Program Manager, Alcohol, Pregnancy & FASD Research
BEd
Area of research expertise: project management, education, FASD and justice, alcohol & pregnancy & FASD
Heather spent 12 years teaching in WA and the NT. Her next career move was in managing sporting organisations and major event management. The third change in career saw Heather move into the health sector - managing research projects and monitoring the relationship between pharmaceutical companies, health professionals and the general public with respect to prescription medicines.
In 2010 Heather commenced work at Telethon Kids Institute. Recently completed projects included the development of a screening and diagnostic instrument for FASD; FASD resources and information for foster carers; FASD knowledge, attitudes and practice in the WA justice system and the development of FASD educational resources for justice professionals. Heather is currently the Program Manager Alcohol, Pregnancy & FASD Research and is working with the Co-Heads on strategic plan development and has managerial oversight of this significant multi-funded and multi-site program of research.
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Publications
April 2016
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders: Using knowledge, attitudes and practice of justice professionals to support their educational needs
There was widespread agreement of the need for more information and training about FASD to optimise outcomes for people with FASD engaging with justice system
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Published research Alcohol and Pregnancy and FASD ResearchJanuary 2015Development of a scale to evaluate midwives' beliefs about assessing alcohol use during pregnancy
Prenatal alcohol exposure is an important modifiable cause of adverse fetal outcomes during and following pregnancy.
Published research Alcohol and Pregnancy and FASD ResearchNovember 2014Midwives' knowledge, attitudes and practice about alcohol exposure and the risk of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder
There is a need for further professional development for midwives on screening and brief intervention regarding alcohol consumption during pregnancy and FASD
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Published research Alcohol and Pregnancy and FASD ResearchJuly 2014Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder: Development of consensus referral criteria for specialist diagnostic assessment in Australia
The use of standard methods to identify when to refer individuals who may have FASD for specialist assessment could help improve the identification of this...
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Published research Alcohol and Pregnancy and FASD ResearchOctober 2013Recommendations from a consensus development workshop on the diagnosis of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders in Australia.
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) are underdiagnosed in Australia, and health professionals have endorsed the need for national guidelines for diagnosis.
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Published research Alcohol and Pregnancy and FASD ResearchJuly 2013Involving consumers and the community in the development of a diagnostic instrument for fetal alcohol spectrum disorders in Australia
Australia's commitment to consumer and community participation in health and medical research has grown over the past decade.
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Published research Alcohol and Pregnancy and FASD ResearchOctober 2012Consensus diagnostic criteria for fetal alcohol spectrum disorders in Australia: A modified Delphi study
To evaluate health professionals' agreement with components of published diagnostic criteria for fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) in order to guide...
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Published research Alcohol and Pregnancy and FASD ResearchJune 2012Health professionals' perceptions about the adoption of existing guidelines for the diagnosis of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders in Australia
Despite the availability of five guidelines for the diagnosis of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD), there is no national endorsement for their use in...
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Published research Alcohol and Pregnancy and FASD Research -
Awards/Honours
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Other Activities