Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) is an umbrella term describing a spectrum of disorders including Foetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS), Foetal Alcohol Effects (FAE), Partial Foetal Alcohol Syndrome (pFAS), Alcohol Related Neurodevelopment Disorders (ARND), Static Encephalopathy (alcohol exposed) (SE) and Alcohol Related Birth Defects (ARBD).

FASD is a lifetime disability with lifelong implications.  It is not curable, though it is one hundred percent preventable.  Prevention strategies must focus around education and early intervention, and not only involve health professionals but link clearly with education, housing, justice and other community services.

Early diagnosis can make an enormous difference to the life of the person with the disorder.  Lack of diagnosis can mean inappropriate or lack of interventions that may result in a child not being able to reach their full capacity.

Management of FASD in Australia requires a consistent and multifaceted approach which combines prevention strategies, appropriate screening and diagnosis strategies and continuity of care for people affected by FASD.

This program discusses FASD within the context of prevention, diagnosis, early intervention and long term management and support for sufferers and families.

Two location-based case studies illustrate the difficulties and responsibilities for a child with a diagnosis of FASD.

After viewing this program, participants will be able to:

• Identify incidence of FASD in Australia.
• Understand criteria for diagnosis of disorders contained under the umbrella of FASD.
• Identify primary, secondary and tertiary prevention strategies for FASD.
• Understand how to develop community-based strategies that that support young women and teenagers through education about FASD and that focus on managing alcohol programs.
• Understand the issues for ongoing management and support for a child with FASD.

- Chair: Dr Norman Swan, Presenter of the Health Report on ABC Radio.
- Professor Elizabeth Elliot, Discipline of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Sydney; The Children's Hospital at Westmead; the Australian Paediatric Surveillance Unit NSW; Member FASD Working Group.
- Ms Lorian Hayes, National Indigenous Australian Foetal Alcohol Syndrome Education Network, FAS Education Unit Queensland, Member FASD Working Group.
- Ms Sue Miers, National Organisation for Foetal Alcohol Syndrome & Related Disorders, Member FASD Working Group.
- Dr Lara Wieland, Rural General Practitioner, Mulungu Aboriginal Corporation Medical Centre, Mareeba QLD.
- Click here for more details about the presenters.

85 minutes.

This program was first broadcast live on the Foundation's satellite network on Wednesday 8 November 2006 and was repeated on Friday 10 November 2006.

You can see details of the case studies that are discussed during the program, and access webstreams and podcasts of extended versions (around 7 minutes) of each of case study.

This program is accredited for CPD/CPE by the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine, the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia, the Royal College of Nursing Australia and the Australian Physiotherapy Association.  This program is also eligible for Women's Health points with the RACGP. Click here to evaluate this program and earn professional development points.

Visit our resources page for more Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder resources.

Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing

- 808 Smoking and Pregnancy: Womb to Breathe
- 708 Drinking for Two?
- 702 Alcohol Treatment Guidelines for Indigenous Australians
- 607b Grow Strong
- 607a Start Strong
- 509b Growing Healthy Aboriginal Kids - The Early Years: 1-5
- 509a Aboriginal Maternal and Infant Care
- 402 Prevention and Treatment of Alcohol Problems
- 205 Indigenous Child Health