National FASD Strategic Action Plan
The National FASD Strategic Action Plan 2018 - 2028 has been developed to provide a clear pathway of priorities and opportunities to improve the prevention, diagnosis, support and management of FASD in Australia. This was launched by the Minister for Health, the Hon Greg Hunt at the 2nd Australasian FASD Conference in Perth in November 2018.
Three-year implementation review
The FASD Strategic Action Plan 2018-2028 – Three-year implementation review has since been published in June 2023. The review’s aim is to inform the Australian Government if the plan is on-track to achieving its goals.
Opening address at the 2nd Australasian FASD Conference
Watch the full Australasian FASD Conference
Pregnancy warning labels on packaged alcoholic beverages
The Australian and New Zealand Ministerial Forum on Food Regulation agreed that “a mandatory labelling standard for pregnancy warning labels on packaged alcoholic beverages should be developed and should include a pictogram and relevant warning statement.” The Food Standards Australia and New Zealand (FSANZ) developed these pregnancy warning labels.
- Businesses have until 31 July 2023 to comply with pregnancy warning labelling requirements for all alcoholic beverages
- Businesses have until 1 February 2024 to comply with pregnancy warning labelling for post-printed corrugated cardboard outer packaging, containing more than one individual unit of an alcoholic beverage
More information can be found about this process and on the reviewed report.
National Alcohol Strategy 2019 - 2028
The National Alcohol Strategy 2019 - 2028 is a framework to prevent and reduce alcohol-related harm. It highlights possible actions at the local, state or territory and national levels.
This national strategy:
- Outlines Australia’s agreed approach to prevent and reduce alcohol-related harm
- Highlights priorities and opportunities for action
- Supports government and non-government sectors to work together
- Aims to reduce harmful alcohol drinking by 10%
State and Territory FASD policies
Northern Territory
In December 2018, the Northern Territory Government released a whole of government strategy titled Addressing Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) in the Northern Territory 2018 - 2024.
Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education
The Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education (FARE) is an independent, not-for-profit organisation working to stop the harm caused by alcohol. FARE has developed policies related to FASD.
The National Awareness Campaign for Pregnancy and Breastfeeding Women’s campaign, Every Movement Matters, is funded through the Strategic Action Plan and launched by FARE. It aims to promote the message that the safest choice is not consuming alcohol when trying for a baby, or when pregnant or breastfeeding. FARE has also developed the Pregnant Pause campaign, to encourage Australians to go alcohol-free during their pregnancy or the pregnancy of loved ones.
Every Movement Matters
Pregnant Pause campaign
National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)
The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) identifies FASD as an important category of disability for consideration within the NDIS.
The NDIS recognises Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder under 'Congenital conditions - cases where malformations cannot be corrected by surgery or other treatment and result in permanent impairment but with variable severity' within:
- List B: Permanent conditions for which functional capacity are variable and further assessment of functional capacity generally is required
- List D: Permanent impairment/early intervention, under 7 years – no further assessment required
Telethon Kids Institute Report
The NDIA contracted Telethon Kids Institute to conduct a critical review of the available published and unpublished literature relating to impairment and interventions for FASD. A report was submitted to the NDIA in 2016.