Fiona Nash (NSW, National Party, Assistant Minister for Health) Share this | Hansard source

The diagnostic tool is being developed by the Telethon Institute in collaboration with a group of clinical experts and consumer representatives. The institute has been contracted to conduct a clinical review and trial before the tool can be released nationally. The tool is due to be released for use in 2015 along with user and referral guidelines to ensure that babies or children who are diagnosed with FASD can be appropriately referred to support services.

Having a FASD diagnostic tool means that paediatricians have a level of certainty about diagnosing the disorder, which includes a spectrum of health and cognitive impairments. It will also allow our GPs, particularly those in rural and remote locations, who do not have immediate referral pathways to specialists, to make a proper diagnosis. Data will be collected on the tool, leading to a better understanding of the prevalence of FASD in Australia.