May 2025: Supporting children living with a Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder and their carers

Webinar

Missed the live webinar? A captioned recording is now available to view

Details

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) is more prevalent among children in contact with the child protection system, especially those in out-of-home care. Children with FASD are nine times more likely to be placed in care and 19 times more likely to encounter the juvenile justice system. Frontline staff, including child protection caseworkers, need clear guidance on when and how to access professionals for assessment and diagnosis of FASD, as well as strategies for providing tailored supports and early interventions.

In this FACSIAR Lunch and Learn webinar, Professor Elizabeth Elliott from the University of Sydney and The Children’s Hospital at Westmead presented information on FASD including its prevalence and how and when it presents. Experts from the Department of Communities and Justice presented case studies and discussed lessons for case work practice. There was a discussion on what can be done to encourage positive outcomes for children in care with FASD, including meeting their health needs through the ‘Out-of-Home Care Health Pathway Program’.

The webinar was chaired by Jessica Stewart, Executive Director, FACSIAR, Department of Communities and Justice 

Presentation

Supporting children living with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder and their carers

Presentations from:

• Professor Elizabeth Elliott - Professor of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Sydney; Consultant Paediatrician, The Children's Hospital, Westmead; Director, Australian Paediatric Surveillance Unit (APSU)

• Emily Stocker – Clinical Psychologist, Psychological & Specialist Services, Office of the Senior Practitioner, DCJ

          Download Emily Stocker's Presentation slides (PDF, 1.2 MB)

• Rose Kassolis – Program Officer, Interagency, System Reform, Child and Family, DCJ

          Download Rose Kassolis's Presentation slides (PDF, 230.5 KB)

Additional resources

OOHC Health Pathway Program

• DCJ Webpage – overview of the OOHC Health Pathway
• PSP Learning Hub – eLearning module on the OOHC Health Pathway  
• NSW Health Webpage – information on OOHC Health Pathway     

Casework Practice (for DCJ staff only)

• Alcohol and other drugs practice kit

Organisations providing FASD support  

NOFASD

• NOFASD – National organisation for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders

Includes:

• Support for service providers
• Professional development workshops, webinar and online course
• Resources and support for parents, carers and family members
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander resources
• Culturally and Linguistically Diverse resources
  
• Resources for the out-of-home care sector
  

FASD Hub Australia

• FASD Hub Australia – central repository of information on FASD

Includes:

• Services Directory for FASD assessment
• Australian Guidelines for assessment and diagnosis of FASD.
• Information for People with FASD and parents and carers
• Information for Health professionals including e-learning modules
• Information for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities  

CICADA Centre NSW (Care and Invention for Children Affected by Drug and Alcohol)

• Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Service (CICADA Centre NSW) – provides assessments for babies, children and young people between 0-17 years of age for FASD. Includes information about referral and appointment process for parents and carers. 

Additional tools and publications    

• Turning Point – national centre for addiction treatment, research, and education
• You Are Not on Your Own – booklet to help children and adults talk about a parent’s drinking (Children’s Society, UK)
• Help Me Understand – booklet to help children, young people and workers talk about an adult’s drug treatment (Children’s Society, UK)  
• NDIS for Caseworkers - information tailored specifically for caseworkers explaining the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)

Pathways of Care Longitudinal Study (POCLS), Department of Communities and Justice

• More information about POCLS
• 2024 snapshot - Key insights published in the Special Issue on the Pathways of Care Longitudinal Study in the international journal Child Abuse & Neglect
• 2023 snapshot - What does ten years of data tell us about children  in out-of-home care in NSW?
• Resources for policy makers and senior practitioners:
  • Developmental Outcomes: Children and Young People who have Experienced Out-of-Home Care (publication)
  • Developmental Outcomes: Aboriginal Children and Young People who have Experienced Out-of-Home Care (publication)

Contact

Email: ResearchPartnerships@dcj.nsw.gov.au