A recent study led by the University of Sydney estimates that approximately 3.64% of Australians – equivalent to one child per classroom – may have Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD).
A preventable and often underdiagnosed disability resulting from prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE), FASD is the leading cause of non-genetic disability in Australia.
The national prevalence estimate, published in the Drug and Alcohol Review, is based on a meta-analysis of 78 studies conducted between 1975 and 2018, and is the first Australian study to estimate FASD prevalence in the general population.
The study highlights the critical need for early diagnosis and intervention, particularly in vulnerable populations like youth in detention, children in foster care, and remote Aboriginal communities, where prevalence rates are notably higher.
“Our finding is a wake-up call,” said FASD Hub Australia Chair Professor Elizabeth Elliott. “We need action across multiple sectors – health, education, justice – to ensure we prevent future cases and support people living with FASD.”
Read the study
Read the full media release by the University of Sydney
