Alcohol and Pregnancy & FASD Research

The ultimate goal of our Alcohol and Pregnancy and FASD Research Team is to prevent children in Australia from being born with FASD.

People with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) have impairments that are permanent and negatively impact upon their development. FASD affects the ability to think, learn, focus attention and control behaviour and emotions. People with FASD maybe impulsive and often have low self-esteem and mental health problems. Their impairments may also lead to socially unacceptable behaviour, alcohol and other drug use, and early interactions with police and the justice system.

It is important that everyone is aware of the harm that can be caused by alcohol on the developing baby. Our Alcohol and Pregnancy and FASD Research Team is working with communities and stakeholders to:

• develop and implement effective prevention strategies to reduce alcohol use during pregnancy
• build the capacity of health professionals to diagnose FASD
• raise awareness and recognition of FASD by people working in the justice system and develop workplace training programs
• implement and evaluate programs that support children with FASD and their families, particularly early interventions that will reduce secondary effects and lifelong impairment.

Collaboration is at the forefront of research in the Alcohol and Pregnancy & FASD Research Team. We work with consumers and the community, external researchers, health professionals, service providers and policy makers across Western Australia, Australia and internationally.

Team Highlights

• Development of the team values and beliefs document ICARE Integrity is the overarching value of the FASD team. It represents the spirit of who we are and pride in what we do and guides us to be ethical, authentic, honest, humble and professional, always.
• Development of a National FASD Hub (Jan 2017).Historically, on-line information focussing on different aspects of FASD was available on Australian websites, but it was a challenge to find current, reliable, locally relevant information. This hub provides a ‘one-stop shop’ for information, resources, tools, services, research and publications about FASD in Australia. https://www.fasdhub.org.au/ 
• Completion of the assessment of young people sentenced to detention in Banksia Hill Detention Centre and presentation of the results and recommendations to government and non-government stakeholders
• Banksia Hill study team, Policy and Research Translation Award, Public Health Association Australia WA Branch, 2017.
• Acknowledgement by maternal health professionals that alcohol and breastfeeding is something they would like to include on their agenda going forward.
• Sue Cherel semi-finalist for Western Australian Regional Achievement and Community Award
• A series of videos were developed with the local Aboriginal Community researchers and community members in Hedland. A particular highlight was being able to share Tracy Kyneston’s story. Tracy who is part of the Hedland Community Reference Group, has FASD and made the decision not to drink alcohol while she was pregnant with her daughter Amy.
• Amy Finlay-Jones awarded a Women in Leadership Australia Accelerated Program Scholarship and  awarded the SPARK Co-Lab Award and Telethon Kids Institute Scholarship
• The Fitzroy Valley Community Researchers working on the Alert Program® graduated with their Certificate II in Community Services from North Regional TAFE
• Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Community Priority Setting Partnership for Research (Mar 2017 to Dec 2017) An intensive research priority setting workshop was undertaken with different stakeholders. The resulting top ten priorities will assist in informing future research and will ensure research undertaken is community relevant, which will, in turn facilitate interventions and policies that are relevant, useful and effective.