Publications

People with FAS are at risk of having adverse childhood experiences, especially those with child protection and/or justice system involvement. The complex relationship between FASD and psychosocial vulnerabilities in the affected individual is an important clinical risk factor for comorbidity. This study explored the ACEs and associated stressors in individuals with FASD, investigated the association between ACEs and negative outcomes, and examined the relationship between ACEs and comorbid conditions such as mood and neurodevelopmental disorders.

This study evaluated the use of the Model of Engaging Communities Collaboratively (MECC) to guide the Jandu Yani U (For All Families) project, in which the Triple P – Positive Parenting Program was collaboratively adapted for use in very remote Aboriginal communities in Western Australia.

This study sought to determine data collection approaches in Australian cohort studies and explore the potential impact on reported prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) prevalence and patterns. PAE prevalence was estimated as 48% (95% CI: 38 to 57%). Use of trained assessors was an influencing factor of the prevalence estimates when data were collected via interview. Alcohol-focused studies reported higher prevalence of PAE, regardless of method of survey administration. Where interviewer training is not possible, self-administered questionnaires was found most likely provide the most reliable PAE estimates.

People with FASD encounter a range of health and allied health providers and require specialised support to ensure health services are provided safely and effectively. However, not all health professionals possess the knowledge or expertise required for the identification, assessment, referral and management of FASD. Accessible resources for understanding and managing FASD can help create awareness in health professionals and ensure patients receive the correct diagnosis and timely access to the necessary supports and services. This scoping review aims to identify and analyse FASD resources for health professionals.

This book chapter gives an overview of the past two decades of Australian FASD research, from fiction to fact to challenges of the future.

As part of the Yapatjarrathati project, 47 remote health providers and community members attended a two-day workshop presenting a prototype of a culturally-safe, tiered neurodevelopmental assessment that can identify FASD in primary healthcare. Narrative analysis of the workshop transcript highlighted a collective sense of compassion for those who use alcohol to cope with intergenerational trauma, but exhaustion at the cyclical nature of FASD. There was a strong desire for a shared responsibility for First Nations children and families and a more prominent role for Aboriginal Health Workers in the assessment process. This study emphasised the benefit of continued co-design to ensure health implementation strategies match the needs of the community.