Kurt is joined by Professor Anita Gibbs, of the University of Otago, New Zealand and Julie Flanagan. NOFASD’s National Projects and Communications Manager. Together they discuss a research article based on the outcomes of the Families Linking with Families program and the benefits of the program as confirmed by participating caregivers.. The Families Linking with Families program is an online support group developed by NOFASD Australia in conjunction with Professor Gibbs, to provide education and peer support for those who are caregivers for individuals living with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD).
Key points about the Families Linking with Families program:
- It is a structured and guided 7-week online support group which is led by trained facilitators, each of whom is a parent or caregiver for an individual with FASD.
The main benefits include:
- Enabling caregivers to connect with others who are going through similar experiences, thereby lessening the sense of loneliness experienced by many carers.
- Providing a safe and confidential space for caregivers to share their specific situation and challenges without judgement
- Increasing caregiver knowledge about FASD, effective parenting/caregiving approaches and FASD-informed strategies.
- Empowering caregivers and building their resilience.
The online format makes the program accessible across Australia, even for those in remote areas. The program is delivered several times a year and is refined based on participant feedback and issues of concern tabled during meetings. Australians interested in participating in a future support group should contact the NOFASD Australia helpline on 1800 860 613 or visit our website through this link to express interest.
The research article discussed in this episode is: “An Australian Online Training and Support Program for Caregivers of Children and Youth with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder: Families Linking with Families” by Anita Gibbs, Julie Flanagan and Louise Gray is freely accessible. It's an open access article in the Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability.
The full article can be read at: https://doi.org/10.3109/13668250.2023.2271757.
For more information about FASD, please go to: https://www.nofasd.org.au/
Producers: Kurt Lewis, Julie Flanagan and Louise Gray
Narrator: Frances Price
Interviewer: Kurt Lewis
Interviewees: Professor Anita Gibbs & Julie Flanagan
The copyright is owned by NOFASD Australia.
All rights reserved - No reproduction or use of this content without written consent of Kurt Lewis and NOFASD Australia.
The views expressed in this podcast are those of the interviewees. NOFASD makes every effort to ensure all content is free from judgement and stigma. NOFASD’s mission includes reducing stigma for families and individuals impacted by FASD.
Kurt is joined by Dr Jeffrey Wozniak; a clinical paediatric neuropsychologist at the University of Minnesota and Dr Blake Gimbel; also a paediatric neuropsychologist and Assistant Clinical Professor at Nationwide Children's Hospital and the Ohio State University. They discuss their recent research which includes using brain imaging techniques, using online cognitive assessment tools to aid in FASDdiagnosis, and examining the role of sleep disturbances in FASD. One promising intervention they have studied is choline supplementation, which has been shown to have small, but measurable benefits in improving memory and cognitive function in young children with FASD. Overall, the researchers emphasise the importance of hope and continued research to support those living with FASD and their families.
For more information about FASD, please go to: https://www.nofasd.org.au/
Producers: Kurt Lewis and Julie Flanagan
Interviewer: Kurt Lewis
Interviewees: Dr Jeffrey Wozniak and Dr Blake Gimbel
Narrator: Frances Price
The copyright is owned by NOFASD Australia.
All rights reserved - No reproduction or use of this content without written consent of Kurt Lewis and NOFASD Australia. The views expressed in this podcast are those of the interviewee. NOFASD makes every effort to ensure all content is free from judgement and stigma. NOFASD’s mission includes reducing stigma for families and individuals impacted by FASD.
Kurt is joined by Katelyn Mullally, a PhD Candidate in Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology at the University of Guelph in Canada, who is researching youth justice, legal decision-making and FASD. They discuss her research on guilty pleas and plea understanding in youth and young adults with FASD. She found that individuals with FASD had difficulty understanding the terms and consequences of guilty pleas compared to those without FASD. She also emphasises the importance of legal professionals being aware of FASD and adapting their practices to support defendants with FASD.
For more information about FASD, please go to: https://www.nofasd.org.au/
Producers: Kurt Lewis, Louise Gray and Julie Flanagan
Interviewer: Kurt Lewis
Interviewees: Katelyn Mullally
Narrator: Frances Price
The copyright is owned by NOFASD Australia.
All rights reserved - No reproduction or use of this content without written consent of Kurt Lewis and NOFASD Australia. The views expressed in this podcast are those of the interviewee. NOFASD makes every effort to ensure all content is free from judgement and stigma. NOFASD’s mission includes reducing stigma for families and individuals impacted by FASD.
Kurt is joined by Dr David Junior Gilbert from the University of Salford in the UK. He is a University Fellow researching the intersection of FASD and the criminal justice system. His research focuses on factors that make individuals with FASD more vulnerable to involvement in the criminal justice system, such as confabulation, suggestibility, compliance, and acquiescence. Dr. Gilbert is leading a larger international study examining these issues in multiple countries, aiming to provide scientific evidence to support decision-making in the justice system.
For more information about FASD, please go to: https://www.nofasd.org.au/
If you are interested in the international study on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) and the justice system, at the time of the release of this podcast Dr Gilbert is still recruiting research participants. To express your interest in being involved please see: https://app.onlinesurveys.jisc.ac.uk/s/salford/international-fasd-and-justice-system-study
Producers: Kurt Lewis, Louise Gray and Julie Flanagan
Interviewer: Kurt Lewis
Interviewees: Dr David Junior Gilbert
Narrator: Frances Price
The copyright is owned by NOFASD Australia.
All rights reserved – No reproduction or use of this content without written consent of Kurt Lewis and NOFASD Australia. The views expressed in this podcast are those of the interviewee. NOFASD makes every effort to ensure all content is free from judgement and stigma. NOFASD’s mission includes reducing stigma for families and individuals impacted by FASD.
Kurt is joined by Julia Riches, Research Officer for the Learning with FASD initiative. They discuss the Learning with FASD project which aims to provide primary school teaching and support staff with evidence-based resources to understand and support children with FASD in Australian primary schools.
You can access the Learning with FASD resources on this page of the NOFASD website: https://www.nofasd.org.au/service-providers/education/
This webpage also provides a wide range of other resources designed to assist educators to become more FASD-informed and confident in using strategies that can assist students who have FASD.
This is a link to the Learning with FASD website: https://learningwithfasd.org.au/
For more information about FASD, please go to: https://www.nofasd.org.au/
For information about the National Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Strategic Action Plan which is mentioned in this podcast please see: https://www.nofasd.org.au/strategic-action-plan/
Producers: Kurt Lewis, Louise Gray and Julie Flanagan
Interviewer: Kurt Lewis
Interviewees: Julia Riches
Narrator: Frances Price
The copyright is owned by NOFASD Australia.
All rights reserved - No reproduction or use of this content without written consent of Kurt Lewis and NOFASD Australia. The views expressed in this podcast are those of the interviewee. NOFASD makes every effort to ensure all content is free from judgement and stigma. NOFASD’s mission includes reducing stigma for families and individuals impacted by FASD.
This episode marks the five-year anniversary since the very first episode of NOFASD’s podcast series: “Pregnancy, Alcohol and FASD: The Surprising Reality”. For this special anniversary episode Kurt is joined again by Louise Gray, Chief Executive Officer of NOFASD Australia, to chat about key issues related to Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder. They discuss the ongoing work of NOFASD Australia, which this year is celebrating its 25th Anniversary as the National Organisation for FASD and highlight new services developed and expanded by the organisation over the past five years. In addition they reflect on some of the persistent myths about FASD which can negatively impact on prevention of this disability as well as the understanding of the multitude of ways in which this spectrum-based disorder presents in different individuals and what is being done to counteract these myths.
For more information please go to https://www.nofasd.org.au/
Producers: Kurt Lewis, Julie Flanagan and Louise Gray
Narrator: Frances Price
Interviewer: Kurt Lewis
Interviewee: Louise Gray
The copyright is owned by NOFASD Australia.
All rights reserved - No reproduction or use of this content without written consent of Kurt Lewis and NOFASD Australia.
Kurt is joined by Christine Brooks; an experienced teacher, NOFASD board member and carer of a child with FASD, and also Sophie; a biological mother of a child with FASD. Together they chat about FASD in the early childhood sector, the things to know about FASD in an early childhood setting, and the special resources that have been developed to help these educators develop an awareness and understanding of FASD.
For more information on the resources developed by Early Childhood Australia (ECA) in partnership with NOFASD Australia or to download your free copy of the resources, see: https://www.nofasd.org.au/service-providers/education/through-different-eyes/
For more information about FASD, please go to: https://www.nofasd.org.au/
Producers: Kurt Lewis, Louise Gray and Julie Flanagan
Interviewer: Kurt Lewis
Interviewees: Christine Brooks and Sophie
Narrator: Frances Price
The copyright is owned by NOFASD Australia.
All rights reserved - No reproduction or use of this content without written consent of Kurt Lewis and NOFASD Australia. The views expressed in this podcast are those of the interviewee. NOFASD makes every effort to ensure all content is free from judgement and stigma. NOFASD’s mission includes reducing stigma for families and individuals impacted by FASD.
Kurt is joined by Prue Walker and Dr Kerryn Bagley in a panel interview about social workers and FASD. Together they discuss how they first learned about FASD, the role social workers play in assisting people with FASD and their families. They also examine outcomes, risk surrounding FASD and how social workers can become better informed in relation to this ‘invisible’ disability.
Learn more about International FASD Awareness Day: www.nofasd.org.au
References:
Latrobe University’s “Living with Disability” YouTube site: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAf1u7TdOktOCLdGBtMxWTg
Dr Robyn Williams: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robyn-williams-0ab76596/?originalSubdomain=au
Prue Walker: https://pruewalkerfasd.com/ – workshops, training and FASD consultation services..
Dr Vanessa Spiller: FASD training and resources https://www.jumpstartpsychology.com/Explained-by-Brain-Group.html and other videos (search vanessa spiller fasd)
Dr Sara McLean: FASD resources for Emerging Minds https://emergingminds.com.au/resources/what-is-fetal-alcohol-spectrum-disorder-fasd/ and has many webinars online (search sara mclean fasd)
Key readings for social workers who want to learn more about FASD click the following link: https://www.nofasd.org.au/33-risk-does-not-equal-destiny-social-worker-panel-interview-with-prue-walker-and-dr-kerryn-bagley/
Producers: Kurt Lewis, Louise Gray and Julie Flanagan
Narrator: Frances Price
Interviewer: Kurt Lewis
Interviewees: Prue Walker and Dr Kerryn Bagley
The copyright is owned by NOFASD Australia.
All rights reserved - No reproduction or use of this content without written consent of Kurt Lewis and NOFASD Australia.
The views expressed in this podcast are those of the interviewee. NOFASD makes every effort to ensure all content is free from judgement and stigma. NOFASD’s mission includes reducing stigma for families and individuals impacted by FASD.
Kurt is joined by Angelene Bruce; a biological mother of a child with FASD, a FASD advocate, speaker and parent mentor.
Together they chat about Ange’s FASD journey, her appearance on the Channel Ten TV show, The Project and caring for a child with FASD.
For more information about FASD, please go to: https://www.nofasd.org.au/
The Project – “Hidden Epidemic Of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rd1yOhImDKA
Angelene’s Twitter Page:
https://twitter.com/AngeleneBruce
Producers: Kurt Lewis, Louise Gray and Julie Flanagan
Narrator: Frances Price
Interviewer: Kurt Lewis
Interviewee: Angelene Bruce
The copyright is owned by NOFASD Australia.
All rights reserved - No reproduction or use of this content without written consent of Kurt Lewis and NOFASD Australia.
The views expressed in this podcast are those of the interviewee. NOFASD makes every effort to ensure all content is free from judgement and stigma. NOFASD’s mission includes reducing stigma for families and individuals impacted by FASD.
Kurt is joined by David, Nick and Mav each of whom is a male who cares for a child with FASD. While each of them has come into their child’s life in a different way, they find similarities in their experiences. Together they discuss what it is like to care for a child with FASD, including the challenges they face and how they help their children develop their own individual strengths. They also share the tools and resources that have helped them through difficult situations they face with their child who has this hidden disability.
For more information about FASD, please go to: https://www.nofasd.org.au/
To check out Mav’s book ‘Making parenting enjoyable: Through healing, purpose and meaning’ ; please go to: https://www.amazon.com.au/Making-parenting-enjoyable-Through-healing/dp/B0BVT722M9/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1685325469&sr=8-1
To express your interest in joining one of the online support groups offered in NOFASD Australia’s Families Linking with Families program please register your details at: https://www.nofasd.org.au/contact-us/ (Please note that these support groups are only open to residents of Australia.)
Producers: Kurt Lewis, Louise Gray and Julie Flanagan
Narrator: Frances Price
Interviewer: Kurt Lewis
Interviewees: David, Nick and Mav
The copyright is owned by NOFASD Australia.
All rights reserved - No reproduction or use of this content without written consent of Kurt Lewis and NOFASD Australia.
The views expressed in this podcast are those of the interviewee. NOFASD makes every effort to ensure all content is free from judgement and stigma. NOFASD’s mission includes reducing stigma for families and individuals impacted by FASD.
Kurt is joined by Nicole Hewlett, a proud Palawa woman and researcher with the University of Queensland. Nicole is currently undertaking a PhD focusing on the development and implementation of Australia’s first FASD Indigenous Framework. They talk about this framework; improving medical care for people with FASD; the importance of a strengths-based approach in terms of FASD and creating equal partnerships between medical professionals and people with FASD.
For more information about FASD, please go to: https://www.nofasd.org.au/
To read more about Nicole's research then go to this link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36982125/
Producers: Kurt Lewis, Louise Gray and Julie Flanagan
Narrator: Frances Price
Interviewer: Kurt Lewis
Interviewee: Nicole Hewlett
The copyright is owned by NOFASD Australia.
All rights reserved - No reproduction or use of this content without written consent of Kurt Lewis and NOFASD Australia.
The views expressed in this podcast are those of the interviewee. NOFASD makes every effort to ensure all content is free from judgement and stigma. NOFASD’s mission includes reducing stigma for families and individuals impacted by FASD.
We are back with a new series and a new name for our little Podcast. The first episode of Series 05 of Pregnancy. Alcohol and FASD: The Surprising Reality will be released this coming Friday the 2nd of June 2023.
Kurt is joined by Professor Anita Gibbs; a Professor at the University of Otago, a registered social worker and a regular facilitator of a parent/caregiver support groups for families with children with FASD. They talk about Anita’s experience with FASD which is two-fold and covers both her teaching and research as an academic, and also her lived experience as a parent caring for two boys with FASD. They also chat about FASD in the criminal justice system and ways we may be able to stop people with this invisible disability from becoming entangled in this system.
For more information about FASD, please go to: https://www.nofasd.org.au/
Producers: Kurt Lewis, Louise Gray and Julie Flanagan
Narrator: Frances Price
Interviewer: Kurt Lewis
Interviewee: Anita Gibbs
The copyright is owned by NOFASD Australia.
All rights reserved - No reproduction or use of this content without written consent of Kurt Lewis and NOFASD Australia.
The views expressed in this podcast are those of the interviewee. NOFASD makes every effort to ensure all content is free from judgement and stigma. NOFASD’s mission includes reducing stigma for families and individuals impacted by FASD.
Kurt is joined by Dr Natalie Phillips, who has a Doctor of Clinical Psychology and PhD (Neuropsychology) from the University of Sydney. They discuss her research and presentation that won the People’s Choice Award in the “Three-minute Thesis” session at NOFASD’s conference, “The FASD Forum ’22”. Natalie’s submission for the “Three-minute Thesis” was titled: Caring for children with FASD: importance of understanding the whole family’s needs. They discuss ways that we can best help families which have children with FASD.
For more information about FASD, please go to:
Caring for children with FASD: importance of understanding the whole family’s needs:
https://adc.bmj.com/content/107/8/755
Producers: Kurt Lewis, Louise Gray and Julie Flanagan
Narrator: Frances Price
Interviewer: Kurt Lewis
Interviewee: Dr Natalie Phillips
The copyright is owned by NOFASD Australia.
All rights reserved - No reproduction or use of this content without written consent of Kurt Lewis and NOFASD Australia.
The views expressed in this podcast are those of the interviewee. NOFASD makes every effort to ensure all content is free from judgement and stigma. NOFASD’s mission includes reducing stigma for families and individuals impacted by FASD.
In this very special September International Awareness Day episode, Kurt is joined by Dr Kenneth Lyons Jones and Dr Christina Chambers. Dr Jones chats about his identification of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, or FAS as it was first termed back in 1970. Dr Chambers chats about recent medical discoveries that are likely to make the process of FASD diagnosis significantly easier. They both talk about attitudes towards FASD and knowledge about this disability in the community as a whole – and also the need to improve the standard of medical knowledge when it comes to both FASD prevention and supporting people with this invisible disability.
For more information about FASD, please go to:
Prenatal alcohol exposure can be determined from baby teeth: Proof of concept
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/bdr2.2054
Early Predictors of FASD in Ukraine
Early Predictors of FASD in Ukraine - Christina Chambers (grantome.com)
Producers: Kurt Lewis, Louise Gray and Julie Flanagan
Narrator: Frances Price
Interviewer: Kurt Lewis
Interviewee: Dr Kenneth Lyons Jones and Dr Christina Chambers
The copyright is owned by NOFASD Australia.
All rights reserved - No reproduction or use of this content without written consent of Kurt Lewis and NOFASD Australia.
The views expressed in this podcast are those of the interviewee. NOFASD makes every effort to ensure all content is free from judgement and stigma. NOFASD’s mission includes reducing stigma for families and individuals impacted by FASD.
In the first episode of NOFASD’s podcast series for 2022, Kurt is joined by Jennifer Catlin; a woman who has only recently been diagnosed with FASD. They talk about her life being a jigsaw puzzle, how this invisible disability has affected her life and how her life has been improved through her diagnosis.
For more information about FASD, please go to:
Producers: Kurt Lewis, Louise Gray and Julie Flanagan
Interviewer: Kurt Lewis
Interviewee: Jennifer Catlin
The copyright is owned by NOFASD Australia.
All rights reserved - No reproduction or use of this content without written consent of Kurt Lewis and NOFASD Australia.
The views expressed in this podcast are those of the interviewee. NOFASD makes every effort to ensure all content is free from judgement and stigma. NOFASD’s mission includes reducing stigma for families and individuals impacted by FASD.
In this last episode of the year, Kurt is joined by FASD Podcasters from around the globe. Natalie Vecchione from FASD Hope, Jeff Noble from the FASD Success Show, Clare Devanney-Glynn and Jessica Rutherford from Spotlight on FASD and Robbie Seale from FASD Family Life.
They chat about their podcasting journey, the positive developments in FASD research and programs going on in each of their countries. They also share knowledge and research aimed to help people with FASD and their parents/carers.
For more information about FASD, please go to:
To learn more about Natalie Vecchione and FASD Hope:
To learn more about Jeff Noble and the FASD Success Show: https://www.fasdsuccess.com/
To learn more about Robbie Seale and FASD Family Life:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/1736766
To learn more about Clare Devanney-Glynn, Jessica Rutherford and Spotlight on FASD: https://anchor.fm/clare-devanney-glynn
Producers: Kurt Lewis, Louise Gray and Julie Flanagan
Interviewer: Kurt Lewis
Interviewees: Natalie Vecchione, Jeff Noble, Robbie Seale, Clare Devanney-Glynn and Jessica Rutherford.
The copyright is owned by NOFASD Australia.
All rights reserved - No reproduction or use of this content without written consent of Kurt Lewis and NOFASD Australia.
The views expressed in this podcast are those of the interviewee. NOFASD makes every effort to ensure all content is free from judgement and stigma. NOFASD’s mission includes reducing stigma for families and individuals impacted by FASD.
Kurt is joined Dr Melissa Cheung, Research Fellow at the University of Sydney and Manager of the Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Australian Registry (FASDAR).
They chat about FASDAR, the benefits to children with FASD who are registered with this service and the need for more research into the prevalence of FASD in Australia.
For more information about FASDAR please check out this website:
For more information about FASD, please go to:
Producers: Kurt Lewis, Louise Gray and Julie Flanagan
Interviewer: Kurt Lewis
Interviewee: Dr Melissa Cheung
The copyright is owned by NOFASD Australia.
All rights reserved - No reproduction or use of this content without written consent of Kurt Lewis and NOFASD Australia.
The views expressed in this podcast are those of the interviewee. NOFASD makes every effort to ensure all content is free from judgement and stigma. NOFASD’s mission includes reducing stigma for families and individuals impacted by FASD.
Kurt is joined by Gilberto Spencer, FASD Advocate, Brain Coach, Mentor and Podcaster. They chat about his FASD symptoms, the events leading up to his diagnosis and the release of his podcast series; “The FASD Brain”. Gilberto is the first person with FASD to host and produce his own podcast series.
To listen to Gilberto’s podcast series please click on the link below:
https://www.thefasdbrain.com/podcast
For more information about FASD, please go to:
Producers: Kurt Lewis, Louise Gray and Julie Flanagan
Interviewer: Kurt Lewis
Interviewee: Gilberto Spencer
The copyright is owned by NOFASD Australia.
All rights reserved - No reproduction or use of this content without written consent of Kurt Lewis and NOFASD Australia.
The views expressed in this podcast are those of the interviewee. NOFASD makes every effort to ensure all content is free from judgement and stigma. NOFASD’s mission includes reducing stigma for families and individuals impacted by FASD.
Kurt is joined by Robyn Smith the National Helpline Manager for NOFASD Australia. They chat about her work with the NOFASD Helpline service which is dedicated to reducing the harm caused by alcohol-exposed pregnancies and improving lives for those living with FASD. They discuss who can use this service and what kinds of information and help that our helpline operators can provide.
NOFASD Australia Helpline: 1800 860 613
For more information about FASD, please go to:
Producers: Kurt Lewis, Louise Gray and Julie Flanagan
Interviewer: Kurt Lewis
Interviewee: Robyn Smith
The copyright is owned by NOFASD Australia.
All rights reserved - No reproduction or use of this content without written consent of Kurt Lewis and NOFASD Australia.
The views expressed in this podcast are those of the interviewee. NOFASD makes every effort to ensure all content is free from judgement and stigma. NOFASD’s mission includes reducing stigma for families and individuals impacted by FASD.