Overview

The Victorian Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Special Interest Group (VIC FASD SIG) was established in 2017 to provide an opportunity for professionals, families and researchers to connect and collaborate to build the capacity to prevent, diagnose, understand and respond to FASD in Victoria. Membership is open to anyone who lives or works in Victoria with an interest in FASD. This is not a research project per se, but the SIG has links to many projects through its membership.

We hold membership meetings every 2 months, with additional meetings called as required. We always welcome new members, please contact us below.

Our Terms of Reference

1. To promote awareness and knowledge of FASD in Victoria and its service systems
2. To share information about FASD initiatives in Victoria and Australia
3. To identify priorities and develop capacity for FASD diagnostic and support services in Victoria
4. To identify opportunities for collaborative FASD research
5. To advocate for program and policy development in relation to FASD
6. To be a network for professionals interested in FASD to promote their development, collaboration and opportunities.
7. To support and initiate workforce education in FASD assessment, diagnosis, intervention and prevention
8. To build on opportunities to minimise FASD-related harm in the broader community.
   
   

Research team

Chair

Dr Kerryn Bagley

Kerryn is a lecturer in Social Work, Social Policy and Rural Health at La Trobe University, Australia. Kerryn is known for her research into health and human service sector responses to FASD, which stems from her extensive practice experience in child and adolescent mental health services with families affected by FASD.

Kerryn has been engaged in FASD practice and research since 2008 and undertook her FASD diagnostic team training and evidence-based intervention training in the USA and Canada. She has been an active contributor to capacity building for FASD services and support in Australia and New Zealand, which has included involvement in development of several best practice FASD multidisciplinary diagnostic clinics, intervention programs, as well as training and consultation for families and professionals across the health, allied health, social service, child protection, justice and education sectors. She was the inaugural co-chair of the Australian and New Zealand FASD clinical network (ANZFASDCN), is an ambassador for NOFASD Australia and currently chairs the Victorian FASD Special Interest Group. 

Coordinators

Professor Jane Halliday

Jane is an epidemiologist, Group Leader of Reproductive Epidemiology at the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute in Victoria. She established the Asking Questions about Alcohol in Pregnancy (AQUA) NHMRC-funded study which recruited women in the general population early in pregnancy and continues to investigate the health outcomes of their children, exposed in pregnancy to common patterns of alcohol consumption. Jane has a particular interest in trying to tease out why some children are more at risk than others. Jane is closely involved in national strategies to diagnose and prevent FASD, collaborating with key practitioners and policy makers in this field.

Evi Muggli

Evi is the Project Manager of the ‘Asking Questions about alcohol in pregnancy’ (AQUA) cohort study at the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute. The study began in 2011 with funding from the NHRMC and is designed to look at the association between drinking low-to-moderate levels of alcohol in pregnancy and adverse child outcomes. Through her work on AQUA, Evi has become involved in many other activities around alcohol use in pregnancy.

For example, she has actively contributed to the Commonwealth Department of Health - FASD Roundtable (2016) and the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare’s National Maternity Data Development Project (Alcohol Consumption in Pregnancy) (since 2012). The latter also involved producing a research report on the views of maternity clinicians and pregnant women in Indigenous and non- Indigenous settings on national mandatory reporting of maternal alcohol use (2016).

Prue Walker

Prue is the Victorian Fetal Alcohol Service (VicFAS) Service Co-ordinator and provides FASD consultancy services to professionals and families. Prue undertook a Churchill Fellowship in 2009 when she travelled to Canada and the United States to explore models of care for children with FASD.

She presented her findings at the APCCAN Asia Pacific Conference on Child Abuse and Neglect in Perth 2009, and since that time has facilitated workshops and training workshops in relation to FASD, including assessment, prevention and case management. Prue’s background is in child protection and out-of-home care, in both Victoria and the Northern Territory.

Project team

Kim Cowan

Kim has a background in Paediatric Nursing both in inner-city tertiary centers and regional health care settings where she was an Associate Unit Manager. Kim is currently working in partnership with PATCHES Paediatrics and Goulburn Valley (GV) Health in the National FASD Consortium project as the FASD Clinical Co-ordinator for GV Health, Shepparton, Victoria.

In 2018, Kim and paediatrician Dr Dan Garrick and a multidisciplinary team at GV Health worked to establish the GVH FASD Diagnostic Clinic, which has enabled many families in the region to access effective FASD assessment and support.

Cheryl Dedman

Cheryl is a parent and full-time carer of a child living with FASD. She has a passion to advocate for all families, carers and people living with FASD and particularly believes that it is essential to highlight the need to nurture the mental health of carers and encourage their self-care.

Cheryl believes that education within the community, for professionals and families, is the key to providing the best possible life outcomes for those living with FASD and those caring for them. She sees a strong need to educate the community regarding the risks of consuming alcohol during pregnancy. Cheryl believes that this is a community issue and pregnant women need to be encouraged and supported by those around her during her pregnancy regarding abstaining from alcohol. Prior to being a full-time carer, Cheryl has a background in the fitness industry, education and childcare.

Kate Gray

Kate is a Senior Psychologist working in private practice, particularly within the psycho-legal domain. She undertakes psychological, cognitive and risk-related assessments in Child Protection, Secure Welfare, Youth Justice, Family Law, Criminal Law, Civil, NDIS and Victims of Crime matters. She also provides therapy to children, adolescents, families, and young people living in out-of-home care or linked with Youth Justice.

Kate undertook FASD diagnostic and intervention training in the USA and Gold Coast and has expertise in multidisciplinary team diagnosis. She has experience in diagnosing FASD, engaging with the NDIA in relation to FASD, and providing intervention and support to those impacted by FASD. Kate created a FASD screening tool that links closely with the Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics, endorsed by Bruce Perry.

Dr Katrina Harris

Katrina is Head of Developmental and Community Paediatrics at Monash Children’s Hospital and Medical lead of Monash Children’s at Home. Katrina’s interest in FASD developed over years spent working in Northern Australia, particularly with indigenous communities. She established and led the multidisciplinary Autism Diagnostic service for the Townsville and Palm Island region.

In 2019, Katrina received a Federal grant to pilot a Victoria wide FASD assessment service, with emphasis on teaching and training medical and allied health practitioners to gain skills in this area. Katrina hopes to integrate FASD assessment and management into the broader developmental care of children, through teaching and support within her Melbourne based clinics and roles.

Kellie Hammerstein

Kellie is the permanent carer of twin girls with FASD diagnosed by the Gold Coast Health FASD in 2017 after the Victorian health care system could not sufficiently respond to her daughter’s presenting developmental issues. She is passionate about Victoria strengthening the community and health sector’s capacity to respond to those living with FASD and their families.

Maria Kouspos

Maria is a paediatric speech pathologist that works at Monash Children’s Hospital, Clayton. She works in various multidisciplinary teams including, Developmental Paediatrics Clinic, Healthy Koori Kids Clinic and the new VicFAS clinic. She has 18 years of experience working with children with complex neurological, developmental and behavioural conditions. She has particular interest in working with vulnerable children, their complexities and understands the impact of trauma on child development, particularly for children in out-of-home care. 

Maria is passionate about assisting families to understand their child’s communication profile and the implications it has for their child’s daily experiences. She provides informed assessments, and therapy that is family-centred, evidence based and in a manner that is appropriate to the individual’s presenting needs and is culturally and linguistically sensitive. Maria is a holistic practitioner who considers the patient understanding the impact of impairment on a patient's social, emotional and vocational aspects of life.

Maria is a Certified Practising Member of Speech Pathology Australia and fulfils all requirements for Professional Self Regulation Program. She has experience in a variety of clinical settings, including early childhood intervention services, special developmental schools, mainstream schools, hospitals and the private setting.

Dr Gehan Roberts

Gehan is a developmental-behavioural Paediatrician and holds appointments with The Royal Children’s Hospital’s Centre for Community Child Health, the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, and the University of Melbourne. Gehan coordinates the Victorian Training Program in Community Child Health, is an Associate Director (Clinical Services) at the Centre for Community Child Health, and is engaged in research, clinical supervision and teaching at both an undergraduate and post-graduate level.

In 2016, Gehan was elected President of the Neurodevelopmental and Behavioural Paediatric Society of Australasia (NBPSA), the peak body of Australasian doctors who care for children with developmental disorders. Gehan’s clinical interests are in the fields of developmental evaluation, behavioural consultation, learning disabilities, and psychopharmacology. He is currently involved in research in the fields of developmental-behavioural paediatrics in the secondary care sector and also long-term outcomes of very premature infants.

Hon Dr Sharman Stone

Sharman was the Federal Member for Murray from 1996 to 2016. She held various portfolios from 1998. Her work in Indigenous affairs and Population Development led her to move a private member's motion in the House of Representatives (also then moved into the Senate) calling on official recognition and resourcing of a national FASD program.

Hon Dr Stone instigated and led the first Parliamentary national inquiry "FASD: The Hidden Harm" Nov 2012, with recommendations taken up in the first $9.2m national strategy. She established the Parliamentary Bi-partisan committee to eliminate FASD; has represented Australia at several FASD conferences in Canada; is Patron of the Russell Family FASD Association, and an Ambassador of NOFASD. She continues championing the cause of FASD recognition, diagnosis, public awareness and support in the Indo Asia-Pacific region as Australia's Ambassador for Women and Girls.

Sejla Stammers 

Sejla is an Information Officer at the Alcohol and Drug Foundation. In her role, she prepares AOD-related content for the organisation, works on projects internally and externally, and answers AOD-related queries via the DrugInfo line. Sejla has worked in health promotion for 4 years and is offering support to the Victorian FASD Special Interest Group as required.

Mary Walker

Mary is a lecturer in the faculty of Education at Federation University. She lectures in to the Bachelor of Primary with a focus on Disability Studies. She is passionate about improving her students’ skills and knowledge in inclusivity. Mary has extensive experience in both education and arts sectors working as not only a lecturer, but a school teacher, in various roles with the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority and in the arts as a director and scriptwriter. She is passionate about educating others about FASD through teaching and research.

International FASD Awareness Day

Every year on September 9th, International FASD Awareness Day is observed. 

People all around the world gather for events to raise awareness about the dangers of drinking during pregnancy and the plight of individuals and families who struggle with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD). The first FASDay was celebrated in 1999.  

The ninth of September was chosen to remind people on the ninth day of the ninth month of the year that during the nine months of pregnancy, a woman should abstain from alcohol.  

Each year, the VIC FASD SIG is involved in organising awareness raising events and other activities around this day.

International FASD Awareness Day 2019

We held several events, including:

• The launch of the Monash Children's Hospital FASD Clinic.
• VicFAS FASD clinic launch at Monash Children’s Hospital.
• A seminar for child protection workers in Dandenong and a half day awareness day event in Bendigo including keynote by Professor Dorothy Badry from the University of Calgary.
• Presentations by VIC FASD SIG members.
• FASD Research Roundtable.

It was great to see so many professionals attending because they wanted to improve their knowledge of FASD. It was also great to have several new parents/carers and people with FASD in the audiences. 

We particularly acknowledge the contributions of our keynote speaker at all the events Professor Dorothy Badry from the Canada FASD Research network (CanFASD) and the University of Calgary. Professor Badry gave a different keynote speech at each event. It was wonderful hearing about her research on FASD in Canada and her observations and reflections about FASD in Australia.

Senate Inquiry into FASD

Australian alcohol labelling

Pregnancy warning labels on alcoholic drinks are currently implemented on a voluntary basis in Australia and New Zealand. Australian ministers will meet in July 2020 to decide whether to support a mandatory health warning label for alcohol products carefully designed by the independent statutory authority on food standards in Australia and New Zealand (FSANZ). 

Pregnancy warning labels on alcoholic drinks can raise awareness and prompt discussions about the risks of drinking alcohol during pregnancy. They also support the establishment of cultural norms in relation to pregnant women not drinking alcohol.

On July 15, 2020, the VicFASD SIG issued a media release to support implementing the pregnancy warning label designed by FSANZ on alcoholic drinks:

• Media release - VIC ministers urged to vote for red, black & white health warning labels on alcohol384.58 KB

Resources

FASD Hub Australia

Find information on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) for Australian health professionals, teachers, justice professionals, service providers, researchers or parents and carers.

• FASD Hub Australia

Australian Guidelines to Reduce Health Risks from Drinking Alcohol

On December 16, 2019, the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) has released the draft Australian Guidelines to Reduce Health Risks from Drinking Alcohol for public consultation. The guidelines are being updated to reflect the most recent and best evidence on the health effects of alcohol consumption. The aim of the guidelines is to provide clear guidance for Australians on reducing their risk of harm from drinking alcohol. It's also intended to form the evidence base for future policy making and educational materials.

Victorian research leads in FASD prevention - by Sejla Stammers

• Victorian research leads in FASD prevention Australian Drug Foundation, September 9, 2019.

NOFASD Australia

NOFASD Australia is a family-focused organisation and is the essential bridge linking those with lived experience with researchers and clinicians. The Australian Government funds NOFASD Australia through the Department of Health.

• NOSDASD Australia

CanFASD

The Canada Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Research Network (CanFASD) is a collaborative, interdisciplinary research network, with collaborators, researchers and partners across the nation. It is Canada’s first comprehensive national Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) research network. CanFASD researcher is currently leading 25 major projects related to FASD prevention, intervention and diagnostics. CanFASD connects researchers, graduate students and practitioners from communities and institutions across Canada and internationally.

• CanFASD