❓ Mr. Taylor asks about the Liberal-National government's efforts to reduce Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). The Minister outlines awareness campaigns, diagnostic tools developed with the Telethon Kids Institute, and ongoing work to address FASD in both Aboriginal communities and the broader society.
AnsweredQoN 693Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
FOETAL ALCOHOL SPECTRUM DISORDER
693. Mr M.H. TAYLOR to the Minister for
Mental Health:
I understand that last Friday was
Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Awareness Day. Can the minister please advise
the house what the Liberal–National government is doing to reduce the
incidence of foetal alcohol spectrum disorder?
693. Mr M.H. TAYLOR to the Minister for
Mental Health:
I understand that last Friday was
Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Awareness Day. Can the minister please advise
the house what the Liberal–National government is doing to reduce the
incidence of foetal alcohol spectrum disorder?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Bateman for
his question. Yes, I certainly am pleased to talk about Foetal Alcohol Spectrum
Disorder Awareness Day, which was last Friday. In fact, it is an annual day. I do
not know whether some members have worked out that it is held on the ninth day
of the ninth month each year, because, obviously, that is relevant to the
length of a pregnancy and it is very important that, through that process, a woman
does not partake of alcohol—preferably before becoming pregnant,
definitely during pregnancy, and certainly while breastfeeding as well. A day
such as that day is important because it highlights the importance of the
mother looking after the baby and ensuring that that child has a very good
start in life.
As we all know, foetal alcohol
spectrum disorder is a lifelong condition, and it has become quite an issue in
many of our Aboriginal communities. But, please, let us be reassured that this
is not an Aboriginal problem. It is a problem throughout our society, but Western
Australia has featured prominently in this because of the wonderful work we
have done with the Telethon Kids Institute, particularly in the Fitzroy Valley,
in determining how we can deal with it. It is something that has happened over
recent years. Now we have a diagnostic tool, thanks to the Telethon Kids
Institute, but for many years there was no way of diagnosing foetal alcohol
spectrum disorder. It was sort of assumed after everything else was checked
out. That is not a great way to manage a medical condition.
Of course, we have a group now who
are not children anymore. Many of them have become young adults, and still this
condition is relatively unknown. What often happens with these people is that
they find themselves getting into a life of crime—I will not say
through no fault of their own, but their ability to have logic, to listen and
to work through things is impaired. At the same time, they have cognitive
disorders and difficulty with their behaviour—it can become quite
spontaneous and uncontrolled—and in many ways they have difficulty
fitting into society. We have these children and young people. I know a couple
of families—I am sorry that the member for Kimberley is not here—in
Fitzroy. The grandparents took on the care of their grandchildren because of
the issues that the parents had. Friends of mine, Mamajee and Jeff, said to me
that they took them on quite willingly; and not just one, but often two or
three in a family. Their oldest grandson is 18, 19 or 20 now. He is a big boy,
and it is very difficult for Mamajee, who is an older woman now, to deal with
that. We have a lot of issues that we still need to deal with relating to FASD.
It is something that we intend to do and on which we are doing some more. In
2015, we ran a campaign, particularly in the Kimberley area. We used that very
effective Aboriginal actor Mary G. There was a great response to that. Nine out
of 10 women could then identify that drinking alcohol before pregnancy, during
pregnancy or breastfeeding was not a good idea. We have now put in some more
money through the Mental Health Commission, and we have Mary G back on board.
We will go out again to make sure that we reinforce the work that has been done
previously to help Aboriginal people in the Kimberley and the Pilbara to ensure
that they know that this is not the way to go. In the meantime, of course, we
have a lot of work to do across the board with FASD. It is an issue right
across our society, in not only regional areas, but also metropolitan areas,
and we will continue to work on that. I thank the Telethon Kids Institute for
the wonderful work that it does, and the Mental Health Commissioner for
supporting this initiative.
his question. Yes, I certainly am pleased to talk about Foetal Alcohol Spectrum
Disorder Awareness Day, which was last Friday. In fact, it is an annual day. I do
not know whether some members have worked out that it is held on the ninth day
of the ninth month each year, because, obviously, that is relevant to the
length of a pregnancy and it is very important that, through that process, a woman
does not partake of alcohol—preferably before becoming pregnant,
definitely during pregnancy, and certainly while breastfeeding as well. A day
such as that day is important because it highlights the importance of the
mother looking after the baby and ensuring that that child has a very good
start in life.
As we all know, foetal alcohol
spectrum disorder is a lifelong condition, and it has become quite an issue in
many of our Aboriginal communities. But, please, let us be reassured that this
is not an Aboriginal problem. It is a problem throughout our society, but Western
Australia has featured prominently in this because of the wonderful work we
have done with the Telethon Kids Institute, particularly in the Fitzroy Valley,
in determining how we can deal with it. It is something that has happened over
recent years. Now we have a diagnostic tool, thanks to the Telethon Kids
Institute, but for many years there was no way of diagnosing foetal alcohol
spectrum disorder. It was sort of assumed after everything else was checked
out. That is not a great way to manage a medical condition.
Of course, we have a group now who
are not children anymore. Many of them have become young adults, and still this
condition is relatively unknown. What often happens with these people is that
they find themselves getting into a life of crime—I will not say
through no fault of their own, but their ability to have logic, to listen and
to work through things is impaired. At the same time, they have cognitive
disorders and difficulty with their behaviour—it can become quite
spontaneous and uncontrolled—and in many ways they have difficulty
fitting into society. We have these children and young people. I know a couple
of families—I am sorry that the member for Kimberley is not here—in
Fitzroy. The grandparents took on the care of their grandchildren because of
the issues that the parents had. Friends of mine, Mamajee and Jeff, said to me
that they took them on quite willingly; and not just one, but often two or
three in a family. Their oldest grandson is 18, 19 or 20 now. He is a big boy,
and it is very difficult for Mamajee, who is an older woman now, to deal with
that. We have a lot of issues that we still need to deal with relating to FASD.
It is something that we intend to do and on which we are doing some more. In
2015, we ran a campaign, particularly in the Kimberley area. We used that very
effective Aboriginal actor Mary G. There was a great response to that. Nine out
of 10 women could then identify that drinking alcohol before pregnancy, during
pregnancy or breastfeeding was not a good idea. We have now put in some more
money through the Mental Health Commission, and we have Mary G back on board.
We will go out again to make sure that we reinforce the work that has been done
previously to help Aboriginal people in the Kimberley and the Pilbara to ensure
that they know that this is not the way to go. In the meantime, of course, we
have a lot of work to do across the board with FASD. It is an issue right
across our society, in not only regional areas, but also metropolitan areas,
and we will continue to work on that. I thank the Telethon Kids Institute for
the wonderful work that it does, and the Mental Health Commissioner for
supporting this initiative.
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