What we do
Our initiative
NACCHO co-designed the Strong Born Campaign in collaboration with members, affiliates, FASD experts, and other key stakeholders. This culturally informed initiative raises awareness of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder and the harms of consuming alcohol during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Strong Born also aims to support people with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, their families, and carers by providing valuable information, resources, and engagement opportunities. The campaign helps communities learn about FASD and the support services available for individuals and families affected by the disorder.
The campaign includes a variety of resources to help open conversations about FASD including:
- Print materials like posters and information booklets.
- Digital content like videos and social media tiles.
- Merchandise like polo shirts and baby bags.
Importantly – all resources are designed to be customisable so that communities can edit the content for a place-based campaign suited to their own local context.
Watch one of the Strong Born awareness videos, below. To see the full playlist of Strong Born awareness videos (including for health professionals), click here.
Our approach
The Strong Born campaign was developed in partnership with ACCHOs and grounded in cultural knowledge, research and community experience. The co-design process focused on strengths-based approaches to health promotion and harm reduction associated with alcohol use during pregnancy. The campaign includes tools and resources to be utilised by ACCHOs across the country. See below.
- Campaign Tool Kits: In 2023, we shared Strong Born toolkits with NACCHO members that included polo shirts, education booklets, posters, and digital templates. In 2024, we added Strong Born Baby Bags filled with useful items for new bubs and expecting families.
Click here to download your own Strong Born resources.
- Grants: NACCHO members across Australia received funding to organise local Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder awareness activities. These events included localising Strong Born materials with custom translations and photos, as well as running educational programs and activities and strengthening ACCHO staff knowledge of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder.
- Grant Round 1 (2023) supported rural and remote communities.
- Grant Round 2 (2023) supported urban areas.
- Grant Round 3 (2024) open to all NACCHO members
- Media Promotion: The campaign’s videos and audio have aired on NITV, radio, and Aboriginal Health TV (AHTV), which plays in ACCHO waiting rooms. If you would like to enquire about installing AHTV in your service, click here.
Get Involved!
- Learn more about FASD: Click here for factsheets.
- Download Strong Born materials: Posters, social media tiles, booklets, and animations available here.
Get in touch with the team by emailing ‘FASD Programs’ fasdprograms@naccho.org.au
Resources
Online Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder resources:
Assessment and Diagnosis Services
- Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Hub has extensive information on assessment and diagnosis including a list of assessment services and information related to the NDIS.
- Learn more about the updated 2025 FASD Assessment and Diagnostic guidelines from this webinar by the Guidelines Development Group.
- Learn more about the FASD Indigenous Framework from this webinar discussing how health practitioners can learn from Aboriginal wisdom to facilitate access to healing-informed, strengths-based and culturally responsive FASD support.
NDIS
- If you are seeking a Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder diagnosis or seeking supports for a person with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, reach out to your local NDIS Community Connector at your local ACCHO or Local Area Coordinator (LAC). Find them at https://www.ndis.gov.au/contact/locations
- Rachel and Shane have Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder and receive supports from the NDIS, watch Rachel’s Story and Shane’s Story created by AHCWA as part of NACCHO’s NDIS Ready program.
Resources for Educators
- Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder and Complex Trauma – A resource for Educators by Marninwarntikura Women’s Resource Centre is an exceptional resource and is available for download.
- Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder ( FASD) and early life trauma What early childhood educators need to know.
Evaluations of FASD health promotion and the impact of Strong Born
- Evaluation of the Strong Born Campaign and FASD Communications and Engagement Grant (Round 1) for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in regional and remote communities
- National FASD Program – Social Return on Investment for FASD health promotion – every $1 invested in the Campaign generated a $9 social return.
Advocacy and recognition of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
- Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder and Justice Videos produced by Telethon Kids Institute as part of the ‘Understanding Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder: A Guide for Justice Professionals’ project.
- Decolonising Justice for Aboriginal Youth with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders book available for purchase.
ACCHO locations
NACCHO oversees a network of 146 members, each running Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHOs) across urban, regional, and remote Australia. These ACCHOs range from large facilities with multiple healthcare professionals providing comprehensive services to smaller centres focused on preventive care and health education, primarily delivered by Aboriginal Health Workers and nurses.
Contact
For any inquiries or assistance, please contact the FASD team here: fasdprograms@naccho.org.au.
