Effective approaches to prevention, diagnosis and support for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder

March 2021

© Commonwealth of Australia 2021
ISBN: 978-1-76093-197-1

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Committee Members

Terms of Reference

Executive Summary

Abbreviations

List of Recommendations

Chapter 1—Introduction

  An invisible epidemic
  Previous inquiries
  Policy initiatives and funding
  Reflecting on the past decade
  Senate inquiry
  Report structure
  Conduct of the inquiry
  Acknowledgements
  Notes on terminology and references

Chapter 2—Alcohol, pregnancy and FASD

  Understanding FASD
  Pregnancies exposed to alcohol
  Factors influencing alcohol consumption during pregnancy
  Prevalence of FASD in Australia
  Social and economic costs of FASD
  Data on FASD and maternal alcohol consumption
  Committee view

Chapter 3—Preventing FASD

  The role of health professionals
  Awareness and education initiatives
  Reducing community-level alcohol consumption
  A comprehensive national prevention strategy
  Committee view

Chapter 4—Diagnosis

  Diagnosing FASD
  Barriers to diagnosis and early intervention
  Misdiagnosis and delayed diagnosis
  Secondary disabilities and co-occurring conditions
  Limitations
  Initiatives aimed at improving access to diagnostic services
  Committee view

Chapter 5—Management and support services

  Supporting individuals with FASD
  Supporting parents and carers
  Accessing the NDIS
  FASD and the education system
  FASD and the justice system
  Recognising FASD as a disability
  Committee view

Chapter 6—First Nations communities

  Alcohol consumption
  Barriers to accessing services
  Successful strategies for supporting First Nations communities
  Committee view

Government Senators' Additional Comments

Labor Senators' Additional Comments

Appendix 1—Submissions and additional information

Appendix 2—Public hearings

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