Mal Washer (Moore, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I will continue. Speech and language therapy is critical. The adverse effects of foetal alcohol exposure also mean that there needs to be investigating and planning for social support systems in the post-diagnosis period to account for cognitive and developmental disabilities. The National Organisation for Foetal Alcohol Syndrome and the Related Disorders, advocates for patients and carers, state that many who contact NOFASARD identify the barrier created by IQ as well as a determining factor in diagnosis, and seek support for those in their care where maternal alcohol use is presented as reliable evidence.

There are multiple implications across the lifespan for any individual living with FASD. Although brain damage has a profound effect on behaviour, it is a problem behaviour that often leads to stereotyping. Most working in health and human services, education, justice and other service provision areas have not yet developed an understanding of the learning and memory impairments, the poor judgement skills and the poor consequential thinking abilities, the limited skills in making friends and maintaining relationships, which are often the hallmarks of FASD. Service providers have not had appropriate training and have limited perception of the power of labels like 'belligerent, defiant, lazy and uncommitted to individual change'.

This month, August 2011, the FASD Australian collaboration will present a national diagnostic and screening protocol. Once applied, accurate diagnosis contributes to better detection, improved data collection and most importantly the opportunity for early intervention, not just to support the individual, but in the case of children, more appropriate support for parents. An older sibling's diagnosis with FASD is one of the more powerful indicators of future exposed pregnancies and a critical point for prevention.

Foetal alcohol spectrum disorder does not have current registered disability status. This situation relegates the condition as a non-entity, minimising public perception and service provider perception of the real scope of the problem, and perpetuates beliefs in the limited risks posed by lower doses of alcohol. It also fails to acknowledge the rate of incidence which has been contrasted to other non-genetic causes.

There is something powerful and at the same time threatening in listing FASD as a recognised disability. While it brings credibility to at least four decades of contemporary knowledge in alcohol as both teratogenic and toxic to healthy foetal development, it brings another dimension to the harms alcohol causes in society. There is no defence of choice where an unborn child is concerned. There is no evidence that this disability is a burden of some population groups and there is no avoidance or opportunity to mask the condition by proposing it as another malady with unknown cause.

There has been resistance to the call for listing FASD as a disability and Australia has the opportunity to lead the world in legitimising the claim. To do less will continue to fill our prisons, absorb child protection and out-of-home placement resources, overload special education, overwhelm parents and supporters who are doing it tough. A national awareness campaign is the primary prevention opportunity to deliver clear information to the Australian community to effect changes in behaviour and attitude. It is the first step which needs to be supported by labelling and signage in all liquor outlets and curriculum education and skills.

Edith Cowan University has completed research on best practice for disseminating public information messages on FASD. This message could be similar in style and format to the message 'One punch can kill' where a mother or actor can give an account of how it has affected her and her family.

The NOFASARD network of parents and carers is a source of evidence from lived experience. Disclosures reveal the continued experience and advice by medical practitioners of the relative safety of low level alcohol consumption, which is a national tragedy. (Time expired)

Debate adjourned.

See this speech in context