Fitzroy Crossing advocates demand more FASD support
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Aboriginal leaders in Fitzroy Crossing, Western Australia, are urging the state government to provide increased support for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) after years of unmet recommendations.
Following a 2019 coronial inquest into the deaths of 13 children, Coroner Ros Fogliani found evidence linking FASD to some of the deaths and called for greater funding for prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. Emily Carter, chief executive of Marninwarntikura Women's Resource Centre, stated the government has not fully acted on these recommendations.
The community recently marched to raise awareness of FASD and advocate for better services. A 2010 study in the Fitzroy Valley found one in five children had FASD, a rate among the highest in the world. Ishmael Croft of Nindilingarri Cultural Health Services explained that a lack of support leaves young people with FASD vulnerable within the justice system, while Hylton Quail, president of WA Children's Court, noted a shortage of specialists to assess children in the Kimberley region.
The Marninwarntikura Women's Resource Centre also launched a new culturally safe program to provide FASD health resources, acknowledging the role of trauma in families affected by the condition. The state government defends its response, citing educational, health, and social programs already in place and promising a progress report on the coronial findings later this year.
