“We wish to thank the AER Foundation’s Small Grants Program for its support and commitment to Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder in Australia”

Russell Family Fetal Alcohol Disorders Association


Mick & Seth Russell

The Russell Family Fetal Alcohol Disorders Association (rffada) is a not-for-profit health promotion charity dedicated to ensuring that individuals affected prenatally by alcohol have access to diagnostic services, support and multidisciplinary management planning in Australia and that carers and parents are supported with a "no blame no shame" ethos.

I am excited to announce that the Alcohol Education and Rehabilitation Foundation has funded the development of 7 modules of training on FASD. The RFFADA and Training Connections Australia have collaborated and are please to advise that there is now training available throughout Australia on all aspects of FASD and for all target groups specifically those highlighted below. For more information and a quote contact Elizabeth Russell at TRAINING CONNECTIONS AUSTRALIA on (07) 40 500 120 or 0412 550 540

Training Connections Australia; AER Foundation

AER Foundation Thanks to the AERF for providing funding to the rffada and Training Connections Australia for the development of the first publically available FASD training modules in Australia.

FASD News

23 August 2010

I Australian News

  1. New Norcia Wine Leads the Way with Important Warning Labels
  2. Australian Senator Praises BC Response to FASD (17/12/09)
  3. Alcohol legacy ‘ruins’ children
  4. The 30th Australasian Professional Society on Alcohol and other Drugs (APSAD) Conference 28 November - 1 December 2010 Canberra
  5. FASD is now in the Western Australian “Equality Before the Law” Bench Book
  6. AER Research
  7. ANCD Consultation on Drug and Alcohol Issues

II International News & Media Articles

  1. Canadian Report — Parenting children with FASD
  2. The 4th International Conference in Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
  3. Fetal Alcohol Network New Zealand — FASD & Justice Seminar
  4. Prenatal Exposure to Alcohol: The Role of Addiction Psychiatry
  5. Why middle class women are dying for a drink: Alcohol abuse among professional women is causing devastating health problems
  6. Braided Cord - New book on FASD by Liz Kulp
  7. Audiocast for 4th National Biennial Conference on Adults with FASD

III Latest FASD Research

  1. Treatment of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Studied in Mice Peptides derived from neurotrophic factors found to reverse alcohol-induced deficits
  2. Neural processing differences in ADHD in individuals with and without prenatal alcohol exposure
  3. Motor-skill activities hold promise of rewiring children’s damaged brains
  4. Prenatal exposure to alcohol dulls the pain response in babies
  5. Link between Brain Structure and Mathematical Ability may Lead to Better Treatment for Children with FASD
  6. Training Helps Children Make and Keep Friends
  7. Normal distribution of palpebral fissure lengths in canadian school age children.
  8. Dangers of Drug And Alcohol Use During Pregnancy: Medics Ask For More Training
  9. Epilepsy risk rises when pregnant mothers drink
  10. Paternal Genetic Contribution Influences Fetal Vulnerability to Maternal Alcohol Consumption in a Rat Model of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
  11. Fetal alcohol disorders common in Eastern Europe adoptees
  12. Prenatal Alcohol Exposure and Chronic Mild Stress Differentially Alter Depressive- and Anxiety-Like Behaviors in Male and Female Offspring
  13. Genetic and epigenetic insights into fetal alcohol spectrum disorders
  14. New eye test may detect learning disabilities, early Alzheimer’s,FASD
  15. Drinking While Pregnant Tied to Rare Leukemia in Offspring
  16. Repeated third trimester-equivalent ethanol exposure inhibits long-term potentiation in the hippocampal CA1 region of neonatal rats
  17. Screening, Diagnosing and Prevention of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome: Is This Syndrome Treatable?
  18. Progress in Fetal and Neonatal Brain Injury Research
  19. Creating a preliminary neurobehavioral profile of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders
  20. Pregnant women who drink alcohol may reduce the sperm count of sons
  21. Impact of prenatal alcohol consumption on placenta-associated syndrome

17 May 2010

I Australian News

  1. Welcome and thank you to Associate Professor Heather Douglas (T C Beirne School of Law, The University of Queensland)
  2. Ord Valley Aboriginal Health Service FASD Project
  3. Good News Story from a teacher of students with FASD
  4. Media article - Fitzroy Crossing kids traumatised
  5. Telethon Institute for Child Health Research “Alcohol & Pregnancy Project” Update
  6. Alcohol and Pregnancy and Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Resources for Health Professionals
  7. DASSA Library has copy of ADHD & FASD by Kieran O’Malley
  8. Fitzroy Valley FASD/ELT Strategy Update

II International News & Media Articles

  1. First European Conference on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders
  2. Free University of Minnesota FASD Online Training Course
  3. The 4th International Conference in Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
  4. CDC’s new FASD website
  5. Psychiatric Training in Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders “Inadequate”
  6. New book about FASD by 11 year old Child
  7. Irish Medical Organisation calls for Health Warnings on alcoholic beverages
  8. Russia Will Require Labels on Alcohol

III Latest FASD Research

  1. Reversal of Alcohol-Induced Learning Deficits in the Young Adult in a Model of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
  2. New research helps explain the underlying mechanism behind alcohol’s effects on the developing fetus.
  3. Prevalence of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Much Higher than Previously Estimated
  4. Examining mathematical abilities in children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder
  5. Children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) have a number of cognitive deficits
  6. Racial Disparities in Pregnancy-related Drinking Reduction
  7. New screening tool helps identify children at risk for developmental issues.
  8. Problems Expressed by Caregivers of Children With Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
  9. “Impact of a social skills intervention on the hostile attributions of children with prenatal alcohol exposure”
  10. Magnetic Resonance Imaging Outcomes From a Comprehensive Magnetic Resonance Study of Children With Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders
  11. Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders and the criminal justice system
  12. Missing Connections: FASD Research
  13. Rewards of Parenting a Child with a Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
  14. Brain Regions Damaged By Prenatal Alcohol Exposure Identified By Water-Diffusion Technology
  15. Behavioural Training Improves Connectivity and Function in the brain

21 October 2009

We would like to inform you of a new set of Australian resources. These resources are:

  • Alcohol and Pregnancy and Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders: a Resource for Health Professionals
  • Alcohol and Pregnancy and Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder: a Factsheet for Health Professionals
  • No Alcohol in Pregnancy is the Safest Choice (wallet card for women)

http://www.ichr.uwa.edu.au/alcoholandpregnancy

14 December 2007

NOFASARD and the Russell Family Fetal Alcohol Disorders Association have teamed up on a new campaign to educate Australians about fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. Unfortunately some people at the current time are still not aware that alcohol and pregnancy simply don't mix... and if you are considering pregnancy or are pregnant no alcohol is the best and safest choice for your unborn baby. The new FASD education campaign aims to show all Australians why alcohol and pregnancy don't mix. It's estimated as many as 1 in 100 newborn babies may be born with the effects of FASD. The key is to arm yourself with information - and that's very much what this new campaign is about. Decide for yourself.

3 December 2007

Today NOFASARD and the RFFADA launched a media campaign with the assistance of Ross Woodward from Media Key. For the first time in the history of Australia, the acronym FASD has been heard on almost every major radio station and television station and read in almost every major paper. It was the intention of the three organisations to achieve two primary objectives:

  1. to call for action from the federal and state and territory governments regarding the establishment of diagnostic and support clinics in at least every major centre in Australia
  2. to give women and their partners information on alcohol and pregnancy that they may not have had before so that they can make an informed decision about whether to use alcohol in pregnancy

These two objectives were achieved beyond our wildest dreams. Particular thanks go to – Sonia Berton; Sue Miers; Ross Woodward; John Eyre; Martin; Debbie; Vicki; Danielle, Lyndall and especially Seth and Hayley Russell who came all the way from Mackay to support Seth's mother Elizabeth. Thanks also go to two prominent people in our legal system and drug and alcohol services.

21 November 2007

Download the rffada membership form here

11 November 2007

The Salvation Army Presents

No Blame No Shame

A seminar and networking lunch in which three international guests will speak from a wealth of practice experience on identifying and supporting people with Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD)

"Defending clients with FASD" – David Boulding

David is a Canadian barrister with over twenty years of experience in the criminal justice system, and author of a number of articles.

"Closing The Revolving Door" – Anthony Wartnik

Anthony is a former Superior Court Judge who has been an advocate for early detection and appropriate interventions for sufferers of FASD.

"Support Needs for People with FASD" – Katherine Kelly

Katherine is Project Director of the FASD Legal Issues Resource Centre in Washington.

8.45am to 1.45pm Friday 7th December 2007

The Salvation Army
828 Sydney Road
North Coburg

(Undercroft parking off Headley Street at the rear of the building)

Morning tea and lunch is provided free-of-charge

To register phone or email Celine on (03) 9521 2770 celine.fernandesz@aus.salvationarmy.org before COB Wednesday 5th December 2007

1 October 2007

FASD Brochures available for download below

17 September 2007

NOFASARD have developed a fetal alcohol spectrum disorder checklist. Whilst the checklist does not constitute a diagnostic instrument, it is intended to increase the awareness of what remains an increasingly prevalent, often misdiagnosed and devastating condition in Australia.

Click here to download the checklist.

rffada News and Events

30 July 2010

News Flash — for the first time in Australia! Training Connections Australia, in conjunction with the rffada have developed training in FASD for all audiences.

We can deliver this training anywhere in Australia and New Zealand and can quote within the hour. Brochures on the modules available are available from the training page

  • Module 1 – The Facts of FASD
  • Module 2 – Community and allied Health Personnel
  • Module 3 – Living with FASD
  • Module 4 – Strategies for Teachers and Educators
  • Module 5 – Strategies for Employment Services Professionals
  • Module 6 – Strategies for Criminal Justice Workers
  • Module 7 – Alcohol and pregnancy for students
  • Brochure – Do you have a client who just doesn’t get it?

Download brochures for this modules from the training page »

2 December 2009

My beautiful grandson DJ with parents Seth and Hayley. DJ was born in June. Seth and Hayley have broken the cycle and DJ is physically fit and healthy, has not been prenatally exposed to alcohol and has all the IQ points God intended him to have.
DJ

3 December 2007

Today a large scale media campaign was launched to raise FASD awareness.
See FASD News (left) for details.

29 October 2007

The rffada has just been endorsed as a health promotion charity and has been granted tax concession status. Any donations to the rffada are tax deductible.

The rffada is now incorporated and has an ABN. It will shortly be making application for funding to support for one of the many objectives it has in conjunction with the National Organisation for Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and Related Disorders (NOFASARD).
All organisations are dedicated to the education, support, diagnosis and management of FASD.

In time the rffada hopes to have a Counselling and Support Telephone Service for people to ring 24/7 for information about FASD and counselling in relation to a loved one with the condition. It will be called the FASD Help Line and will be established in conjunction with RFFADA partners NOFASARD.