Every September, International FASD Awareness Month highlights the importance of preventing Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) and supporting those affected. A key part of this is the Red Shoes Rock campaign, started in 2013 by RJ Formanek, an adult living with FASD. Wearing red shoes became his way of sparking conversations about this often “invisible disability” and spreading the message that women who are pregnant or trying to conceive should avoid alcohol.
In the lead-up to FASD Awareness Day on September 9, FASD Hub Australia is working with organisations such as the Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education (FARE), the National Organisation for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (NOFASD), and the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO) to hold a major parliamentary event in Canberra. This gathering aims to raise awareness of FASD and its connection to challenges in areas like the criminal justice system.
FASD is estimated to affect 3.64% of Australians—roughly one child per classroom—making it the leading cause of preventable disability in the country. Professor Elizabeth Elliott AM, Chair of FASD Hub Australia, emphasises the urgent need for evidence-based prevention policies, alongside greater understanding and support for those living with FASD. The campaign encourages everyone to get involved and spread the message.
https://fasdhubaustralia.cmail20.com/t/j-l-whtqty-hrkljujrtd-k
