
FASD Webinars – perfect for a digital FASD Awareness Day event
FASD and alcohol
In Australia an estimated 60% of pregnancies are exposed to alcohol, often before the parents are aware that they have conceived. An increasing body of research highlights the risks of even small amounts of alcohol to a developing fetus, with the most severe outcome being Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). Learn more about alcohol and pregnancy
FASD is a diagnostic term used to describe impacts on the brain and body of individuals prenatally exposed to alcohol. FASD is a lifelong disability. Individuals with FASD will experience some degree of challenges in their daily living, and need support with motor skills, physical health, learning, memory, attention, communication, emotional regulation, and social skills to reach their full potential. Each individual with FASD is unique and has areas of both strengths and challenges. FASD is a hidden disability, as 80-90% of people with FASD have no visible features. Learn more about FASD
There is no amount of alcohol known to be safe during pregnancy, so it’s best not to drink at all.
The National Health and Medical Research Council advises that “maternal alcohol consumption can harm the developing fetus or breastfeeding baby”.
Recommendations are:
A. To prevent harm from alcohol to their unborn child, women who are pregnant or planning a pregnancy should not drink alcohol.
B. For women who are breastfeeding, not drinking alcohol is safest for their baby.
Healthy pregnancies are not the sole responsibility of women. A fathers’ alcohol consumption impacts the health of his developing baby, and partners play a strong role in supporting alcohol-free pregnancy. Ceasing alcohol use together has been proven to be the most effective way to ensure a healthy pregnancy.
If you have any questions or concerns about alcohol and pregnancy, or FASD, please contact us or call the NOFASD Helpline on 1800 860 613.
The NOFASD Australia team are all rocking our red shoes for FASD Awareness this September – we hope you will join us!
