Terms of Reference

Effective approaches to prevention and diagnosis of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD), strategies for optimising life outcomes for people with FASD and supporting carers, and the prevalence and management of FASD, including in vulnerable populations, in the education system, and in the criminal justice system – with particular reference to:

(a) the level of community awareness of risks of alcohol consumption during pregnancy;
(b) the adequacy of the health advice provided to women planning a pregnancy, pregnant women and women who are
      breastfeeding, about the risks of alcohol consumption;
(c) barriers that may prevent women receiving accurate, timely and culturally/ethnically appropriate information and
      advice on alcohol and pregnancy;
(d) provision of diagnostic services in Australia including capacity, training, integration and diagnostic models in current use;
(e) the prevalence and nature of co-occurring conditions and of misdiagnosis of FASD;
(f) international best practice in preventing, diagnosing and managing FASD;
(g) awareness of FASD in schools, and the effectiveness of systems to identify and support affected students;
(h) the prevalence of, and approaches to, FASD in vulnerable populations, including children in foster and state care, migrant
      communities and Indigenous communities;
(i) the recognition of, and approaches to, FASD in the criminal justice system and adequacy of rehabilitation responses;
(j) the social and economic costs of FASD in Australia, including health, education, welfare and criminal justice;
(k) access, availability and adequacy of FASD support available through the National Disability Insurance Scheme, including
      access to effective and early intervention services for individuals diagnosed with FASD;
(l) support for adults with FASD and for parents and carers of children with FASD;
(m) progress on outstanding recommendations of the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Social Policy and
       Legal Affairs report, FASD: The Hidden Harm, tabled on 29 November 2012;
(n) the effectiveness of the National FASD Action Plan 2018-2028, including gaps in ensuring a nationally co-ordinated
      response and adequacy of funding;
(o) the need for improved perinatal data collection and statistical reporting on FASD and maternal drinking; and
(p) any other related matters.

Committee Secretariat contact:

Committee Secretary
Senate Standing Committees on Community Affairs
PO Box 6100
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600

Phone: +61 2 6277 3515
community.affairs.sen@aph.gov.au

Past Public Hearings

10 Mar 2021: Canberra
04 Dec 2020: Canberra
14 Oct 2020: Canberra

more...

Inquiry Status

Report tabled

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