❓ Hon. Sally Talbot questions the Minister for Health regarding WA's response to the House of Representatives report on Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD), particularly concerning diagnostic tools, disability recognition, and support services. The Minister acknowledges the lack of a diagnostic tool and indicates that a response to a previous report is being updated due to progress in implementation plans.
AnsweredQoN 179Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
FOETAL ALCOHOL SPECTRUM DISORDER
179. Hon SALLY
TALBOT to the parliamentary secretary representing the Minister for
Health:
I refer to the recent House of
Representatives Standing Committee on Social Policy and Legal Affairs report
into foetal alcohol spectrum disorders, titled ''FASD: The Hidden Harm''.
(1) Is the
minister aware that WA does not have a diagnostic tool for determining the
prevalence or incidence of foetal alcohol spectrum disorder?
(2) What is WA's
response to the committee's recommendation to immediately roll out a
national FASD diagnostic and screening tool?
(3) Does the
minister agree with the committee's recommendation to include FASD in
the list of recognised disabilities and ensure access to support services for
those affected by FASD and their carers; and, if not, why not?
(4) If yes to
(3), has WA made the changes necessary to comply with the recommendation?
(5) Will the
government respond to the recommendations of the Standing Committee on
Education and Health's fifteenth report on FASD; and, if not, why not?
(6) If yes to
(5), when?
179. Hon SALLY
TALBOT to the parliamentary secretary representing the Minister for
Health:
I refer to the recent House of
Representatives Standing Committee on Social Policy and Legal Affairs report
into foetal alcohol spectrum disorders, titled ''FASD: The Hidden Harm''.
(1) Is the
minister aware that WA does not have a diagnostic tool for determining the
prevalence or incidence of foetal alcohol spectrum disorder?
(2) What is WA's
response to the committee's recommendation to immediately roll out a
national FASD diagnostic and screening tool?
(3) Does the
minister agree with the committee's recommendation to include FASD in
the list of recognised disabilities and ensure access to support services for
those affected by FASD and their carers; and, if not, why not?
(4) If yes to
(3), has WA made the changes necessary to comply with the recommendation?
(5) Will the
government respond to the recommendations of the Standing Committee on
Education and Health's fifteenth report on FASD; and, if not, why not?
(6) If yes to
(5), when?
AnswerView source ↗
On behalf of the parliamentary
secretary representing the Minister for Health, I thank the member for some
notice of the question. The following information has been provided to me by
the Minister for Health —
(1) Yes.
(2) The
diagnostic tool is yet to be released by the commonwealth Department of Health
and Ageing.
(3) No. The
list of recognised disabilities is a commonwealth government responsibility.
Consideration has not been given to this matter. Children affected by FASD can
display a range of symptoms and problems from mild to severe. Children with
severe presentations may already be eligible for Disability Services Commission
support if they meet the commission's eligibility criteria.
(4) Not
applicable.
(5) A
Department of Health response to the recommendations of the EHSC report was not
tabled in Parliament, due to Parliament being prorogued. After a recent review
of that earlier drafted response, it is no longer current. It requires updating
in view of the considerable whole-of-government progress in the development of
implementation plans that will address many of the recommendations from the
EHSC report. Implementation of all the EHSC report recommendations requires
cross-sectorial engagement and may require additional funding to be allocated
for services; cross-sectorial engagement includes 14 state and national
agencies.
(6) Not
applicable.
secretary representing the Minister for Health, I thank the member for some
notice of the question. The following information has been provided to me by
the Minister for Health —
(1) Yes.
(2) The
diagnostic tool is yet to be released by the commonwealth Department of Health
and Ageing.
(3) No. The
list of recognised disabilities is a commonwealth government responsibility.
Consideration has not been given to this matter. Children affected by FASD can
display a range of symptoms and problems from mild to severe. Children with
severe presentations may already be eligible for Disability Services Commission
support if they meet the commission's eligibility criteria.
(4) Not
applicable.
(5) A
Department of Health response to the recommendations of the EHSC report was not
tabled in Parliament, due to Parliament being prorogued. After a recent review
of that earlier drafted response, it is no longer current. It requires updating
in view of the considerable whole-of-government progress in the development of
implementation plans that will address many of the recommendations from the
EHSC report. Implementation of all the EHSC report recommendations requires
cross-sectorial engagement and may require additional funding to be allocated
for services; cross-sectorial engagement includes 14 state and national
agencies.
(6) Not
applicable.
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