FAS: implications to family and society in Australia
This article illustrates seven cases of fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS).
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Publishing Date:
June 1, 1980
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Low to moderate maternal alcohol use and neurobehavioural outcome in the newborn infant
This study looked at infant outcomes of mothers drinking prior to pregnancy.
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Publishing Date:
October 1, 1991
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Personality and coping style
The objective of this study published in 1991 was to determine if personality and coping style are central determinants of drinking and smoking at risk to fetal health during pregnancy
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Publishing Date:
April 15, 1992
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Is There Evidence to Show That Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Can Be Prevented?
This article reviews the effectiveness of prevention programs in lowering the incidence of FAS.
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Publishing Date:
March 26, 1999
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Ascertainment of birth defects: The effect on completeness of adding a new source of data
This study investigated effects of adding a new source of data from the Rural Paediatric Service to statistics about birth defects in Western Australian children.
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Publishing Date:
December 26, 2000
Prevalence of FAS in Top End of NT
This study aimed to establish the prevalence of fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) in the top end of the Northern Territory.
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Publishing Date:
September 16, 2003
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
FAS: diagnosis, epidemiology, and developmental outcomes
This review of the literature for fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) aims to provide an understanding of the diagnostic features, causes and effects of FAS.
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Publishing Date:
January 22, 2004
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
FAS in Australia: fact or fiction?
There is an urgent need for research to provide accurate information on the frequency of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) in specific communities.
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Publishing Date:
February 1, 2004
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Health professionals’ knowledge, practice and opinions about FAS and alcohol consumption in pregnancy
This study investigated the knowledge, attitudes and behaviours of health professionals related to drinking and pregnancy.
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Publishing Date:
July 26, 2005
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Use of record linkage to examine alcohol use in pregnancy
This study aimed to examine the obstetric and newborn outcomes for women with an alcohol-related hospital admission during pregnancy.
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Publishing Date:
March 29, 2006
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Review of self-reported alcohol intake among women
This study aimed to identify the characteristics of women who consume alcohol during pregnancy.
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Publishing Date:
May 16, 2006
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Survey of paediatricians’ knowledge, attitudes and practice: FAS diagnosis
This study aimed to assess paediatricians’ knowledge, attitudes and practices of fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) and alcohol use during pregnancy.
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Publishing Date:
October 18, 2006
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Alcohol consumption during pregnancy in non-indigenous women
This study investigated alcohol use in women in Western Australia around the time of conception.
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Publishing Date:
February 1, 2007
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Substance use, psychological distress and violence among pregnant women
This study aimed to identify the prevalence and characteristics of women using drugs and alcohol while pregnant or breastfeeding.
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Publishing Date:
February 1, 2007
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Prenatal alcohol exposure and attention, learning and intellectual ability at 14 years
This study examined the effects of moderate levels of alcohol consumption during pregnancy on 14 year-old children’s intellectual ability, learning and attention.
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Publishing Date:
February 2, 2007
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Review of policies on alcohol use during pregnancy in Australia
This review considered international policies and guidelines related to drinking alcohol during pregnancy.
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Publishing Date:
May 7, 2007
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
FAS: a prospective national surveillance study
This study aimed to describe the causes and effects of fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) as observed by Australian paediatricians.
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Publishing Date:
August 17, 2007
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Impacts of national surveillance for uncommon conditions in childhood
A review of the Australian Paediatric Surveillance Unit (APSU) services over the past 14 years.
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Publishing Date:
October 4, 2007
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Prevalence of FAS in Victoria
This study aimed to establish how common (i.e prevalence) of fetal alcohol syndrome is in the state of Victoria.
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Publishing Date:
October 5, 2007
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Impacts of alcohol use in pregnancy – the role of the GP
This article discusses the clinical features of FASD and the role of the general practitioner in prevention and management.
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Publishing Date:
November 1, 2007
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
International survey of diagnostic services for children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders
This article describes specialist clinical services which diagnose and assess children exposed to alcohol in pregnancy around the world.
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Publishing Date:
April 15, 2008
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder: New Zealand birth mothers’ experiences
The aim of this study published in 2008 was to describe the ‘lived’ experiences of New Zealand birth mothers, from pregnancy onwards, of a child/ren diagnosed with FASD (FASD).
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Publishing Date:
June 1, 2008
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Pregnancy characteristics of women giving birth to children with FAS
This study reviewed pregnancy records of women with children diagnosed with fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) at a Queensland hospital.
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Publishing Date:
June 3, 2008
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Alcohol and pregnancy: The pivotal role of the obstetrician
This article highlights the pivotal role obstetricians play in advising women of the effects of alcohol on the fetus and reducing fetal exposure.
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Publishing Date:
June 3, 2008
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Rare childhood diseases: how should we respond?
The author argues for a national approach in Australia to data gathering for children with rare diseases, such as FASD…
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Publishing Date:
December 1, 2008
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Effect of maternal alcohol consumption on fetal growth and preterm birth
This study investigated the relationship between alcohol use during pregnancy and the size of babies in Western Australia.
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Publishing Date:
January 21, 2009
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Prenatal alcohol exposure and language delay in 2-year-old children
This study aimed to investigate the association of dose and timing of prenatal alcohol exposure with early language acquisition.
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Publishing Date:
February 1, 2009
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Need to establish a national diagnostic capacity for foetal alcohol spectrum disorders
The challenge for the Australian health professional is agreeing on a model for diagnosing and treating FASD.
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Publishing Date:
March 13, 2009
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Review of interventions for children with FASD
This systematic review aims to identify and evaluate the evidence for drug and non-drug interventions for children with FASD.
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Publishing Date:
May 25, 2009
Research
- Alcohol & Pregnancy
- FASD Assessment & Diagnosis
- FASD in adulthood
- FASD management, therapy & support
Page last updated April 27, 2025
In utero brain damage from alcohol: a preventable tragedy
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Publishing Date:
September 16, 2009
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Prenatal alcohol classification accounting for dose, pattern and timing
This study considered the use of the “composite method” in assessment of alcohol effects on the fetus.
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Publishing Date:
October 19, 2009
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Warning labels on alcohol containers as a source of information on alcohol consumption in pregnancy among New Zealand women
The addition of a warning label on alcohol containers is a policy measure yet to be adopted in New Zealand. The current study published in 2009 aims to report the rating of a national sample of 16-40-year-old non-pregnant New Zealand women on a warning label on alcohol containers as a source of information on risks associated with alcohol consumption in pregnancy. A nationwide, cross-sectional survey was conducted in 2005 on a random sample of 1129 non-pregnant women aged 16-40 years.
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Publishing Date:
November 11, 2009
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Maternal alcohol use before and during pregnancy among women in Taranaki, New Zealand
The study researched alcohol consumption and drinking patterns before and during pregnancy. This was a 1 month self report survey of postnatal women from 21 May-22 June 2006.
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Publishing Date:
November 11, 2009
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Evidence of a complex association between dose, pattern and timing of prenatal alcohol exposure and child behaviour problems
This 8-year longitudinal study of mothers who drank alcohol during their pregnancy looked at the impact on behaviours in children over two years old.
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Publishing Date:
December 14, 2009
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Opinions of non-pregnant New Zealand women aged 16-40 years about the safety of alcohol consumption during pregnancy
This study published in 2009 aims to assess the opinions of New Zealand women on the safety of alcohol consumption in pregnancy and the sociodemographic and lifestyle factors associated with these opinions.
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Publishing Date:
March 10, 2010
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Congenital anomalies – why bother?
This article looks at the challenge of convincing governments to collect information on congenital anomalies (also called birth defects).
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Publishing Date:
March 15, 2010
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Alcohol consumption in pregnancy
The effect of alcohol consumption in pregnancy depends on the amount of alcohol consumed each time, the frequency and duration of alcohol use.
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Publishing Date:
June 1, 2010
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Pregnant women’s compliance with different alcohol guidelines
This study aimed to assess women’s compliance with different Australian guidelines on alcohol intake during pregnancy.
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Publishing Date:
June 21, 2010
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Health professionals addressing alcohol use with pregnant women in Western Australia: Barriers and Strategies for Communication
This article discusses the barriers health professionals have to addressing prenatal alcohol use and the strategies to overcome them.
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Publishing Date:
June 30, 2010
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Attention-deficit hyperactivity and FASDs in children
This article considers the relationship between FASD and ADHD and whether some of the interventions used in ADHD may be adapted for people with FASD.
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Publishing Date:
August 11, 2010
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Women’s knowledge and attitudes regarding alcohol consumption in pregnancy: a national survey
This study surveyed 1103 Australian women about their knowledge and attitudes related to drinking alcohol during pregnancy.
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Publishing Date:
August 23, 2010
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Prenatal alcohol exposure and risk of birth defects
This study investigated the association between dose, pattern, and timing of prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) and birth defects. Compared with abstinence, heavy alcohol use in the first trimester was associated with a fourfold increase in risk of birth defects. The study found no association between low or moderate prenatal alcohol exposure and birth defects.
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Publishing Date:
October 1, 2010
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Prevalence and Predictors of Alcohol Use in Pregnancy and Breastfeeding Among Australian Women
The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence and correlates of alcohol use in pregnancy and lactation.
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Publishing Date:
January 1, 2011
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
RE-AIM evaluation of the Alcohol and Pregnancy Project
This article evaluates the Alcohol and Pregnancy Project which targeted health professionals in Western Australia.
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Publishing Date:
February 3, 2011
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Paediatricians’ knowledge, attitudes and practice following provision of educational resources about prevention of PAE and FASD
This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes and practice of paediatricians in Western Australia in relation to fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS).
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Publishing Date:
March 30, 2011
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Geographic and Maternal Characteristics Associated with Alcohol Use in Pregnancy
This study analysed population data about mothers who used alcohol in pregnancy and their geographic location (metropolitan, regional and remote).
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Publishing Date:
April 4, 2011
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Changes in health professionals’ knowledge, attitudes and practice following provision of educational resources about prevention of prenatal alcohol exposure and fetal alcohol spectrum disorder
This study evaluated an education program alcohol consumption in pregnancy and fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) targetting health professionals in Western Australia.
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Publishing Date:
April 24, 2011
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Collaborating with consumer and community representatives in health and medical research in Australia: results from an evaluation
This article outlines a project management approach used in the Alcohol and Pregnancy Project.
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Publishing Date:
May 14, 2011
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Researchers’ experience with project management
This article outlines a project management approach used in the Alcohol and Pregnancy Project.
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Publishing Date:
June 2, 2011
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Health initiatives by Indigenous people in Australia
This article explores the fact that the rate of infant deaths is three times higher in indigenous children than non-indigenous Australians.
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Publishing Date:
June 18, 2011
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Indigenous youth in the criminal justice system
Australian Government report into the high levels of involvement of Indigenous juveniles and young adults in the criminal justice system.
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Publishing Date:
June 20, 2011
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Attitudes and behaviour predict women’s intention to drink alcohol during pregnancy
This study examined women’s alcohol consumption in pregnancy and potential predictors of alcohol consumption.
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Publishing Date:
July 28, 2011
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Midwives and pregnant women talk about alcohol: what advice do we give and what do they receive?
This article reports on a survey of health professionals to evaluate their familiarity with and use of five existing diagnostic guidelines for FASD.
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Publishing Date:
August 1, 2011
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Guidelines for pregnancy – what’s an acceptable risk
This article reviews the evidence of risks in fetal development from low to moderate levels of prenatal drinking.
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Publishing Date:
September 29, 2011
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
There’s hope in the valley
This article describes the background to a FASD prevalence study which commenced in 2010 in the Fitzroy Valley in Western Australia.
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Publishing Date:
March 1, 2012
Research
- Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Communities
- Alcohol & Pregnancy
- FASD Assessment & Diagnosis
- FASD in adulthood
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Prenatal alcohol exposure, fetal growth and preterm birth
While the findings of the meta-analysis should reassure women who have consumed alcohol at low levels during pregnancy, the risk of fetal growth and preterm birth increased.
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Publishing Date:
April 25, 2012
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
The Lililwan Project protocol for study of the prevalence of FASD in remote Australia
This article outlines the protocols established to guide a study into how common (i.e the prevalence) of FASD was in the Fitzroy Valley in Western Australia.
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Publishing Date:
May 3, 2012
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Health professionals’ perceptions about the adoption of existing guidelines for the diagnosis of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders in Australia
This article reports on a survey of health professionals to evaluate their familiarity with and use of five existing diagnostic guidelines for FASD.
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Publishing Date:
June 14, 2012
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Heavy prenatal alcohol exposure and increased risk of stillbirth
This Western Australian study investigated the link between heavy prenatal drinking and stillbirth.
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Publishing Date:
June 17, 2012
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Recording a history of alcohol use in pregnancy
This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of alcohol documentation in a Child Development Service and the knowledge, attitudes and practice of health practitioners.
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Publishing Date:
June 23, 2012
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
People with cognitive and mental health impairments in the criminal justice system
NSW report investigates opportunities to enhance diversion at all stages of the criminal justice system for people with cognitive and mental health impairments.
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Publishing Date:
June 26, 2012
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder: the invisible disability
Western Australian Government report into FASD in the state.
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Publishing Date:
September 1, 2012
Research
- Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Communities
- Alcohol & Pregnancy
- FASD & Justice
- FASD Assessment & Diagnosis
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Alcohol and Pregnancy: Do Abstinence Policies Have Unintended Consequences?
This commentary explores the possibility that a policy of abstinence (i.e not drinking alcohol) for pregnant women may lead to termination of pregnancy.
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Publishing Date:
September 4, 2012
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Consensus diagnostic criteria for fetal alcohol spectrum disorders in Australia: a modified Delphi study
This article reports on a survey of health professionals to evaluate their familiarity with and use of five existing diagnostic guidelines for FASD.
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Publishing Date:
September 26, 2012
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
FASD: The Hidden Harm – Inquiry into prevention, diagnosis and management of FASD
Landmark Australian Government report into FASD in Australia.
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Publishing Date:
November 29, 2012
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Screening for alcohol and drug use in pregnancy
This study investigated the accuracy and ease of use of screening for alcohol and other drugs at an antenatal service.
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Publishing Date:
December 6, 2012
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Maternal factors associated with heavy periconceptional alcohol intake and drinking following pregnancy recognition: a post-partum survey of New Zealand women
A retrospective survey of 723 post-partum women resident in maternity wards located across New Zealand was conducted using a self-administered questionnaire. Maternal sociodemographic and obstetric characteristics and alcohol intake before and after pregnancy recognition were assessed. This article was published in 2013.
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Publishing Date:
January 9, 2013
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
A modified Delphi study of screening for FASD
This study assessed the perceptions among health professionals about screening for FASD in Australia…
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Publishing Date:
January 25, 2013
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Alcohol-use disorders during and within one year of pregnancy: a population-based cohort study 1985–2006
This article examined alcohol-use disorders in pregnant women and the extent of under-reporting…
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Publishing Date:
February 19, 2013
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Explainer: foetal alcohol spectrum disorders
This article discusses the strategies to address foetal alcohol spectrum disorder with a focus on prevention.
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Publishing Date:
February 28, 2013
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
FASD and the law in Australia: the need for awareness and concern to translate into urgent action
This article discusses the challenges that FASD presents to the legal system and laws in Australia…
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Publishing Date:
March 1, 2013
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Intellectual disability: population-based estimates of the proportionattributable to maternal alcohol use disorder during pregnancy
This study examined the association between maternal alcohol use disorder (AUD) and intellectual disability in children.
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Publishing Date:
March 1, 2013
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Development of a reliable questionnaire to assist in the diagnosis of FASD
This study aimed to assess the value of a FASD assessment tool for use in remote Aboriginal communities in Australia…
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Publishing Date:
March 7, 2013
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Counting FASD in Australia: The evidence and the challenges
This review provides an overview on how common FASD is in Australia (its prevalence) and the need for better data to inform this knowledge…
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Publishing Date:
April 25, 2013
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Prenatal Alcohol Exposure and Educational Achievement in Children
This study examined the relationships between prenatal alcohol exposure and achievement in reading, writing, spelling and numeracy in children.
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Publishing Date:
April 29, 2013
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Pregnancy intention in an urban Australian antenatal population
This study published in 2013 aimed to determine the prevalence of unintended pregnancy in women presenting for antenatal care to a large metropolitan hospital in Sydney, Australia, and to investigate health behaviours and demographic factors associated with unintended pregnancy
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Publishing Date:
May 15, 2013
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Promoting Abstinence From Alcohol During Pregnancy: Implications From Formative Research
This article reports on the beliefs and attitudes of women in Western Australia to alcohol use during pregnancy and motivations for behaviour change…
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Publishing Date:
July 2, 2013
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Investigating the relationship between birth defects and prenatal alcohol exposure
This study investigated what proportion of birth defects are related to alcohol use during pregnancy.
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Publishing Date:
July 3, 2013
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Involving consumers and the community in the development of a diagnostic instrument for FASD
This article reports on community involvement in a project to develop a diagnostic instrument for FASD in Australia…
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Publishing Date:
July 30, 2013
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency-Short Form is reliable in children living in remote Australian Aboriginal communities
This study evaluated whether a standard measure of motor skills used in FASD diagnosis was applicable to an Aboriginal population of children.
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Publishing Date:
September 6, 2013
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Building a Community of Care Through Diagnosis of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders in Aotearoa New Zealand
-
Publishing Date:
September 11, 2013
Research
- FASD Assessment & Diagnosis
- FASD in adulthood
- FASD management, therapy & support
- Health Professionals
- Services
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Prevalence and correlates of drinking in early pregnancy among women who stopped drinking on pregnancy recognition
There is a dearth of studies reporting on patterns and correlates of drinking in early pregnancy prior to stopping on pregnancy recognition, which the current study aims to address. In 2005, a New Zealand nationwide cross-sectional survey was conducted on a random sample of 1,256 women aged 16-40 years. This article was published in 2013.
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Publishing Date:
September 12, 2013
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Recommendations from a consensus development workshop on the diagnosis of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders in Australia
A panel of 13 health professionals, researchers, and consumer and community representatives attended a 2-day consensus development workshop…
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Publishing Date:
October 2, 2013
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Better health services needed to break cycle of juvenile offending
Young people need to be properly assessed for cognitive impairment or functional problems.
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Publishing Date:
December 11, 2013
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Messages that increase women’s intentions to abstain from alcohol during pregnancy
This study evaluated three different advertising concepts addressing alcohol and pregnancy with women living in Perth…
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Publishing Date:
January 13, 2014
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Commentary on Australian FASD diagnostic guidelines
This commentary considers the issues around the need for a single diagnostic criteria internationally…
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Publishing Date:
April 1, 2014
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Australia plays “catch up” with FASD
This article provides an overview of FASD policy, health prevention, diagnosis and management in Australia.
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Publishing Date:
April 8, 2014
Research
- Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Communities
- Alcohol & Pregnancy
- Breastfeeding & Alcohol
- FASD Assessment & Diagnosis
- Health Professionals
- Policy
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Gross Motor Deficits in Children Prenatally Exposed to Alcohol
This review looked at gross motor skills in children with FASD where moderate to heavy drinking was carried out during pregnancy.
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Publishing Date:
July 1, 2014
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
FASD – development of consensus referral criteria
-
Publishing Date:
July 8, 2014
Research
- Alcohol & Pregnancy
- FASD Assessment & Diagnosis
- FASD management, therapy & support
- Health Professionals
- Policy
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Factors influencing women’s decisions to drink alcohol during pregnancy: findings of a qualitative study with implications for health communication
This study published in 2014 presents findings on women’s deliberations over drinking alcohol during pregnancy, particularly their emotional dimensions, to inform debates about public health messages and practitioner-patient discussions regarding alcohol use during pregnancy
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Publishing Date:
July 23, 2014
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Alcohol Use during Pregnancy: Considerations for Australian Policy
This article identifies issues which should guide FASD policy development in Australia.
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Publishing Date:
August 21, 2014
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Education, safe drinking practices and FASD in Kimberley
This study was conducted in the Kimberly region (Western Australia) to determine what factors are associated with knowledge about drinking during pregnancy.
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Publishing Date:
September 1, 2014
Research
- Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Communities
- Alcohol & Pregnancy
- Breastfeeding & Alcohol
- FASD Assessment & Diagnosis
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Study protocol: Asking Questions about Alcohol in pregnancy
This article provides an overview of the Asking Questions about Alcohol (AQUA) study which examines the effects of low to moderate alcohol use during pregnancy.
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Publishing Date:
September 3, 2014
Research
- Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Communities
- Alcohol & Pregnancy
- FASD Assessment & Diagnosis
- Health Professionals
- Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Fine Motor Skills in Children With FASD
This systematic review examined which fine motor skills are impaired in children with FASD and prenatal alcohol exposure…
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Publishing Date:
November 1, 2014
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Midwives’ knowledge, attitudes and practice about alcohol exposure
This study investigates midwives’ knowledge, attitudes and practice in relation to alcohol consumption during pregnancy and FASD.
-
Publishing Date:
November 5, 2014
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Access to Justice Arrangements
The Productivity Commission’s report into equitable access to legal and justice system for all Australians.
-
Publishing Date:
December 3, 2014
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Message on a bottle
Are mothers-to-be adequately informed about the dangers of drinking during pregnancy?
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Publishing Date:
January 15, 2015
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
The hidden harm: Alcohol’s impact on children and families
Excessive drinking is linked to negative outcomes in families. From modelling of poor drinking behaviours, family arguments and disrupted family occasions, relationships child injuries, ongoing child neglect and abuse, and domestic violence.
-
Publishing Date:
February 1, 2015
Research
- Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Communities
- Alcohol & Pregnancy
- Breastfeeding & Alcohol
- Health Professionals
- Policy
- Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Prevalence and patterns of alcohol use in pregnancy
A survey of caregivers in the Fitzroy Valley was carried out to determine how common alcohol use was and what were the patterns use…
-
Publishing Date:
February 19, 2015
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
The Preventable Disability
This report summarises the prevalence, social and economical impacts, management and prevention of FASD. It also reports on alcohol consumption and policy context within the Northern Territory.
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Publishing Date:
February 25, 2015
Research
- Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Communities
- Alcohol & Pregnancy
- FASD & Justice
- FASD Assessment & Diagnosis
- FASD management, therapy & support
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Increasing accurate self-report in surveys of pregnancy alcohol use
This study aimed to identify the factors which would allow women to provide accurate data on alcohol use in pregnancy.
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Publishing Date:
March 1, 2015
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
FASD in Australia – the future is prevention
This article highlights efforts up until 2014 to recognise and prevent FASD in Australia. ..
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Publishing Date:
March 30, 2015
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Knowledge and experiences relating to alcohol consumption in pregnancy
This study examined what information is being provided to women and their partners during pregnancy about alcohol use..
-
Publishing Date:
April 1, 2015
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Prevalence of fetal alcohol syndrome in a population-based sample of children living in remote Australia: The Lililwan Project
This study aimed to determine how common fetal alcohol syndrome and partial fetal alcohol syndrome was in the Fitzroy Valley…
-
Publishing Date:
April 1, 2015
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Paternal involvement in alcohol exposure during pre-conception and pregnancy
This overview of alcohol exposure and FASD provides nursing and midwifery professions with fundamental information about the condition.
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Publishing Date:
May 1, 2015
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Mental and Behavioral Disorders Due to Substance Abuse and Perinatal Outcomes: A Study Based on Linked Population Data in New South Wales, Australia
This study published in 2014 linked birth and hospital records in NSW, Australia. Subjects included primiparous mothers admitted to hospital for MBD due to use of alcohol, opioids or cannabinoids during peri-conception and pregnancy.
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Publishing Date:
May 20, 2015
Research
- Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Communities
- Alcohol & Pregnancy
- Breastfeeding & Alcohol
- Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Alcohol, hurting people and harming communities
Australian Government report into the harmful use of alcohol in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities…
-
Publishing Date:
June 25, 2015
Research
- Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Communities
- Alcohol & Pregnancy
- Breastfeeding & Alcohol
- FASD Assessment & Diagnosis
- Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Women aren’t following advice to stop drinking when pregnant
This article highlights the fact that around 40% of Australian women drink while pregnant and 10% reported binge drinking. The authors conclude that advice about drinking and messages about the risk of FASD are not getting through to women in Australia.
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Publishing Date:
July 7, 2015
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
State intervention in pregnancy: the law and FASD
This article considers whether or not the law in Australia should respond to the problem of FASD by allowing the involuntary treatment and detention of pregnant women.
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Publishing Date:
September 1, 2015
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Review of FASD Interventions
This systematic review of 32 studies highlighted that most FASD research focused on 3-12 year olds and that there is growing evidence for the effectiveness of interventions.
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Publishing Date:
November 18, 2015
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
FASD: A consideration of sentencing and unreliable confessions
This article reviews legal approaches in Australia, New Zealand and internationally…
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Publishing Date:
December 1, 2015
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Knowledge and practices of health professionals concerning alcohol consumption during pregnancy
This study explores the advice that health professionals provide to pregnant women about alcohol consumption…
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Publishing Date:
December 1, 2015
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Maternity-care: measuring women’s perceptions
The purpose of this paper is to outline the development of an instrument to assess women’s perception of their entire maternity-care experience. The scales produced from this research offer a means to assess maternity care across the full continuum of care and are brief and easy to use.
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Publishing Date:
February 8, 2016
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Predictors of postnatal mother-infant bonding: the role of antenatal bonding, maternal substance use and mental health
This study aimed to examine the extent to which mother-fetal bonding, substance use and mental health through pregnancy predicted postnatal mother-infant bonding.
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Publishing Date:
February 11, 2016
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Impairment of motor skills in children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders in remote Australia: The Lililwan Project
This study investigated the relationship between motor skills, FASD and prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) in the Fitzroy Valley.
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Publishing Date:
February 11, 2016
Research
- Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Communities
- FASD Assessment & Diagnosis
- FASD management, therapy & support
- Research
- Services
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders, Expert Evidence and the Unreliability of Admissions during Police Interviews
Case commentary from 2016. It has been recognised for over a decade that FASDs (FASDs), if not identified, can result in miscarriages of justice by reason of profoundly reducing the culpability, and on occasion even the responsibility, of criminal offenders. The potential for such disorders to result in the unreliability of admissions and confessions to police (which may be vital pieces of evidence against accused persons) had also been recognised in principle. However, the decision of the Privy Council in Pora v The Queen [2015] UKPC 9 provides an authoritative legal precedent for recognition of the fact that questioning by police has the potential to yield unreliable and confabulated confessions from persons with FASDs.
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Publishing Date:
February 25, 2016
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
The Royal Australasian College of Physicians and The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists: Alcohol Policy – March 2016
This policy document provides a comprehensive overview of the significant and varied harms associated with alcohol, while making recommendations for addressing these harms. It highlights that a comprehensive, multifaceted approach to reducing alcohol-related harm is required.
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Publishing Date:
February 29, 2016
Research
- Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Communities
- Alcohol & Pregnancy
- FASD Assessment & Diagnosis
- Policy
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Prenatal Alcohol Exposure, FASD, and Child Behavior: A Meta-analysis
This review summarises the behaviours of children with FASD and/or prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE), assessed using the commonly-used Child Behavior Checklist, Teacher Report Form, or Youth Self-Report Form. This review of 23 studies reported that FASD and PAE are associated with problematic behaviour in many, but not all, functional brain domains.
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Publishing Date:
March 1, 2016
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Soft neurological signs and prenatal alcohol exposure: a population-based study in remote Australia
This study explored the relationship between gross motor skills, FASD and prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) in Australian Aboriginal children.
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Publishing Date:
March 15, 2016
Research
- Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Communities
- Alcohol & Pregnancy
- FASD management, therapy & support
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Review of the Criminal Law (Mentally Impaired Accused) Act 1996
This is a review of the laws in Western Australia which deal with accused who have been found by a court to be mentally unfit to stand trial.
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Publishing Date:
April 1, 2016
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
FactCheck Q&A: does Australia have some of the highest rates per capita of fetal alcohol syndrome in the world?
Sharman’s Stone’s statement is broadly correct. Based on current – albeit scarce – global data, results from the Lililwan project in Fitzroy Crossing reveal among the highest rates per capita of FAS or FASD in the world. However, it is important to note this is a study of a high risk population and cannot be used to make generalisations about Australia as a whole.
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Publishing Date:
April 18, 2016
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders: Using Knowledge, Attitudes and Practice of Justice Professionals to Support Their Educational Needs
This project aimed to find out what WA justice professionals knew about FASD, how it impacted on their work and what information and resources would help them.
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Publishing Date:
April 22, 2016
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Mechanisms of influence: Alcohol industry submissions to the inquiry into fetal alcohol spectrum disorders
This study examined all alcohol industry submissions to an Australian Government inquiry into FASD,to assist in understanding how those with vested interests contribute to policy development. The authors concluded that the alcohol industry sought to undermine community concern, debate the evidence, promote ineffective measures and attack independent health professionals and researchers.
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Publishing Date:
June 1, 2016
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Sympathy, shame, and few solutions: News media portrayals of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders
This study explored media coverage related to alcohol use during pregnancy and FASD with the aim of identifying ways to improve associated health messages. Researchers identified two frames for media coverage of FASD: sympathy and shame. The authors concluded that media portrayals that encourage women to refrain from alcohol consumption during pregnancy might be more useful than stigmatising and isolating those who do.
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Publishing Date:
June 4, 2016
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Study protocol for screening anddiagnosis of fetal alcohol spectrumdisorders (FASD) among young peoplesentenced to detention in WesternAustralia
This study aims to establish the prevalence of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) among sentenced young people in detention in Western Australia (WA). By identifying the rate of FASD within this population, the study seeks to develop a screening tool that can be utilized for young people entering detention. The translation of these findings will play a crucial role in guiding the management and support of young individuals with FASD in the detention system. Ultimately, the results of this study are expected to have significant implications for the lives of these young people and the future of Australian youth justice services, improving both individual outcomes and systemic responses.
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Publishing Date:
June 22, 2016
Gross motor performance in children prenatally exposed to alcohol and living in remote Australia
This review investigated the effectiveness of interventions to improve gross motor skills in children with mild to moderate movement disorders.
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Publishing Date:
July 20, 2016
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Visual-motor integration, visual perception, and fine motor coordination in a population of children with high levels of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
This study investigated deficits in visual-motor integration skills among Australian Aboriginal children with FASD or prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) living in remote areas. Visual-motor integration is the ability to coordinate vision and hand movement to accurately copy complex shapes, which is an important skill for handwriting and other school tasks. Many children in the study had poor visual-motor integration, but more children with FASD had problems with VMI than children without PAE. Children with FASD had additional problems with fine motor coordination.
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Publishing Date:
August 1, 2016
Research
- Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Communities
- Alcohol & Pregnancy
- FASD Assessment & Diagnosis
- Health Professionals
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Neuropsychological Aspects of Prevention and Intervention for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders in Australia
A multidisciplinary model in the implementation of FASD prevention, diagnosis and therapy approaches is considered best practice. A key challenge for Australian clinicians, policy makers and researchers is to collaborate on a coordinated, national response to FASD that is data-driven and aligned with international guidelines and study protocols.
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Publishing Date:
August 1, 2016
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
“Did you ever drink more?” A detailed description of pregnant women’s drinking patterns
This paper presents drinking patterns in a group of 1570 pregnant women. The study identified characteristics of pregnant women who either abstain, drink until pregnancy awareness or drink throughout pregnancy.
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Publishing Date:
August 2, 2016
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Australian Medical Association position paper: Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) – 2016
This position paper outlines the prevalence, prevention, diagnosis, treatment and support of FASD. It proposes 10 recommendations to improve these areas, as well as the overall awareness of FASD in Australia.
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Publishing Date:
August 24, 2016
Research
- Alcohol & Pregnancy
- FASD Assessment & Diagnosis
- FASD management, therapy & support
- Health Professionals
- Policy
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Graphomotor skills in children with prenatal alcohol exposure and fetal alcohol spectrum disorder: A population-based study in remote Australia
Handwriting and drawing (graphomotor) skills were assessed in Australian Aboriginal children with FASD and prenatal exposure to alcohol (PAE) in remote Western Australia. Graphomotor skills were poor and children with FASD performed significantly worse than children without PAE.
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Publishing Date:
September 19, 2016
Research
- Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Communities
- FASD Assessment & Diagnosis
- Research
- Teachers & schools
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander experience of law enforcement and justice services
This is a report by the Australian Government into a range of issues associated with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander experience of law enforcement and justices services.
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Publishing Date:
October 13, 2016
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Indefinite detention of people with cognitive and psychiatric impairment in Australia
Australian Government report into the aspects of indefinite detention of people with a cognitive and/or psychiatric impairment.
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Publishing Date:
November 29, 2016
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Interventions to improve gross motor performance in children with neurodevelopmental disorders: a meta-analysis
This review investigated the effectiveness of interventions to improve gross motor skills in children with mild to moderate movement disorders.
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Publishing Date:
November 29, 2016
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Perinatal maternal alcohol consumption and methylation of the dopamine receptor DRD4 in the offspring: the Triple B study
This study investigated underlying molecular mechanisms associated with FASD and adverse health outcomes.
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Publishing Date:
December 7, 2016
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
The development of a culturally appropriate school based intervention for Australian Aboriginal children living in remote communities: A formative evaluation of the Alert Program® intervention
This study describes the development of a pilot school-based Alert Program targeted to assist self-regulation in Aboriginal children affected by FASD.
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Publishing Date:
December 13, 2016
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Prenatal Alcohol Consumption Between Conception and Recognition of Pregnancy
The purpose of this study was to examine prevalence and predictors of alcohol consumption by women prior to awareness of their pregnancy, and trajectories of change to alcohol use following pregnancy recognition.
In this sample of relatively high SES women, most women ceased or reduced drinking once aware of their pregnancy. However, the rate of alcohol-exposed pregnancies was higher than previous estimates when the period prior to pregnancy recognition was taken into account.
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Publishing Date:
January 24, 2017
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Alcohol consumption by breastfeeding mothers: Frequency, correlates and infant outcomes
This study examined the frequency, correlates and outcomes of alcohol use during breastfeeding.
Data were from an Australian cohort study. Results showed alcohol use was reported by 60.7% and 69.6% of breastfeeding women at 8 weeks and 12 months postpartum, respectively. Breastfeeding women who consumed alcohol were more likely to be born in Australia or another English-speaking country, be tertiary educated and have higher household incomes. Most drank at low levels (<=14 standard drinks per week, <3 per occasion) and employed strategies (e.g. timing of alcohol use) to minimise alcohol passed onto infants via breastmilk. The authors concluded that low level drinking during breastfeeding is not linked with shorter breastfeeding duration or adverse outcomes in infants up to 12 months of age.
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Publishing Date:
March 13, 2017
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Profile of children diagnosed with a fetal alcohol spectrum disorder: A retrospective chart review
The aim of the current study was to report on the diagnostic profile of a group of children who attended the service, to document the extent to which there were comorbid diagnoses and to provide information on the neurocognitive functioning of the children. The current study demonstrates that with the relevant training and expertise, assessment and diagnosis of FASD can be embedded within the existing health services available in Australia.
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Publishing Date:
March 23, 2017
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
A qualitative evaluation of caregivers’ experiences, understanding and outcomes following diagnosis of FASD
The first diagnostic centre for FASD in Australia was set up in 2012 involving a range of health professionals providing a multi-disciplinary service. This article outlines the experience of diagnosis from the perspectives of caregivers of children with FASD.
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Publishing Date:
April 1, 2017
Zika prep confirms microcephaly and FASD link
This 25-year study into the baseline rate of microcephaly in Australia confirmed an important link with FASD. It was reported in the Western Australian population that there was a microcephaly prevalence of 1 in 1830 births and the most frequent cause was FASD, particularly in Aboriginal births.
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Publishing Date:
May 1, 2017
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Prevalence of microcephaly in an Australian population-based birth defects register, 1980–2015
This study set out to describe the prevalence (how many) and characteristics of microcephaly in a geographically defined Australian population. The authors identified a high proportion of cases without known cause, highlighting the need for clinicians to carefully investigate all possibilities, including emerging infections. FASD is an important cause of microcephaly in the Aboriginal population.
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Publishing Date:
May 1, 2017
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Maternal alcohol use disorder and childschool attendance outcomes for non Indigenous and Indigenous children in Western Australia: a population cohortrecord linkage study
This study examined the relationship between maternal alcohol use disorder and child school attendance in Western Australia. Maternal alcohol use disorder was significantly associated with poor attendance for both non-Indigenous and Indigenous children. However, there was no significant difference between timing of diagnosis and poor school attendance.
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Publishing Date:
May 1, 2017
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Prevalence and profile of neurodevelopment and FASD amongst Australian Aboriginal Children living in remote communities
This study assesses neurodevelopmental outcomes in a population of Australian Aboriginal children with and without prenatal alcohol exposure.
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Publishing Date:
May 9, 2017
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Maternal alcohol disorders and school achievement: a population cohort record linkage study in Western Australia
This study examines school achievement in children of Indigenous and non-Indigenous mothers with an alcohol-related diagnosis…
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Publishing Date:
May 9, 2017
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Association Between Prenatal Alcohol Exposure and Craniofacial Shape of Children at 12 Months of Age
Investigation of 3D facial images of one year old children with prenatal alcohol exposure. Shows subtle facial differences in children with alcohol exposure, even at low levels, when compared to children of abstinent mothers. Important message of biological effect of ethanol.
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Publishing Date:
June 5, 2017
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Prenatal alcohol exposure: No safe amount
Prenatal alcohol exposure is important for every mother to consider.
What women need to know:
If you are pregnant, or trying to get pregnant, no amount of alcohol use is safe.
All types of alcohol – including wine, beer, and hard liquor – have similar risks for your baby.
When a pregnant woman drinks, so does her baby.
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Publishing Date:
August 1, 2017
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Maternal Alcohol Use Disorder and Risk of Child Contact with the Justice System in Western Australia: A PopulationCohort Record Linkage Study
This study linked children of mothers who had an alcohol related disorder to their risk of having contact with the justice system in Western Australia.
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Publishing Date:
August 1, 2017
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
New Opportunities for Evidence in Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
This commentary pertains to a study looking at objective 3-dimensional facial imaging and differences between the facial shape of individuals with FAS and individuals without FAS or partial FAS, as well as those with heavy prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) but without a diagnosis of FAS or partial FAS. The results of this study, with its more precise and objective measures of dose, frequency, and timing of PAE, especially if confirmed by others and in larger samples, will continue the journey toward more robust evidence for informing health policy.
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Publishing Date:
August 1, 2017
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Assessment and Evaluation of FASD (FASD) and its Potential Relevance for Sentencing: A Clarion Call from Western Australia
Case commentary from 2017. LCM was a child of 15 whose diagnosis of FASD was not made prior to his being sentenced for manslaughter. The diagnosis arrived at by a multidisciplinary team shortly before his appeal to the Western Australian Court of Appeal in LCM v The State of Western Australia [2016] WASCA 164 resulted in a significant reduction in his sentence.
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Publishing Date:
August 2, 2017
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Behavior in Children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders in Remote Australia: A Population-Based Study
This study demonstrates that children with FASD have more teacher-reported behavioral impairment than children without FASD. In remote Australian communities, academic performance is poor.
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Publishing Date:
September 1, 2017
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Digital assessment of the fetal alcohol syndrome facial phenotype: reliability and agreement study
This study used the Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) Facial Photographic Analysis Software to assess the three sentinel facial features of FAS in a cohort of Australian Aboriginal children from 2D photographs. Results indicated that this assessment method had substantial inter- and intra-rater reliability; and that the African American Lip-Philtrum Guide 2 and Caucasian (Stromland) PFL norms provide the best fit for assessment of Australian Aboriginal children.
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Publishing Date:
September 11, 2017
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Maternal alcohol use disorder and subsequent child protection contact: A record-linkage population cohort study
This study examined the relationship between a maternal alcohol use diagnosis, the timing of diagnosis, and child protection outcomes in Western Australia. Results showed children of women who were diagnosed were at increased risk of a substantiated child protection allegation and entry into out-of-home care. The highest risk of child protection contact was associated with diagnosis received during pregnancy, and in the years immediately pre- and post-pregnancy.
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Publishing Date:
October 1, 2017
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
The Marulu Strategy 2008-2012: overcoming Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) in the Fitzroy Valley
This report outlines the development and implementation of the Marulu Strategy in the Fitzroy Valley in Western Australia.
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Publishing Date:
October 1, 2017
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Australian guide to the diagnosis of FASD: A summary
A summary of the trial and implementation of the diagnostic instrument for FASD in Australia.
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Publishing Date:
October 4, 2017
Research
- Alcohol & Pregnancy
- FASD Assessment & Diagnosis
- FASD management, therapy & support
- Health Professionals
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Pediatric hospital admissions in Indigenous children: a population-based study in remote Australia
This study published in 2017 analysed hospital admissions of a predominantly Aboriginal cohort of children in the remote Fitzroy Valley in Western Australia during the first 7 years of life.
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Publishing Date:
November 22, 2017
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Maternal alcohol consumption during pregnancy and its association with offspring renal function at 30 years: Observation from a birth cohort study
As human evidence for the effects on kidney structure and function among offspring exposed to alcohol during foetal life is scarce, this study aimed to determine the development of CKD among a cohort of 30-year-old Australian offspring whose mothers reported consumption of alcohol during pregnancy.
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Publishing Date:
December 14, 2017
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Online scan of FASD prevention and health promotion resources for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities
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Publishing Date:
December 14, 2017
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
‘To drink or not to drink’: media framing of evidence and debate about alcohol consumption in pregnancy
The issue of alcohol consumption during pregnancy has garnered significant attention in Australia. This article examines how news media and parenting websites framed the issue in 2013–2014, focusing on the themes of ‘contested evidence and advice’ and ‘women’s rights.’ Public health guidelines recommend avoiding alcohol, but debate continues over the evidence and its impact. The article highlights how media reports on new research, both supporting and disputing the risks, and how the ‘women’s rights’ frame emphasizes personal choice over scientific advice, reflecting the complex negotiation of public health guidance during pregnancy.
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Publishing Date:
December 19, 2017
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
National FASD Strategic Action Plan 2018–2028
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Publishing Date:
January 7, 2018
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Developing a tablet computer-based application (‘App’) to measure self-reported alcohol consumption in Indigenous Australians
The challenges of assessing alcohol consumption can be greater in Indigenous communities where there may be culturally distinct approaches to communication, sharing of drinking containers and episodic patterns of drinking. This paper discusses the processes used to develop a tablet computer-based application (‘App’) to collect a detailed assessment of drinking patterns in Indigenous Australians. The key features of the resulting App are described.
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Publishing Date:
January 15, 2018
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Cohort Profile: The Triple B Pregnancy Cohort Study: A longitudinal study of the relationship between alcohol, tobacco and other substance use during pregnancy and the health and well-being of Australian children and families
The Triple B Pregnancy Cohort Study investigates the effects of parental alcohol, tobacco and other substance use on infant development and family functioning.
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Publishing Date:
February 1, 2018
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder and youth justice: a prevalence study among young people sentenced to detention in Western Australia
This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of FASD among young people in youth detention in Western Australia.
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Publishing Date:
February 13, 2018
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Maternal and partner prenatal alcohol use and infant cognitive development
Separating in utero effects from environmental confounding is a challenge for observational studies of PAE; consideration of alcohol use by partners as well as mothers may help clarify this. This study examined associations between prenatal alcohol use by both mothers and their partners and infant cognitive developmental outcomes at 12-months.
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Publishing Date:
February 23, 2018
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Assessing motor skills to inform a Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder diagnosis focusing on persons older than 12 years: A systematic review of the literature
This review aimed to examine the extent and common types of motor impairment present in persons aged over 12 years prenatally exposed to alcohol as evidence for determining the skills that should be assessed and addressed in intervention.
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Publishing Date:
March 1, 2018
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Obstetric and perinatal outcomes in pregnancies with isolated foetal congenital heart abnormalities
To determine obstetric, intrapartum, and perinatal outcomes of pregnancies with isolated foetal congenital heart defects (CHDs), this retrospective cohort study compared women that delivered an infant with an isolated major CHD compared with a cohort of women with infants without CHD.
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Publishing Date:
April 3, 2018
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Physiological self-regulation and mindfulness in children with a diagnosis of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder
The objective of this study was to explore the differences in baseline respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) between children with FASD and typically developing children, and to investigate whether children with FASD have the capacity to engage in a brief mindfulness exercise.
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Publishing Date:
April 10, 2018
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Applying a Developmental Framework to the Self-Regulatory Difficulties of Young Children with Prenatal Alcohol Exposure: A Review
As PAE is often linked to significant challenges in self-regulation, this review aims to: (1) provide an overview of the self-regulatory framework proposed in previous research, (2) examine common self-regulatory difficulties in children with PAE during infancy and early childhood within this developmental context, and (3) explore how the framework can enhance future assessment and intervention efforts for young children affected by PAE.
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Publishing Date:
April 19, 2018
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Effect of Choline Supplementation on Neurological, Cognitive, and Behavioral Outcomes in Offspring Arising from Alcohol Exposure During Development: A Quantitative Systematic Review of Clinical and Preclinical Studies
Maternal choline supplementation has emerged as a potential intervention for PAE. This review examined preclinical and clinical studies on choline supplementation in cases of fetal alcohol exposure to assess its effectiveness. This systematic search of six electronic databases identified 22 relevant studies.
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Publishing Date:
June 21, 2018
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
The provision of alcohol and breastfeeding information by maternal health practitioners in the Australian setting
To determine the degree to which maternal health practitioners adopted an Australian national policy guideline on alcohol and breastfeeding into their everyday health practice and the factors associated with adoption, a convenience sample of participants completed an online survey based on the NPQ, to elicit measures of knowledge, awareness and practice implementation.
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Publishing Date:
June 21, 2018
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD): Knowledge, attitudes, experiences and practices of the Western Australian youth custodial workforce
This study aims to establish the current knowledge, attitudes, experiences and practices regarding FASD and other neurodevelopmental impairments among youth custodial officers in order to develop training resources for this workforce.
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Publishing Date:
July 12, 2018
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder in Australia: What is the current state of affairs?
This article reviews the current state of FASD in Australia, and identifies areas for future research and service improvements, to learn where the Commonwealth FASD Strategy and substantial government funding should be focused on or directed to.
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Publishing Date:
August 15, 2018
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
A practice change intervention to improve antenatal care addressing alcohol consumption by women during pregnancy: research protocol for a randomised stepped-wedge cluster trial
The aim of this study is to examine the effectiveness, cost and cost-effectiveness of a multi-strategy practice change intervention in increasing antenatal care addressing the consumption of alcohol by pregnant women.
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Publishing Date:
August 20, 2018
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
When your disability doesn’t fit: ending discrimination against people with FASD in New South Wales law and policy
Gilbert + Tobin aims to prompt governments to develop a more inclusive definition of cognitive impairment (including FASD) for use in law and policy. The policy document was launched by Ms June Oscar AO Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner and Chief Justice Wayne Martin AC.
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Publishing Date:
August 30, 2018
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
National guide to a preventive health assessment for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
The National Guide is a practical resource intended for all health professionals delivering primary healthcare to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people. Its purpose is to provide GPs and other health professionals with an accessible, user-friendly guide to best practice preventive healthcare for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients.
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Publishing Date:
September 1, 2018
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Reducing harms related to alcohol use in pregnancy: Policy and practice recommendations
This policy issues brief outlines the key issues contributing to high rates of alcohol use in pregnancy. It also reviews current policies related to alcohol consumption in pregnancy and FASD. It provides policy and practise recommendations to prevent alcohol consumption in pregnancy.
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Publishing Date:
September 26, 2018
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Responding to fetal alcohol spectrum disorder in Australia
FASD is a major public health issue in Australia, often underdiagnosed and costly. This article explores definition and evolution of the FASD nomenclature, prevalence, patient presentation and clinical assessment, clinical experience of FASD assessment, and health professional training. This discussion emphasises the need for accurate, stigma-free diagnosis, promoting the use of The Australian Guide to the Diagnosis of FASD.
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Publishing Date:
October 7, 2018
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
A systematic review of prevention interventions to reduce prenatal alcohol exposure and fetal alcohol spectrum disorder in indigenous communities
Despite numerous prevention interventions of PAE and FASD, their effectiveness has not been thoroughly evaluated. This systematic review updates the evidence on FASD prevention in Indigenous populations globally, including North America and New Zealand, and provides recommendations for future research.
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Publishing Date:
November 3, 2018
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Language diversity, language disorder, and fetal alcohol spectrum disorder among youth sentenced to detention in Western Australia
This study examined the language skills of 98 young people sentenced to detention in WA, who participated in a cross-sectional study examining the prevalence of FASD.
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Publishing Date:
November 10, 2018
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Challenges in Accurately Assessing Prenatal Alcohol Exposure in a Study of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder in a Youth Detention Center
Individuals with FASD are more likely to engage with the law, including being placed in detention. This study discusses the challenges of assessing PAE as part of FASD assessment for young people sentenced to detention in WA.
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Publishing Date:
November 14, 2018
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
West Australian Alcohol and Drug Interagency Strategy 2018-2022
The Western Australian Alcohol and Drug Interagency Strategy 2018-2022 provides a guide for government and non-government organisations as well as the wider community to prevent and reduce the adverse impacts of alcohol and other drug use in Western Australia. It references FASD.
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Publishing Date:
December 17, 2018
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
The picture talk project: Aboriginal community input on consent for research
As the consent and community engagement process for research with Indigenous communities is rarely evaluated, and research protocols are not always collaborative, inclusive or culturally respectful, this study explores the consent process for research.
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Publishing Date:
January 29, 2019
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Changing Direction: Mental Health Needs of Justice-Involved Young People in Australia
This 2019 report presents initial findings on the mental health of 465 justice-involved young people.
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Publishing Date:
February 6, 2019
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Illawarra Born cross-generational health study: feasibility of a multi-generational birth cohort study
The purpose of this paper is to report on the feasibility and acceptability of the research protocol for a collaborative cross-generation health study in the community and test recruitment and outcome measures for the main study. The primary aim of the main Illawarra Born study is to make scientific discoveries associated with improving health and wellbeing across the lifespan.
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Publishing Date:
February 26, 2019
Women’s experiences of messages relating to alcohol consumption, received during their first antenatal care visit: An interpretative phenomenological analysis
To explore and interpret the messages women receive during their first antenatal care visit, relating to alcohol consumption.
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Publishing Date:
March 1, 2019
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Benefits of Caseload Midwifery to Prevent Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder: A Discussion Paper
This paper provides an overview of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder and discusses the role of caseload midwifery as part of a multi-level prevention approach.
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Publishing Date:
March 27, 2019
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Adverse reproductive outcomes associated with fetal alcohol exposure: A systematic review
This study used a systematic review approach to locate all clinical and preclinical studies across a broad range of health outcomes in offspring exposed to prenatal alcohol. The search encompassed four databases (PubMed, CINAHL, EMBASE and Web of Science) and titles/abstracts from retrieved studies were screened against strict inclusion/exclusion criteria.
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Publishing Date:
April 5, 2019
Understanding contraceptive behaviour to prevent unintended alcohol-exposed pregnancies
The combined behaviours of alcohol consumption and ineffective or non-use of contraception could place sexually active individuals of reproductive age at risk of unintended alcohol-exposed pregnancy. The aim of this study was to (i) assess levels of contraceptive use in a sample of university students who reported using alcohol, and (ii) to assess knowledge of contraception, reproduction, risks of alcohol use while pregnant, and attitudes regarding contraception compared with reported contraceptive use behaviour.
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Publishing Date:
April 8, 2019
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Adverse Health Outcomes in Offspring Associated With Fetal Alcohol Exposure: A Systematic Review of Clinical and Preclinical Studies With a Focus on Metabolic and Body Composition Outcomes
PAE results in well-characterised neurological, behavioural, and cognitive deficits in offspring. This study specifically reports on outcomes related to metabolism and body composition, using a systematic review methodology to survey published studies investigating a broad range of health outcomes of offspring with PAE.
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Publishing Date:
May 7, 2019
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Low-moderate PAE and offspring attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder: systematic review and meta-analysis
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the available evidence on the association between low-to-moderate PAE and the development of ADHD symptoms in the offspring.
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Publishing Date:
June 3, 2019
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Contextual Influences Experienced by Queensland Midwives: A Qualitative Study Focusing on Alcohol and Other Substance Use During Pregnancy
The purpose of this study published in 2019 was to understand the experiences and contextual factors that influence the ability of midwives to provide appropriate support to women regarding alcohol and other drug (AOD)e use during pregnancy, in the Queensland context
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Publishing Date:
June 3, 2019
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Periconceptional alcohol exposure causes female-specific perturbations to trophoblast differentiation and placental formation in the rat
The current study characterises the impact on blastocyst, uterine and placental outcomes in a rat model of periconceptional alcohol exposure, in which 12.5% ethanol is administered in a liquid diet from 4 days before until 4 days after conception.
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Publishing Date:
June 10, 2019
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Has a national policy guideline influenced the practice of raising the topic of alcohol and breastfeeding by maternal healthcare practitioners?
Many factors have been determined to affect the early cessation of breastfeeding; however, little attention has been paid to the role of alcohol. In this study, maternal healthcare practitioners from across Australia were invited to take part in a semi-structured telephone interview to elicit their knowledge of a national alcohol policy guideline on alcohol and breastfeeding, their confidence to provide information on this topic, and if they were routinely incorporating conversations on alcohol and breastfeeding into their practice.
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Publishing Date:
June 21, 2019
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
PROTOCOL: Interventions for improving executive functions in children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder: Systematic review and meta-analysis
As children with FASD have frequently shown impairment of executive functions, compared to typically developing children, and such deficits may underlie several poor life outcomes, this review compares various studies exploring a structured psychological intervention that aims to improve or change executive functions in children in both face-to-face and computerised formats.
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Publishing Date:
July 26, 2019
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Can Fetal Alcohol Exposure Increase the Risk of Hypertension? A New Study in Children and Adolescents Diagnosed With Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Suggests It Can
PAE is increasingly recognised as being associated with a wide range of physical health problems. This study compared different papers discussing these physical health issues that have been found to be related to PAE, including hypertension.
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Publishing Date:
August 12, 2019
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Does child maltreatment predict alcohol use disorders in young adulthood? A cohort study of linked notifications and survey data
This study explores the association between prospectively substantiated child maltreatment and problem alcohol use in adulthood, addressing a gap in research that predominantly relies on retrospective data.
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Publishing Date:
August 27, 2019
‘He Has Problems; He Is Not the Problem . . .’ A Qualitative Study of Non-Custodial Staff Providing Services for Young Offenders Assessed for Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder in an Australian Youth Detention Centre
This study addresses the limited understanding of the challenges faced by non-custodial youth detention centre staff in supporting young people with FASD. A qualitative inquiry was conducted to explore and describe the perspectives of non-custodial staff regarding the value of an FASD prevalence study. Data were gathered through semi-structured interviews and focus groups and analysed using thematic network analysis.
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Publishing Date:
August 28, 2019
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Outcomes and needs of health and education professionals following fetal alcohol spectrum disorder-specific training
This study examined the experiences of Australian and New Zealand professionals who have attended FASD-specific training and the impact of this training on their current practices. 52 health and education professionals completed an online survey that asked about their training and workplace experiences.
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Publishing Date:
August 29, 2019
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Caregiver and family quality of life for children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder
The aim of the study was to investigate the utility of the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL) Family Impact Module, designed to measure the impact of paediatric chronic health conditions on caregivers and families. 109 caregivers of children with FASD completed an online survey that assessed a range of areas including, caregiver and family quality of life.
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Publishing Date:
August 30, 2019
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Development and monitoring of a multi-layered clinician training program towards practice change
The study underscores the importance of using advanced imaging techniques to improve management and outcomes in pregnancies complicated by suspected growth issues.
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Publishing Date:
September 1, 2019
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Protocol for the Yapatjarrathati project: a mixed-method implementation trial of a tiered assessment process for identifying fetal alcohol spectrum disorders in a remote Australian community
This project aims to demonstrate that neurodevelopmental assessments can be integrated seamlessly with established community practices and sustained through evidence-based workforce development strategies. Integrating cultural protocols with the implementation science theories of Knowledge-To-Action, Experience-Based Co-Design, and RE-AIM, remote practitioners will be trained in an effective, tiered neurodevelopmental assessment process that considers FASD as a potential outcome.
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Publishing Date:
September 9, 2019
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
RE-AIM evaluation of a teacher-delivered programme to improve the self-regulation of children attending Australian Aboriginal community primary schools
In response to knowledge that PAE is related to impaired self-regulation and executive function, a trial of teacher-delivered self-regulation intervention, based on the Alert Program, was initiated. While student outcomes were assessed, this paper describes the implementation and impact of the intervention on teachers through the five dimensions of the RE-AIM framework.
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Publishing Date:
October 7, 2019
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
PAE programmes offspring disease: insulin resistance in adult males in a rat model of acute exposure
As most PAE research explores the use of high, chronic doses of alcohol throughout pregnancy, this study examined the effect of moderate, acute PAE on glucose metabolism, lipid levels and dietary preference in adolescent and/or adult rat offspring.
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Publishing Date:
October 8, 2019
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Jandu Yani U ‘For All Families’ Triple P—positive parenting program in remote Australian Aboriginal communities: a study protocol for a community intervention trial
This population-based (Lililwan) study revealed a high prevalence of FASD in the remote communities of the Fitzroy Valley, WA and, aimed to asses the effectiveness and cultural acceptability of a collaborative community engagement approach to the delivery of Triple P.
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Publishing Date:
October 9, 2019
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Adverse Health Outcomes Associated With Fetal Alcohol Exposure: A Systematic Review Focused on Cardio–Renal Outcomes
The purpose of this study was to undertake a comprehensive review to identify all the available pre-clinical and clinical literature investigating cardiovascular and renal outcomes in offspring with prenatal alcohol exposure.
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Publishing Date:
October 13, 2019
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Pregnancy, Fertility, Breastfeeding, and Alcohol Consumption: An Analysis of Framing and Completeness of Information Disseminated by Alcohol Industry-Funded Organizations
Information on alcohol consumption in relation to fertility, pregnancy, and breastfeeding was extracted from the websites of 23 alcohol industry-funded bodies, and 19 public health organisations. Comparative qualitative and quantitative analysis of the framing and completeness of this information was undertaken.
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Publishing Date:
October 13, 2019
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Overcoming the challenges of caring for a child with foetal alcohol spectrum disorder: A Pilbara community perspective
Whilst experiences of caregivers raising children with FASD have been documented globally, little is known about the experiences of caregivers in a remote Australian context, particularly from an Australian Aboriginal perspective. This study aimed to investigate the experiences of caregivers in a remote Australian context.
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Publishing Date:
October 17, 2019
Research
- Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Communities
- FASD management, therapy & support
- Health Professionals
- Policy
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Review of Aboriginal child health services in remote Western Australia identifies challenges and informs solutions
This study aimed to identify and map child health services in the very remote Fitzroy Valley, West Kimberley, and document barriers to effective service delivery.
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Publishing Date:
October 26, 2019
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Periconceptional ethanol exposure induces a sex specific diuresis and increase in AQP2 and AVPR2 in the kidneys of aged rat offspring
Given that most women who drink alcohol cease consumption upon pregnancy recognition, we aimed to investigate the effect of alcohol around the time of conception on offspring renal development and function.
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Publishing Date:
November 6, 2019
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Disability “In-Justice”: The Benefits and Challenges of “Yarning” With Young People Undergoing Diagnostic Assessment for FASD in a Youth Detention Center
This study reported the findings from a qualitative study, using “social yarning” and “research topic yarning”, that took place alongside a FASD prevalence study among detainees in Australia. It describes how employing a “yarning” method for collecting data could benefit children and young people undergoing neurodevelopmental assessments in the future.
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Publishing Date:
November 6, 2019
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
A scoping review of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health promotion programs focused on modifying chronic disease risk factors
Noncommunicable chronic disease underlies much of the life expectancy gap experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and modifying contributing risk factors could help close this disease gap. This scoping review identified and describes SNAPS health promotion programs implemented for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Australia.
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Publishing Date:
November 14, 2019
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Warning Labels about Alcohol Consumption and Pregnancy: Moving from Industry Self-regulation to Law
One of the interventions for the prevention of FASD is the application of warning labels to packaged alcoholic beverages. DrinkWise was allowed to operate an industry self-regulatory scheme to provide alcohol producers with prototype warnings about drinking during pregnancy. This study observed the flaws in the enforcement and framework of DrinkWise Labelling Scheme.
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Publishing Date:
December 1, 2019
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Barriers and facilitators in antenatal settings to screening and referral of pregnant women who use alcohol or other drugs: A qualitative study of midwives’ experience
Screening pregnant women for substance use is highly recommended in antenatal care settings. Although midwives provide routine screening for substance use and referral for treatment in pregnancy, little is known about the barriers and facilitators they experience. The study explored barriers and facilitators experienced by midwives in antenatal settings to screening and referral of pregnant women who use alcohol or other drugs.
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Publishing Date:
December 2, 2019
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Lifestyle and Psychological Factors Associated with Pregnancy Intentions: Findings from a Longitudinal Cohort Study of Australian Women
As research has discovered that preconception is a critical time for the establishment of healthy lifestyle behaviours and psychological well-being to reduce adverse maternal and offspring outcomes, this study aimed to explore relationships between preconception lifestyle and psychological factors and prospectively assessed short- and long-term pregnancy intentions. Data from the Australian Longitudinal Study of Women’s Health were used.
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Publishing Date:
December 13, 2019
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Fallen by the wayside: Young people with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) in New Zealand’s youth justice system
PhD Thesis Doctor of Philosophy University of Otago
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Publishing Date:
December 15, 2019
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Community-based child development service FASD assessment: A retrospective clinic audit
The aims of this study were to: (i) report on the diagnostic profile of a group of children assessed for FASD using the Australian Guide to the Diagnosis of FASD; and (ii) to provide information and recommendations for paediatricians and/or multidisciplinary teams conducting FASD assessments.
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Publishing Date:
January 13, 2020
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Putting ‘Justice’ in Recovery Capital: Yarning about Hopes and Futures with Young People in Detention
This 2020 article focuses on the hope, relationships and educational experiences of 38 detained youth in Western Australia. The study uses a ‘social yarning’ approach.
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Publishing Date:
January 20, 2020
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Moderate prenatal ethanol exposure in the rat promotes kidney cell apoptosis, nephron deficits, and sex-specific kidney dysfunction in adult offspring
This study examined the effects of moderate ethanol exposure throughout pregnancy on kidney development using a rat model, as there is limited research about how low to moderate alcohol exposure can affect organs other than the brain.
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Publishing Date:
January 27, 2020
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
FASD: The importance of assessment, diagnosis and support in the Australian justice context
This article outlines how individuals with FASD may experience inequalities within the justice system. It focuses on why assessment, diagnosis and intervention is important and the role of health and justice professionals in promoting more equitable outcomes for individuals with FASD involved with the justice system.
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Publishing Date:
February 13, 2020
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Acceptability of screening for pregnancy intention in general practice: a population survey of people of reproductive age
The aim of this study was to gauge the planned preconception health behaviours and attitudes towards being asked about pregnancy intentions by a general practitioner (GP) among people of reproductive age in Australia.
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Publishing Date:
February 20, 2020
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Prenatal alcohol exposure and developmental programming of mental illness
This review will discuss the evidence that indicates low- and early-dose alcohol exposure can increase the risk of mental illness in offspring, while exploring the mechanistic pathways that may be involved.
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Publishing Date:
February 20, 2020
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Maternal Alcohol-Use Disorder and Child Outcomes
The objective of this study published in 2020 was to investigate the relationship between maternal alcohol-use disorder and multiple biological and social child outcomes, including birth outcomes, child protection, justice contact, and academic outcomes for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous children.
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Publishing Date:
March 1, 2020
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Alcohol use in pregnancy and its impact on the mother and child
As prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) is one of the most important causes of preventable cognitive impairment in the world, the aim of this study was to review the impact of PAE on the outcomes of the mother and child.
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Publishing Date:
March 9, 2020
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
A preliminary investigation of the effects of PAE on facial morphology in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
As alcohol exposure during pregnancy has been associated with facial dysmorphology, and ASD may be associated with increased facial masculinity and asymmetry, this study conducted a preliminary investigation to examine facial morphology in autistic children with and without PAE.
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Publishing Date:
March 13, 2020
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Drinking or Smoking While Breastfeeding and Later Academic Outcomes in Children
This study examined whether drinking or smoking while breastfeeding was associated with reductions in Australian National Assessment Program-Literacy and Numeracy assessments using data sourced from The Growing Up in Australia Study.
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Publishing Date:
March 20, 2020
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
“Getting on with it”: A Course by Caregivers, for Caregivers – Pilot Overview and Evaluation Report
This report outlines the development of the digital online “Getting on with it (GOWI)” pilot between NOFASD and Dr Anita Gibbs over the course of 2019, and includes a combined evaluation report of an internal brief survey as well as an external telephone-based evaluation undertaken in early 2020 by an independent, external contractor.
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Publishing Date:
March 23, 2020
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Experiences of Children with FASD and Their Families: A Critical Review
As recent studies emphasised the need for an integrated system of care for children with FASD, this study involved a critical analysis of existing research to identify factors that need to be studied further, such as the strengths and experienced challenges these children and their families face.
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Publishing Date:
April 13, 2020
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Development of referral pathway framework for FASD in the Pilbara
This article describes the process of mapping referral pathways to develop a localised resource to enhance the journey to diagnosis, treatment and support for FASD in a regional community setting.
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Publishing Date:
April 16, 2020
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Opportunities for enhancing pregnancy planning and preconception health behaviours of Australian women
As there is limited research exploring women’s pregnancy planning in Australia, this study uses a retrospective cross-sectional survey to explore associations between pregnancy planning, socio-demographics and preconception health behaviours in Australian women.
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Publishing Date:
April 17, 2020
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
The Demographic and Neurocognitive Profile of Clients Diagnosed With FASD in PATCHES Paediatrics Clinics Across Western Australia and the Northern Territory
The aim of this study was to describe the demographic and neurocognitive profile of the first 199 individuals diagnosed with FASD in PATCHES Paediatrics clinics.
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Publishing Date:
April 25, 2020
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Influences on drinking choices among Indigenous and non-Indigenous pregnant women in Australia: A qualitative study
Despite women’s awareness that drinking alcohol in pregnancy can lead to lifelong disabilities in a child, it appears that an awareness alone does not discourage some pregnant women from drinking. This study explored the influences on pregnant women’s choices around alcohol use.
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Publishing Date:
April 30, 2020
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Moderate episodic prenatal alcohol does not impact female offspring fertility in rats
The current study utilised a moderate, episodic exposure model in rats to mimic ‘special occasion’ drinking, which is reported to be common during pregnancy. The objective was to examine the consequences of this PAE on reproductive parameters in female offspring.
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Publishing Date:
May 13, 2020
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Evaluation of a Codesign Method Used to Support the Inclusion of Children With Disability in Mainstream Schools
The aim of this study was to evaluate a co-design method used to design an online education package about inclusive education for children with disability in mainstream schools. The study design was a multiple methods evaluation informed by participatory and transformative research paradigms, incorporating design sciences and public service approaches.
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Publishing Date:
May 18, 2020
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Preconception Health and Lifestyle Behaviours of Women Planning a Pregnancy: A Cross-Sectional Study
A cross-sectional survey of Australian women in preconception, stratified by pregnancy planning stage (active planners (currently trying to conceive) vs. non-active planners (pregnancy planned within 1–5 years)), assessed health behaviours and their alignment to preconception care guidelines.
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Publishing Date:
June 2, 2020
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
A qualitative examination of the cognitive and behavioural challenges experienced by children with FASD
This study published in 2020 explores the cognitive and behavioural difficulties and impairments experience by children with FASD aged between four and 12 years from the perspective of caregivers.
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Publishing Date:
June 7, 2020
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Public support for alcohol control initiatives across seven countries
The aim of this study was to asses public support for a range of recommended alcohol control initiatives across seven countries with varying sociocultural profiles.
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Publishing Date:
June 9, 2020
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Caregiver-reported physical health status of children and young people with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder
While FASD has primarily been thought of as a neurodevelopmental condition, research is beginning to highlight its ‘whole-body’ implications. Accordingly, the current study carried out online surveys with the hope of providing a snapshot of potential health issues.
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Publishing Date:
June 9, 2020
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Cognitive and social/emotional influences on adaptive functioning in children with FASD: Clinical and cultural considerations
In this study, it was found that social cognition (specifically recognising emotions) was the only significant independent predictor of teacher-rated adaptive functioning. Māori (Indigenous people of Aotearoa New Zealand) were overrepresented in this study and, therefore, the research was supported by a strong partnership with Te Wāhanga Hauora Māori (Māori Health Service).
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Publishing Date:
June 10, 2020
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
School-based intervention to address self-regulation and executive functioning in children attending primary schools in remote Australian Aboriginal communities
Researchers partnered with the local Aboriginal health organisation and schools to develop and pilot a manualised version of the Alert Program in the Fitzroy Valley, WA, a region with documented high rates of FASD and early life trauma.
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Publishing Date:
June 24, 2020
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
A reduction in reported alcohol use in pregnancy in Australian Aboriginal communities: a prevention campaign showing promise
This study found on a reduction in reported PAE in an Aboriginal community setting during a period of prevention activities, and provides initial evidence for a community led strategy that might be applicable to similar communities.
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Publishing Date:
July 6, 2020
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Caregivers of Children with FASD: Psychosocial Factors and Evidence for Self-compassion as a Potential Intervention Target
The aim of this study is to explore experiences of caregivers of children, adolescents and young adults diagnosed with FASD. More specifically, we examined the relationship between shame, guilt, pride, self compassion and caregiver psychological distress. The differences between biological and non-biological caregivers on these variables was also examined.
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Publishing Date:
July 11, 2020
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Australia has some of the highest rates of drinking during pregnancy. It’s time to make labelling mandatory
This article discusses the importance of introducing mandatory alcohol pregnancy warning labels in Australia and New Zealand.
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Publishing Date:
July 16, 2020
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Change Over Time in Australian Newspaper Reporting of Drinking During Pregnancy: A Content Analysis (2000-2017)
This paper analyses the content of news media messages on drinking during pregnancy in Australia over an 18-year period to understand whether and how the nature of messages communicated to women has changed over time.
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Publishing Date:
July 17, 2020
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Parent-reported sleep problems in school-aged children with FASD: association with child behaviour, caregiver, and family functioning
Sleep problems are a common clinically reported area of concern for children and adolescents with FASD, however, there is limited empirical research investigating this. This study aimed to examine the associations between parent-reported sleep problems in children with FASD and child behaviour, caregiver mental health and health-related quality of life and family functioning.
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Publishing Date:
July 24, 2020
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Reframe the Behaviour: Evaluation of a training intervention to increase capacity in managing detained youth with FASD and neurodevelopmental impairments
This study describes the conception, implementation and evaluation of a training intervention aiming to upskill the custodial workforce in the management of youth with FASD and NDI, as there has been limited investigation into this.
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Publishing Date:
August 4, 2020
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Improving treatment and outcomes for young people with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder in the youth justice system: A social work led response and practice framework
Young people with FASD in Aotearoa New Zealand are both primed for, and hindered within the youth justice system. This research provides a fresh perspective on how social workers can take a lead role in ensuring young people with FASD receive neurodevelopmentally appropriate interventions both within the youth justice system and upon return to their communities.
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Publishing Date:
August 5, 2020
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
APSU Annual Surveillance Report 2019
The Australian Paediatric Surveillance Unit (APSU) has been prospectively collecting national data on rare childhood conditions since 1993, with monthly reporting of cases by paediatricians. In this report we describe annual results from studies for ten communicable diseases and complications of communicable diseases that were conducted using APSU surveillance in 2019 and place these in an historic context.
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Publishing Date:
August 6, 2020
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
The 20-year gestation of a pregnancy health warning for alcohol
This article discusses the decades it can take for collective advocacy efforts to achieve success in getting effective policies and interventions over the line, particularly when it comes to alcohol guidelines during pregnancy.
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Publishing Date:
August 12, 2020
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Childproofing Australia’s future health: Preventing alcohol harms
A letter published in 2020 on the profound effect alcohol has had on her paediatric practice.
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Publishing Date:
August 15, 2020
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Protocol for an economic evaluation and budget impact assessment of a randomised, stepped-wedge controlled trial for practice change support to increase routine provision of antenatal care for maternal alcohol consumption.
Antenatal clinical practice guidelines recommend routine assessment of women’s alcohol consumption during pregnancy. The delivery of advice and referral when necessary are also recommended. However, evidence suggests there are barriers to the uptake of best care guidelines. Effective, cost-effective and affordable implementation strategies are needed to ensure the intended benefit of guidelines are realised through addressing identified barriers. This paper published in 2020 describes the protocol for evaluating the efficiency and affordability of a practice change intervention compared to usual practice in an implementation trial.
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Publishing Date:
August 16, 2020
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Annotated bibliography ANZ
This annotated 2019-2020 bibliography has been curated by members of the University of Queensland Programming in Developmental Disease Research Group
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Publishing Date:
August 18, 2020
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Are antenatal interventions effective in improving multiple health behaviours among pregnant women? A systematic review protocol.
Maternal behaviours in pregnancy associated with adverse pregnancy, birth and health outcomes include tobacco smoking, poor nutrition, alcohol consumption and low physical activity. These behaviours are referred to as the SNAP risk factors. In this study the effect of interventions addressing multiple SNAP behaviours was examined.
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Publishing Date:
September 2, 2020
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Associations of PAE and offspring harmful alcohol use
We used data from the Raine Study, a multi-generational birth cohort study, to examine the association between prenatal alcohol exposure and the risk of harmful alcohol use in offspring at the age of 17 years. This study was published in 2020.
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Publishing Date:
September 20, 2020
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Prenatal alcohol and tobacco use and the risk of depression in offspring at age of 17 years: findings from the Raine Study
The objective of this study was to test the associations between maternal prenatal alcohol and tobacco exposures and depressive symptoms in the offspring, adjusting for a wide range of potential confounders.
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Publishing Date:
October 16, 2020
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Health Professionals are the Preferred Source of Information on Alcohol Use in Pregnancy for Australian Women: A National Survey
This study identified where Australian women obtained information about alcohol during pregnancy, their preferred sources of information, and their perceptions of the role of health professionals in providing information.
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Publishing Date:
November 9, 2020
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Maternal bonding, negative affect, and infant social-emotional development: A prospective cohort study
As theoretical perspectives and empirical evidence suggest that maternal bonding and negative affect play a role in supporting infant social-emotional development, and there is limited research in this area, this study examined the temporal and bi-directional associations of maternal bonding and negative affect across multiple waves prospectively.
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Publishing Date:
November 11, 2020
‘We do what we can as soon as we can’ Alcohol and Other Drug workforce perspectives on preventing and responding to PAE
To provide recommendations for AOD services to reduce the harms of PAE, interviews were conducted with social workers to indicate a significant appreciation of the psychological complexities related to substance misuse in pregnancy.
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Publishing Date:
November 13, 2020
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Yarning about fetal alcohol syndrome disorder: Outcomes of a community-based workshop
There is a lack of neurodevelopmental assessment services in rural and remote locations in Australia that consider FASD as a possible outcome. The participants attended a workshop to support community-based professional development and completed questionnaires prior to and post-workshop to understand practitioners knowledge, attitudes and intentions for future practice.
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Publishing Date:
November 20, 2020
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
An investigation of the link between PAE and sleep problems across childhood
This study used data from the birth cohort of the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children (LSAC) to examine the effects of PAE on the number and persistence of sleep problems across childhood, from ages two to nine.
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Publishing Date:
November 24, 2020
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Australian Guidelines to Reduce Health Risks from Drinking Alcohol
The alcohol guideline 3 is directed towards women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. It recommends not drinking alcohol is the safest for women who are pregnant, planning a pregnancy or breastfeeding. The report was published by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC).
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Publishing Date:
December 3, 2020
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Community Priority Setting for FASD Research in Australia
To ensure research is relevant and meaningful for people living with FASDs, there is a need to engage community in setting priorities for research. To identify the views of people living with FASD was the primary objective of this study, with the secondary objective being to provide an overview of current research in the highest priority areas identified.
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Publishing Date:
December 10, 2020
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Decolonising Justice for Aboriginal youth with FASD
This book reflects multidisciplinary and cross-jurisdictional analysis of issues surrounding FASDs and the criminal justice system, and the impact on Aboriginal children, young people, and their families.
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Publishing Date:
December 30, 2020
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
What people are saying on social networking sites about the Australian alcohol consumption guidelines?
This study explored whether social networking site posts can be used as a source of feedback during public consultation for guidelines. The team aimed to collect posts on social networking sites (Twitter and Reddit) related to the Australian alcohol guidelines, identifying factors such as which guideline recommendations the public were interested in.
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Publishing Date:
January 11, 2021
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Early Motor Function of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review
The objective of this study was to characterise early motor function in children later diagnosed with neurodevelopmental disorders relative to typically developing children or normative data.
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Publishing Date:
February 1, 2021
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Emergency department presentations by Children in Remote Australia: A Population-based Study
Aboriginal leaders invited us to examine the frequency and reasons for emergency department presentations by children in remote Western Australia, where PAE is common.
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Publishing Date:
February 3, 2021
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Lifestyle and Psychological Factors of Women with Pregnancy Intentions Who Become Pregnant: Analysis of a Longitudinal Cohort of Australian Women
The aim of this study was to explore associations between lifestyle/psychological factors and long-term pregnancy intentions in women who go on to become pregnant. Data from the cohort born 1973-1978 from the Australian Longitudinal Study of Women’s Health were utilised.
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Publishing Date:
February 12, 2021
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
The oral and written narrative language skills of adolescent students in youth detention and the impact of language disorder
Throughout this study, the macrostructure and microstructure elements in the oral and written narrative texts of 24 adolescent students of a youth detention centre was examined. This research was prompted by the idea that language and literacy needs are commonly unmet within the youth justice system.
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Publishing Date:
February 13, 2021
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Navigating complexity to support justice-involved youth with FASD and other neurodevelopmental disabilities: needs and challenges of a regional workforce
The aim of this research is to determine the unmet workforce development needs of a regional workforce providing care and support to youth involved with the justice system. Interviews were conducted to understand the support provided to youth, existence and uptake of referral pathways, and unmet needs.
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Publishing Date:
February 27, 2021
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Effective approaches to prevention, diagnosis and support for FASD
In September 2019, an inquiry was referred to the Senate Community Affairs References Committee into effective approaches to prevention and diagnosis of FASD and strategies for optimising life outcomes for people living with FASD.
The final outcomes of the senate inquiry were released in March 2021.
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Publishing Date:
March 1, 2021
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
“The Problem Is that We Hear a Bit of Everything…”: A Qualitative Systematic Review of Factors Associated with Alcohol Use, Reduction, and Abstinence in Pregnancy
This systematic review of qualitative studies involving pregnant and recently postpartum women, seeks to understand the barriers and facilitators that influence alcohol use in pregnancy. This will help support women’s health and wellness and prevent FASD.
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Publishing Date:
March 26, 2021
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Oral and written communication skills of adolescents in youth justice with and without prenatal alcohol exposure
This research investigated the communication skills of adolescents in youth detention in Western Australia, a context in which FASD is highly prevalent and Aboriginal young peoples are over-represented.
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Publishing Date:
April 1, 2021
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
FASD resources primary school settings: a scoping review protocol
As many children affected by FASD exhibit neurocognitive delays that contribute to secondary consequences, effective resources for educators are crucial to ensure these students are supported in their ongoing learning and development. This scoping review aims to identify and evaluate resources for educators that aid in the identification or accommodation of students with FASD.
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Publishing Date:
April 5, 2021
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Changes in alcohol consumption during pregnancy and over the transition towards parenthood
As the socio-economic variation in the impact of childbirth and returning to drinking postnatally is understudied, the objective of this study was to examine pre- to postnatal changes in drinking for women and men and assess the role of education level in these changes.
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Publishing Date:
May 21, 2021
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Birth prevalence of congenital heart defects in Western Australia, 1990–2016
The aim of this study was to describe the birth prevalence and characteristics of congenital heart defects in a geographically defined Australian population.
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Publishing Date:
May 29, 2021
Oral and written communication skills of adolescents with prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) compared with those with no/low PAE: A systematic review
This study conducted a systematic review to synthesise evidence regarding oral and written communication skills of adolescents with PAE or FASD and how they compare with those with no PAE.
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Publishing Date:
June 16, 2021
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
The effect of heavy prenatal alcohol exposure on adolescent body mass index and waist-to-height ratio at 12–13 years
It is suggested that PAE has the potential to impact on a wide range of physical outcomes in offspring, including metabolism and body composition. This clinical study examined the association between heavy PAE and indirect measures of adiposity in adolescence.
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Publishing Date:
July 5, 2021
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
The Adverse Effects of Prenatal METH Exposure on the Offspring: A Review
Abuse of methamphetamine (METH), an illicit psychostimulant, is a growing public health issue. METH abuse during pregnancy is on the rise due to its stimulant, anorectic, and hallucinogenic properties. This review summarises neurotoxicity, cardiovascular toxicity, hepatotoxicity, toxicity in other organs, and bio-monitoring of prenatal METH exposure, as well as the possible emergence of sensitisation associated with METH.
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Publishing Date:
July 14, 2021
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Neurodevelopmental disorders in youth justice: a systematic review of screening, assessment and interventions
This study aimed to systematically review screening and assessment approaches and therapeutic interventions for young people with neurodevelopmental disorders in the youth justice system.
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Publishing Date:
July 21, 2021
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Neonatal Outcomes of Infants Born to Pregnant Women With Substance Use Disorders: A Multilevel Analysis of Linked Data
This study examines the associations of substance use disorders in pregnancy with a set of neonatal outcomes. Pregnant women were identified positive for substance use disorders when at least one hospital admission during pregnancy or delivery had two or more of the four substance groups related ICD-10-AM diagnostic code.
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Publishing Date:
August 9, 2021
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Maternal psycho-social risk factors associated with maternal alcohol consumption and Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder: a systematic review
This systematic literature review aims to identify demographic, health and psycho-social variables associated with alcohol consumption during pregnancy which may lead to FASD.
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Publishing Date:
August 31, 2021
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Longitudinal prediction of periconception alcohol use: a 20-year prospective cohort study across adolescence, young adulthood and pregnancy
This study examined the frequency of periconception alcohol use (prior to pregnancy awareness) and the extent to which adolescent and young adult alcohol use prospectively predict periconception use.
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Publishing Date:
September 8, 2021
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Maternal health and health-related behaviours and their associations with child health: Evidence from an Australian birth cohort
This study investigates the associations between maternal health and health-related behaviours both during pregnancy and up to 15 months from childbirth, and children’s health outcomes during infancy and adolescence.
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Publishing Date:
September 13, 2021
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
The Role of Antenatal and Postnatal Maternal Bonding in Infant Development
The affectional bond experienced by a mother toward her developing fetus/ infant has been theorised to be a critical factor in determining infant developmental outcomes. This study aimed to examine the extent to which mother-to-infant bonding predicted infant development in a multi-wave longitudinal pregnancy cohort study.
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Publishing Date:
September 19, 2021
Preconception interventions to reduce the risk of alcohol-exposed pregnancies: A systematic review
The preconception period provides a unique opportunity to optimise the health of women and children. High rates of alcohol use and unintended pregnancies are common across many Western societies and alcohol exposed pregnancies (AEPs) are a possible unintended outcome. The aim of this study was to evaluate preconception interventions for the prevention of AEPs.
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Publishing Date:
September 30, 2021
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
New Australian guidelines for the treatment of alcohol problems: an overview of recommendations
This Medical Journal of Australia Supplement was sponsored by the University of Sydney and the Guidelines for the Treatment of Alcohol Problems. It provides an overview of recommendations from the new Australian guidelines for the treatment of alcohol problems.
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Publishing Date:
October 4, 2021
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Is ‘a little’ too much?: An exploration of women’s beliefs about alcohol use during pregnancy
This study aims to identify behavioural, normative and control beliefs regarding alcohol use during pregnancy among a sample of women using the theory of planned behaviour as a theoretical framework.
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Publishing Date:
October 16, 2021
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Substance Use During Pregnancy: A Comparative Review of Major Guidelines
Substance use during pregnancy is a major health issue for both the mother and the fetus, but it also represents an important public health concern. The aim of this review was to summarise and compare recommendations from recently published guidelines on substance use during pregnancy and especially regarding alcohol, smoking, and drug use.
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Publishing Date:
October 20, 2021
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Vision, future, cycle and effect: A community life course approach to prevent prenatal alcohol exposure in central Australia
Prevention approaches specific to PAE and FASD have been identified as urgently needed in Australia, including in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, however, very little work has aimed to describe and evaluate health promotion initiatives, especially those developed in rural and remote areas.
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Publishing Date:
October 30, 2021
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Ear Abnormalities Among Children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
The objective of this study was to systematically review and conduct a meta-analysis on studies that report the type and prevalence of functional and structural ear abnormalities among children with PAE and/or FASD.
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Publishing Date:
November 12, 2021
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
FASD and youth firesetting: A call on criminal justice, emergency responder, and fire prevention specialists to become informed
As individuals with FASD have brain-based deficits translating to impulsive behaviours, fire setting is not uncommon. First responders are often unable to recognise the behavioural indicators of FASD, primarily due to a lack of training. This article will outline key behavioural symptoms of FASD as well as provide first responders with suggestions as to how to best support individuals when FASD is suspected.
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Publishing Date:
November 20, 2021
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Sex- and Tissue-Specific Effects of Binge-Level Prenatal Alcohol Consumption on DNA Methylation at Birth
As it is suspected that binge-level PAE causes abnormalities which may be mediated in part by epigenetic mechanisms, this study investigates the association between binge PAE and genome-wide DNA methylation profiles in a sex-specific manner in neonatal buccal and placental samples.
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Publishing Date:
November 29, 2021
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Predictors of alcohol use during pregnancy in Australian women
This paper aimed to document alcohol use during pregnancy and determine predictors of ongoing use, including knowledge and agreement with national alcohol guideline recommendations.
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Publishing Date:
January 1, 2022
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders screening tools: A systematic review
The aims of this systematic review are to identify FASD screening tools and examine their performance characteristics.
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Publishing Date:
January 4, 2022
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
The orofacial, oromotor, speech, and voice characteristics of adolescents in youth detention: a comparison of groups with and without prenatal alcohol exposure
The aims of this exploratory study were to identify the prevalence of orofacial, oromotor, speech, and voice anomalies among adolescents in youth detention and to examine how these compare between adolescents with and without PAE.
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Publishing Date:
January 7, 2022
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Prenatal alcohol and tobacco exposures and the risk of cannabis use in offspring: Findings from a population-based cohort study
There is a paucity of prospective longitudinal studies examining the associations between maternal use of alcohol and tobacco during pregnancy and the risk of cannabis use in offspring. The aim of this study was to examine the association between prenatal alcohol and tobacco exposures and offspring cannabis use.
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Publishing Date:
January 7, 2022
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Early detection of Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander infants at high risk of adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes at 12 months corrected age: LEAP-CP prospective cohort study protocol
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander infants may experience early life factors increasing their risk of neurodevelopmental vulnerability, which persist into later childhood. The LEAP-CP prospective cohort study investigated the efficacy of early screening programmes to earlier identify Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander infants who are ‘at risk’ of adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes or disorders.
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Publishing Date:
January 7, 2022
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder resources for educators: A scoping review
This scoping review published in 2022 aimed to identify and evaluate publicly available educator resources that aid in the identification, and support of students with FASD in primary/elementary school. In addition, educators and FASD experts were consulted to obtain feedback on currently available resources, and key issues and priorities for FASD resources.
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Publishing Date:
January 13, 2022
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Cohort profile: early school years follow-up of the Asking Questions about Alcohol in Pregnancy Longitudinal Study in Melbourne, Australia (AQUA at 6)
The current follow-up study to The Asking Questions about Alcohol in Pregnancy (AQUA) study children, aims to strengthen our understanding of the relationship between these levels of prenatal alcohol exposure and neuropsychological functioning, facial dysmorphology, and brain structure & function.
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Publishing Date:
January 17, 2022
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Association of PAE with offspring DNA methylation in mammals: a systematic review of the evidence
Prenatal Several studies suggest that PAE modifies DNA methylation in offspring cells and tissues, providing evidence for a potential mechanistic link to FASD. This paper systematically reviewed existing evidence on the extent to which maternal alcohol use during pregnancy is associated with offspring DNA methylation.
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Publishing Date:
January 21, 2022
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
A Family-Directed Approach for Supporting Individuals with FASDs
This review proposes a theoretical framework to support professionals in collaborating with families in the provision of services for children with FASDs, following the review of existing models of family-directed care and family contextual factors relevant to planning interventions.
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Publishing Date:
January 30, 2022
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Understanding Current Staff Experiences, Practices and Needs in Supporting Young People with Neurodevelopmental Disorders in the Queensland Youth Justice System
This study investigates which factors predict and contribute to the behaviour of youth justice professionals working in the Queensland youth justice system, utilising a behaviour change wheel framework and providing helpful directions to better support young people with neurodevelopmental conditions.
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Publishing Date:
January 30, 2022
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
FASD: An update on policy and practice in Australia
This paper outlines developments for the prevention of FASD and the diagnosis and support of children and young people living with FASD in Australia. It describes some of the key policy and practice initiatives since 2016 and considers further opportunities for responding to the needs of children and families affected by FASD.
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Publishing Date:
February 1, 2022
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder and confabulation in psycholegal settings: A beginner’s guide for criminal justice, forensic mental health, and legal interviewers
Impairments caused by PAE contribute to the over-representation of individuals with FASD in the United States juvenile and adult criminal justice systems. This article serves as a beginner’s guide for professionals working in criminal justice settings by (a) providing research-based overviews of FASD and confabulation, (b) describing how FASD may lead to confabulation, and (c) suggesting ways that professionals can modify protocols when interacting with individuals with FASD.
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Publishing Date:
February 3, 2022
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Cost, cost-consequence and cost-effectiveness evaluation of a practice change intervention to increase routine provision of antenatal care addressing maternal alcohol consumption
As the implementation of antenatal clinical guidelines on alcohol consumption is sub-optimal, this study sought to determine the cost, cost-consequence, and cost-effectiveness of developing and delivering a multi-strategy practice change intervention in three sectors of a health district in NSW.
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Publishing Date:
February 4, 2022
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
It takes a village: Influencing policy and practice to prevent alcohol use in pregnancy and promote better outcomes for individuals living with FASD
This paper describes the approach to policy and practice impact taken by the FASD Research Australia Centre of Research Excellence (CRE), by providing examples of policy and practice influence in FASD prevention, diagnosis and management that have been achieved over the past five years and discusses challenges that are routinely faced in the translation of work.
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Publishing Date:
March 2, 2022
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
A data driven approach to identify trajectories of prenatal alcohol consumption in an Australian population-based cohort of pregnant women
As accurate information on dose, frequency and timing of maternal alcohol consumption is critically important when investigating fetal risks from prenatal alcohol exposure, this study aimed to determine group-based trajectories of time-specific, unit-level, alcohol consumption using data from in the Asking Questions about Alcohol in Pregnancy (AQUA) longitudinal study.
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Publishing Date:
March 14, 2022
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Integrating cultural considerations and developmental screening into an Australian First Nations child health check
The ‘Share and Care Check’ was co-designed with a remote Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation and led by Aboriginal Health Practitioners/Workers and involved questions regarding cultural and developmental aspects of health, which can assist health providers when considering the best pathway of support for a child and their family.
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Publishing Date:
March 15, 2022
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Impact of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder on families
This study evaluates the impact of FASD on child and family functioning by exploring child-health-related functioning, family impact, impact on siblings and caregiver stress. Caregivers of 35 children with FASD were surveyed.
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Publishing Date:
March 16, 2022
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Health-related behaviours and weight status of expectant fathers
This study aimed to examine health-related variables in a cohort of expectant fathers to identify potential focus areas for interventions designed to optimise health and wellbeing outcomes. 498 partners of pregnant women who accessed antenatal services at a large maternity unit in a Western Australian hospital were recruited as part of the ORIGINS Project.
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Publishing Date:
March 31, 2022
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Practice change intervention to improve antenatal care addressing alcohol consumption during pregnancy: a randomised stepped-wedge controlled trial
This study uses a randomised stepped-wedge controlled trial to estimate the effectiveness of a practice change intervention in improving the provision of antenatal care addressing alcohol consumption during pregnancy in public maternity services in New South Wales, Australia.
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Publishing Date:
April 21, 2022
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Influencing and implementing mandatory alcohol pregnancy warning labels in Australia and New Zealand
In 2020, Australia and New Zealand implemented a mandatory and evidence-based legal standard for pregnancy warning labels on alcohol products. This article discusses some of the challenges faced in achieving policy change and how these barriers were overcome by public health advocacy groups to build the evidence, counter industry conflicts of interest, consumer test health messages, mobilise community support and gather political support.
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Publishing Date:
April 23, 2022
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Key Stakeholder Priorities for the Review and Update of the Australian Guide to Diagnosis of FASD: A Qualitative Descriptive Study
Prior to the review and update of the Australian Guide to the Diagnosis of FASD (2016), this study was conducted with the aim to identify review priorities from a broad range of stakeholders, such as researchers and healthcare practitioners, involved in the assessment and diagnosis of FASD, to make sure the most meaningful aspects are revised.
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Publishing Date:
May 10, 2022
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Lived experience of adolescents with FASD
The aim of this paper is to explore the lived experiences of adolescents with FASD to understand both the ways in which their challenges influence daily functioning, and the personal assets and external resources that facilitate participation.
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Publishing Date:
May 30, 2022
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Comprehensive Clinical Paediatric Assessment of children adolescents in detention in WA
This study aims to describe the comprehensive clinical paediatric assessment of a representative sample of children and adolescents sentences to detention in WA and participating in the first FASD prevalence study.
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Publishing Date:
June 2, 2022
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Exploring offending characteristics of young people with FASD in Western Australia
Neurodevelopmental impairments resulting from FASD can increase the likelihood of justice system involvement. This study compared offence characteristics in young people with FASD to demographically matched controls in Western Australia, uncovering relationships between personal attributes and offence characteristics.
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Publishing Date:
June 13, 2022
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Examining incarceration rates of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children
The Australian Child Rights Taskforce considers the mistreatment and over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in youth detention to be a national crisis that requires urgent action, with the incarceration rate of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children being 17 times higher than that of all other ethnicities combined in 2020.
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Publishing Date:
June 14, 2022
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Developing local FASD diagnostic services and Models of Care in Australia
Recognition of FASD within Australia has continued to grow, particularly with the development of the Australian Diagnostic Guide, yet the availability of FASD-specific services continues to be limited. This paper presents the views and experiences of the six sites across Australia involved indeveloping a FASD Model of Care in their local area.
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Publishing Date:
June 14, 2022
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
The Alcohol Industry and Social Responsibility: Links to FASD
The beverage alcohol industry is often seen as playing a role in FASD prevention strategies such as health warning labels. The study considers many factors such as the place of alcohol in society and the prevalence, social and economic costs of FASD, to explore the nature of the relationship between the industry and prevention programming.
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Publishing Date:
June 24, 2022
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Written information and health professionals are the information sources about alcohol use in pregnancy most often used by pregnant women
This study investigates where pregnant women obtain information about alcohol use in pregnancy and the relationship between the information source used and women’s demographic characteristics and alcohol use.
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Publishing Date:
July 14, 2022
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Altered bone and body composition in children and adolescents with confirmed prenatal alcohol exposure
As the effect of prenatal alcohol exposure on skeletal growth is relatively unexplored in a clinical population, this study examines bone, fat, and muscle accrual in children and adolescents diagnosed with, or at risk of, FASDs. Overall, adolescents diagnosed with FASDs had greater odds of impairments to bone and body composition.
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Publishing Date:
August 2, 2022
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Effectiveness of practice change intervention in reducing alcohol consumption in pregnant women attending public maternity services
This study examines the effect of a practice change intervention to support the implementation of guideline-recommended care for addressing alcohol use in pregnancy on self-reported alcohol use during pregnancy through a randomised, stepped-wedge controlled trial within the Hunger New England Local Health District (NSW, Australia).
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Publishing Date:
August 31, 2022
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Evaluation outcomes of an alcohol and pregnancy campaign targeting multiple audiences
This study evaluated the effectiveness of a mass media campaign highlighting the potential harms associated with drinking alcohol during pregnancy and whether this altered female’s intentions to abstain during pregnancy after campaign exposure.
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Publishing Date:
September 6, 2022
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Preventing Drift through Continued Co-Design with a First Nations Community: Refining the Prototype of a Tiered FASD Assessment
This study used a two-day workshop presenting a prototype of a culturally safe, tiered neurodevelopmental assessment that can identify FASD in primary healthcare, as part of the Yapatjarrathati project, to emphasise the benefit of continued co-design to ensure health implementation strategies match the needs of First Nations community.
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Publishing Date:
September 7, 2022
Research
- Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Communities
- FASD Assessment & Diagnosis
- FASD management, therapy & support
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum in Australia: From Fiction to Fact and to the Future
This book chapter gives an overview of the past two decades of Australian FASD research, from fiction to fact to challenges of the future.
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Publishing Date:
September 9, 2022
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
FASD resources for health professionals: a scoping review protocol
As not all health professionals possess the knowledge or expertise required for the identification, assessment, referral, and management of FASD, this scoping review aims to identify and analyse FASD resources, to help create awareness to ensure correct diagnosis and adequate patient support.
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Publishing Date:
September 13, 2022
Research
- Alcohol & Pregnancy
- FASD Assessment & Diagnosis
- FASD management, therapy & support
- Health Professionals
- Services
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Eye abnormalities in children with FASD: A systematic review
This systematic review aims to document the range and prevalence of eye abnormalities reported on children with prenatal exposure to alcohol and/ or FASD.
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Publishing Date:
September 14, 2022
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Embedding the Model of Engaging with Communities Collaboratively (MECC) in the Jandu Yani U (For All Families) Project in Aboriginal communities of the Fitzroy Valley, Western Australia
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.
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Publishing Date:
October 5, 2022
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Adverse childhood experiences, associated stressors and comorbidities in children and youth with FASD across the justice and child protection settings in Western Australia
This study published in 2021 explored the adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and associated stressors in individuals with FASD; compared the ACEs profiles of those who had been involved with the child protection system only, justice system only, both or neither; examined the relationship between ACEs and comorbid conditions such as mood and neurodevelopmental disorders.
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Publishing Date:
October 10, 2022
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Prevalence and Patterns of Prenatal Alcohol Exposure in Australian Cohort and Cross-Sectional Studies: A Systematic Review of Data Collection Approaches
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. Alcohol-focused studies reported higher prevalence of PAE, regardless of method of survey administration.
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Publishing Date:
October 12, 2022
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Twitter Activity on Alcohol and Pregnancy among Australian Organisations
Research has suggested that information communicated by public health and industry-funded organisations differ, as organisations linked to industry have tended to downplay risks with alcohol more broadly and pregnancy specifically. This study describes communication of health risks associated with alcohol use during pregnancy on Twitter by Australian-based organisations and stakeholders.
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Publishing Date:
October 19, 2022
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Differential effectiveness of a practice change intervention to improve antenatal care addressing alcohol consumption during pregnancy: Exploratory subgroup analyses within a randomised stepped-wedge controlled trial
This study aimed to explore whether the effectiveness of a practice change intervention demonstrated improvement in the provision of antenatal care addressing alcohol consumption differs between sub-groups of pregnant women and types and locations of maternity leave.
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Publishing Date:
October 26, 2022
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Interventions for improving executive functions in children with FASD: A systematic review
This review aims to synthesise the evidence for structured psychological interventions that explicitly aim to improve executive function in children. The review also sought to ascertain if the effectiveness of interventions were influenced by characteristics of the intervention, participants or type of executive function targeted by the intervention.
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Publishing Date:
November 3, 2022
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
An exploratory study on the role of criminogenic risk factors and informant-rated everyday executive functioning in predicting the age of offending onset in young people with FASD
This study aims to improve understanding of criminogenic risk factors, particularly the role of informant-rated executive functioning, in the age of offending onset among young people. This may help inform targeted interventions and reduce recidivism.
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Publishing Date:
November 4, 2022
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Perceptions of two different alcohol use behaviours during pregnancy
This study explored whether exposure to either an ‘ambiguous consumption’ prototype (no amount of alcohol specified) or ‘small consumption’ prototype (‘small’ amount of alcohol specified) had an impact on prototype perceptions of, and willingness to use, small amounts of alcohol during pregnancy.
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Publishing Date:
November 7, 2022
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
International Survey of Specialist Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Diagnostic Clinics: Comparison of Diagnostic Approach and Considerations Regarding the Potential for Unification
This study captures an international perspective on current FASD diagnostic criteria, as well as potential barriers and facilitators towards a globally unified approach to FASD diagnosis. A lack of collaboration was identified as a key barrier, while strong leadership in guideline creation and implementation emerged as a central facilitator. These barriers and facilitators can be used to guide future collaborative efforts towards implementing consistent diagnostic criteria.
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Publishing Date:
November 25, 2022
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
FASD and Risk-Need-Responsivity Model: A guide for criminal justice and forensic mental health professionals
As the prevalence of FASD becomes better understood and recognised, evidence-based approaches to addressing this specific sub-population are necessary to effect change and reduce recidivism and ongoing involvement in the criminal justice system. Therefore, this article proposes a renewed focus on applying and adapting the Risk-Need-Responsivity (RNR) to identify needs and interventions likely to influence such change.
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Publishing Date:
January 27, 2023
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Scoping review of employment resources for individuals with FASD and justice involvement
Individuals with FASD are over-represented within the justice system and have significant employment challenges. The primary aim of this scoping review was to ascertain available employment resources for FASD individuals, particularly those involved in the justice system. The secondary aims were to determine available evidence-based interventions for the justice workforce and employment providers.
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Publishing Date:
February 17, 2023
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
An investigation of the utility of the Australian Guide to the Diagnosis of FASD in young children
As early diagnosis of children with FASD assists in implementing critical early support, this study examines diagnostic assessment of FASD in young children using the Australian Guide to the Diagnosis of FASD, to identify a valid and reliable diagnostic process for the specific age group.
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Publishing Date:
February 21, 2023
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders
This paper gives a comprehensive overview of FASD research globally, specifically reviewing international prevalence of FASD; the mechanisms and pathophysiology of prenatal alcohol exposure; diagnosis, screening, and prevention; management; quality of life; and outlook.
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Publishing Date:
February 23, 2023
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Renewed call to improve approaches for developing FASD diagnostic criteria: Commentary on “Comparison of three systems for the diagnosis of FASDs in a community sample”
This article aims to discuss ways to improve the way FASD diagnosis criteria are developed and inform future research opportunities, addressing the current lack of agreement regarding such terminology and criteria for describing and diagnosing FASD.
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Publishing Date:
March 13, 2023
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Development of an Australian FASD Indigenous Framework: Aboriginal Healing-Informed and Strengths-Based Ways of Knowing, Being and Doing
Underpinned by an Indigenist research methodology, this article presents findings from a collaboration of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal peoples to develop an Australian FASD Indigenous Framework during 2021 to 2023, which unfolds the changes that non-Aboriginal clinicians and Aboriginal peoples each need to make, to facilitate access to healing-informed, strengths-based, and culturally responsive FASD knowledge, assessment, diagnosis, and support services among Aboriginal peoples.
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Publishing Date:
March 22, 2023
Research
- Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Communities
- FASD Assessment & Diagnosis
- FASD management, therapy & support
- Health Professionals
- Services
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Bigiswun Kid Project: a longitudinal study of adolescents living with high rates of prenatal alcohol exposure, fetal alcohol spectrum disorder and early life trauma in remote Australian Aboriginal communities
The Lililwan Project was the first Australian population-based prevalence study of FASD using active case ascertainment. The Bigiswun Kid Project follows up the Lililwan cohort in 2020-2022 at age 17-19 years and aims to identify adolescents’ needs and build knowledge to inform services to improve the health and well-being of adolescents in remote Aboriginal communities.
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Publishing Date:
April 1, 2023
Research
- Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Communities
- FASD management, therapy & support
- Research
- Services
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Exploring the experience of service users following attendance at a student-led interprofessional neurodevelopmental clinic
This study aims to understand service users’ experiences at a recently established student-led interprofessional neurodevelopmental clinic for children and adolescents with suspected or confirmed prenatal alcohol exposure.
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Publishing Date:
April 8, 2023
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Prenatal alcohol exposure risk perception dimensions and influencing factors: A systematic review and conceptual model
This paper explores the available literature to understand how risks regarding prenatal alcohol exposure are perceived. It develops three dimensions of risk perceptions and three influencing factors of these dimensions, which were brought together to create the proposed novel Pregnancy Alcohol Risk Perception (PARP) conceptual model.
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Publishing Date:
April 17, 2023
FASDs and Social Work Practice in Australia: A Narrative Literature Review
This review explores literature informing Australian social work in the context of FASD. It highlights the need for increased social work research to inform evidence-based practice in FASD diagnosis and management using the biopsychosocial-spiritual-cultural framework.
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Publishing Date:
April 20, 2023
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Lived experiences of the diagnostic assessment process for FASD: A systematic review of qualitative evidence
Individuals with lived experience of FASD hold expertise on their own lives and family needs, and their insights on the assessment and diagnostic process are valuable to improving service delivery and informing the provision of meaningful, person- and family-centred care. This systematic review draws on qualitative evidence on the lived experiences of the diagnostic assessment process for FASD.
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Publishing Date:
May 2, 2023
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Effectiveness of interventions for school-aged-children and adolescents with FASD: a systematic review and meta-analysis
This systematic review describes allied health and educational interventions and their effectiveness for children and adolescents with FASD, to appraise the quality and strength of 25 studies. Body function and structure, activity, behaviour, and sense of self outcomes were pooled.
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Publishing Date:
May 9, 2023
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Intention to Engage in Alcohol Use during Pregnancy: The Role of Attitudes and Prototypes
This study aimed to explore the intentions of alcohol use during pregnancy, using variables from the theory of planned behaviour, the prototype/willingness model and personality variables. It also investigated whether priming participants with exposure to prototypes describing different alcohol use behaviours had an impact on intentions.
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Publishing Date:
May 30, 2023
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
National FASD Strategic Action Plan 2018-2028- Three-year implementation review
This report shares review findings of the National FASD Strategic Action Plan 2018-2028 implementation. The review’s aim is to inform the Australian Government if the plan is on-track to achieving its goals.
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Publishing Date:
June 15, 2023
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Understanding the impacts of childhood adversity on sleep problems in children with FASD: A comparison of cumulative and dimensional approaches
Children with FASD have PAE and significant sleep disturbances. What is not clear is the relative contribution of exposure to early life adversity to these disturbances. This study examines how exposure to adversity impacts frequent insomnia symptoms and nightmares in children with FASD and “At Risk” designations.
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Publishing Date:
July 21, 2023
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
An evaluation of a multi-site FASD models of care project
This paper evaluates a project across six sites in Australia which aimed to help increase FASD knowledge and diagnostic capacity.
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Publishing Date:
July 24, 2023
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Poll snapshot: Pregnancy health warning on alcoholic products
From 31 July 2023, alcoholic products sold in Australia and New Zealand will be required by law to display a visible pregnancy health warning. Since this decision in July 2020 for these warnings to be mandated, they have been appearing on alcoholic products. This national poll asked Australians to recall whether they have seen the pregnancy health warning on alcoholic
products.
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Publishing Date:
July 26, 2023
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Valuing the voice of lived experience as an imperative to address pre-natal alcohol exposure and FASD: “You can’t fly yet!”. Commentary on “E-learning for FASD: an environmental scan of the scope and content of free online training modules” (Bagley et al., 2022)
This paper explores the importance of incorporating lived experience into training for clinicians and health professionals working with people with FASD and their families.
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Publishing Date:
August 16, 2023
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
FASD and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men: A discussion to be had
This paper discusses various areas for increased involvement by Indigenous men in future FASD research, prevention, care and support.
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Publishing Date:
September 5, 2023
Research
- Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Communities
- FASD in adulthood
- FASD management, therapy & support
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Factors to be considered as part of a holistic assessment for FASD: A scoping review
This article explores factors outside of current FASD diagnostic criteria that could be included as part of a holistic assessment process to ensure better support to improve outcomes.
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Publishing Date:
September 13, 2023
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Exploring resource implications and models of care for assessment and diagnosis of FASD: A scoping review
This scoping review looked at the evidence available for understanding the resource implications and service features for the assessment and diagnostic process for FASD.
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Publishing Date:
September 26, 2023
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Neurocognitive and self-reported psychosocial and behavioral functioning in siblings of individuals with neurodevelopmental conditions: a study using remote self-administered testing
This paper looked at the neurocognitive profiles of the siblings of people with and without neurodevelopmental conditions (NDCs), and if there were associations with objective test performance and self-reported psychosocial functioning.
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Publishing Date:
October 1, 2023
Effects of prenatal alcohol exposure on infant lung function, wheeze, and respiratory infections in Australian children
This study looks at whether lung function, wheeze, and the number of respiratory infections is different for children with prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) compared with children who were not exposed.
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Publishing Date:
October 17, 2023
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Editorial: Perspectives and recent advances in FASDs research
This editorial is looking at recent advances in FASDs research, involving effects of prenatal ethanol exposure, molecular and cellular mechanisms of ethanol-induced damage, and neuroanatomical and brain structure change due to prenatal ethanol exposure.
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Publishing Date:
December 15, 2023
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Caregivers’ perspectives of support needs for adolescents with FASD
This study used semi-structured interviews to explore the perspectives of seven caregivers of adolescents with FASD in Australia.
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Publishing Date:
January 10, 2024
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Strong Born
This paper outlines the development and co-design of the “Strong Born” Campaign, which was created by the National Aboriginal Community Health Controlled Organisation in order to address a gap in health promotion around FASD in Aboriginal Communities.
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Publishing Date:
January 11, 2024
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Neuropsychological profiles of adolescents sentenced to detention in Western Australia with and without prenatal alcohol exposure
This study looked at the neuropsychological profiles of adolescents with and without prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) and identified neuropsychological tasks predictive of PAE-group membership.
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Publishing Date:
January 24, 2024
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Australian psychologists’ knowledge, confidence, and practices in FASD diagnostic assessment
This study looked at Australian psychologists’ baseline levels of knowledge and practices in the assessment of FASD in order to develop training and improve future diagnostic capacity.
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Publishing Date:
February 5, 2024
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
A scoping review of early childhood support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children living with a disability in regional, rural and remote settings
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Publishing Date:
July 11, 2024
Self-Reported Traumatic Brain Injury and Its Biopsychosocial Risk Factors in Siblings of Individuals with Neurodevelopmental Conditions
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Publishing Date:
July 12, 2024
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Addressing the challenges of FASD for adolescents in the justice system
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Publishing Date:
August 1, 2024
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Student experiences in a novel interprofessional neurodevelopmental clinic: a qualitative study
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Publishing Date:
August 13, 2024
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Identifying and responding to fetal alcohol spectrum disorder in child and family health: Lessons from an exploratory mixed methods study
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Publishing Date:
September 2, 2024
Research
- Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Communities
- Alcohol & Pregnancy
- FASD Assessment & Diagnosis
- Health Professionals
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Early moderate prenatal alcohol exposure and maternal diet impact offspring DNA methylation across species
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Publishing Date:
September 6, 2024
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Clinical utility and psychometric properties of tools for early detection of developmental concerns and disability in young children
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Publishing Date:
September 16, 2024
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Mental and neurodevelopmental health needs of Aboriginal children with experience of out-of-home care
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Publishing Date:
October 1, 2024
Research
- Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Communities
- FASD Assessment & Diagnosis
- FASD management, therapy & support
- Policy
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Integration of a facilitated access pathway for contraception
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Publishing Date:
October 8, 2024
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
We shouldn’t lock up young offenders with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. Here are the alternatives
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Publishing Date:
October 9, 2024
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Barriers and enablers to addressing smoking, nutrition, alcohol consumption, physical activity and gestational weight gain (SNAP-W) as part of antenatal care: A mixed methods systematic review
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Publishing Date:
October 9, 2024
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
The Safety of Alcohol Pharmacotherapies in Pregnancy: A Scoping Review of Human and Animal Research
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Publishing Date:
October 10, 2024
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Interconnections between unintended pregnancy, alcohol and other drug use, and pregnancy, birth, infant, childhood and socioeconomic outcomes: a scoping review
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Publishing Date:
October 15, 2024
Research
- Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Communities
- Alcohol & Pregnancy
- FASD Assessment & Diagnosis
- FASD in adulthood
- Health Professionals
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Prenatal alcohol exposure and associations with physical size, dysmorphology and neurodevelopment
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Publishing Date:
October 15, 2024
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Improving knowledge of rare disorders since 1993: the Australian Paediatric Surveillance Unit
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Publishing Date:
November 19, 2024
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Impact of healthy pregnancy and lifestyle in mothers on developmental delay in their offspring: a strength-based analysis of a longitudinal study among indigenous children in Australia
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Publishing Date:
November 23, 2024
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
National FASD Program: Social Return on Investment
In this report Impact Economics and Policy highlights the effectiveness of the Every Moments Matters campaign with fewer women consuming alcohol while pregnant in 2023 as a result of exposure to the campaign.
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Publishing Date:
December 1, 2024
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
A novel prenatal alcohol use risk perception model: feedback from a Delphi process
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Publishing Date:
December 5, 2024
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Senate Inquiry: Effective approaches to prevention, diagnosis and support for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
Response prepared by the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care addressing Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder in Australia
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Publishing Date:
December 9, 2024
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Exploring Occupational Therapy Practice for Children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
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Publishing Date:
December 22, 2024
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
FASD Hub Australia’s submission to the inquiry into the health impacts of alcohol and other drugs in Australia
FASD Hub Australia’s submission to the inquiry into the health impacts of alcohol and other drugs in Australia
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Publishing Date:
December 31, 2024
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Suboptimal uptake and placement of a mandatory alcohol pregnancy warning label in Australia
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Publishing Date:
January 1, 2025
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations Leading the Way in Child Health Research
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Publishing Date:
January 20, 2025
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
The prevalence of mandated and voluntary health information on alcohol products in Australia
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Publishing Date:
February 4, 2025
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Effects of periconceptional ethanol on mitochondrial content and oxidative stress in maternal liver and placentas from male and female fetuses in rats
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Publishing Date:
February 9, 2025
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Integrating routine screening for pregnancy intention and contraceptive use into care of women who use alcohol or other drugs
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Publishing Date:
February 10, 2025
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Low to Moderate Prenatal Alcohol Exposure and Facial Shape of Children at Age 6 to 8 Years
The purpose of this study was to determine whether subtle changes in facial shape with prenatal alcohol exposure found in 12-month-old children were evident at age 6 to 8 years using extended phenotyping methods and, if so, whether facial characteristics were similar to those seen in fetal alcohol spectrum disorder.
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Publishing Date:
February 10, 2025
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Prenatal alcohol exposure is associated with altered feto-placental blood flow and sex-specific placental changes
This study examines if prenatal alcohol exposure can affect the flow of blood between the fetus and placenta, which may lead to different changes in the placenta depending on the sex of the fetus.
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Publishing Date:
February 10, 2025
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
An international response to asking difficult FASD questions
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Publishing Date:
March 9, 2025
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Examining Alcohol Screening Rates During Pregnancy and Documentation of Prenatal Alcohol Exposure in a Public Health District in Australia
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Publishing Date:
March 10, 2025
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Analysis of risk factors associated with suicidality in children and adolescents with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder in Western Australia
This study is the first to characterise suicidality (i.e., suicidal ideation/suicide attempt) and explore associated risk factors in young individuals with FASD within the Australian context.
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Publishing Date:
March 19, 2025
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder identification in Australia: A qualitative analysis of perspectives from psychologists and individuals with lived and living experience
This study explores the current landscape of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) and prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) assessments in Australia, focusing on the experiences of psychologists, parents, caregivers, and individuals with FASD.
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Publishing Date:
March 31, 2025
Research
Page last updated April 27, 2025
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