New FASD campaign hopes to make yarning easier

The National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO), supported by the Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education (FARE), has launched a new campaign, Strong Born, to raise awareness of the risks of drinking alcohol during pregnancy and safe breastfeeding practices.

The campaign has been designed in collaboration with representatives from various Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, which informed the development of resources to make yarning about this complex topic easier.

NACCHO CEO Pat Turner said, “The Strong Born campaign is about raising awareness and understanding of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) and reducing stigma and shame.

“The campaign includes culturally appropriate health information for women and families, educational materials for our Aboriginal healthcare workers and guidance for healthcare providers that work with Aboriginal communities.

“In collaboration with our regional and remote member organisations, we’ll also support opportunities to bring our communities together to create safe places for yarning about the impacts of alcohol on pregnancy.

“Growing strong healthy mums and bubs leads to healthy communities. Our communities need to understand the risks of drinking alcohol during pregnancy, and where to go for support, so they can ask for help if they need it.”

FASD has long been an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community controlled health priority and NACCHO has been working with FASD clinical, cultural and community experts across Australia to design the new campaign.

FARE CEO Caterina Giorgi commented, “Far too many Australians have FASD and there continues to be misinformation about alcohol, pregnancy and breastfeeding. It is great to have the opportunity to collaborate with NACCHO on this important campaign as part of the broader Every Moment Matters initiative, which provides evidence-based health information about alcohol, pregnancy and breastfeeding.”

Senator Malarndirri McCarthy, Assistant Minister for Indigenous Health, said, “FASD is often referred to as the invisible disability but as far as many families and communities are concerned, it’s a very visible part of daily life. It’s important that people understand that FASD is not confined to a particular community or demographic; it is a disorder that crosses socioeconomic, racial and educational boundaries.

“That said, the AMA tells us that in some high-risk Indigenous communities the prevalence may be as high as 12%. All kids deserve the best start to life and the Strong Born campaign is an important campaign to keep raising awareness and taking the shame out of talking about these complex issues.”

Campaign resources will be made available to all rural and remote Aboriginal and Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHOs).

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