Publications

From teratogens to trajectories: Integrating teratology and Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) frameworks for a new take on fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD)

This article explains how research on prenatal alcohol exposure has evolved from two separate frameworks, teratology and Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD), into a more integrated approach. It highlights how combining these perspectives improves understanding of how prenatal alcohol exposure affects lifelong health and development, and supports better prevention and intervention strategies for FASD.

Publishing Date:

1 June, 2026
Journal Name:

Science Direct, Neurology of Stress
Authors:

Joanne Weinberg, Karen Moritz

The Impact of Remoteness on the Outcomes of Children With Prenatal Drug Exposure: A Population-Based Cohort Study

This article explores how geography influences outcomes for children with prenatal drug exposure, revealing disparities in health and access to care between regional and metropolitan areas.

Publishing Date:

25 May, 2026
Journal Name:

Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health
Authors:

Taylor Colligan, Ju Lee Oei, Barbara Bajuk, Lucinda Burns, Kate Lawler, Hannah Uebel, John Eastwood, Andrew Page, Evelyn Lee, Lauren Dicair, Charles Green, Michelle Dickson, Mithilesh Dronavalli

Effectiveness of a School‐Based Substance Use Prevention Program in Reducing Primary School Students’ Intentions to Use Tobacco, Alcohol or Other Drugs in the Future

This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of a routinely implemented Australian school-based substance use prevention program in reducing primary school students' intentions for future use, awareness, knowledge and confidence to avoid tobacco, alcohol and other drugs.

Publishing Date:

8 May, 2026
Journal Name:

Drug and Alcohol Review
Authors:

Rebecca K. Hodder, Kate M. O'Brien, Luke Wolfenden, Nicole Nathan, Karen Gillham, Jenny Bowman, Jessica Searston, John H. Wiggers

Developing and Applying a Typology of ‘Better for You’ Claims on Alcohol Products

To appeal to health-conscious consumers, alcohol producers are marketing products with a range of ‘better for you’ claims. This study aims to: (i) develop a typology of text-based ‘better for you’ claims used on alcohol products; (ii) assess the prevalence of these claims in the Australian market overall and by alcohol category; and (iii) identify the extent to which products display multiple claims.

Publishing Date:

1 May, 2026
Journal Name:

Drug and Alcohol Review
Authors:

Asad Yusoff, Simone Pettigrew, Bella Sträuli, Paula O'Brien, Jacqueline Bowden, Mark Petticrew, Alexandra Jones

Policy

‘…you can’t work singular when you’re working with families’: co-creating strategies for fetal alcohol spectrum disorder prevention and support with an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander primary healthcare service: a baseline mixed methods study

Community controlled Aboriginal Medical Services (AMS) lead the way in addressing the health needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. If appropriately resourced, AMSs are inherently well-placed to address prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) and fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD). The Strong Start, Bright Future project and a regional AMS co-created culturally-informed approaches to address PAE and FASD. This study reports baseline findings and proposed strategies for the implementation phase of the project.

Publishing Date:

16 April, 2026
Journal Name:

Australian Journal of Primary Health
Authors:

Vivian Lyall, Nicole Hewlett, Charlie Rowe, Joyanne Clarke, Karen Scofield, Deborah Askew, Lindsay Wolfson, Vanessa Spiller, Karen Liddle, Penelope Abbott, Kylie Lee, Natasha Reid

Inquiry into the health impacts of alcohol and other drugs in Australia: Opening remarks 14 April 2026.

Inquiry into the health impacts of alcohol and other drugs in Australia: Opening remarks 14 April 2026. Elizabeth Elliott, Sharon Medlow and Fiona Robards.

Publishing Date:

14 April, 2026
Journal Name:

The House Standing Committee on Health, Aged Care and Disability
Authors:

NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder