Fight for FASD earns lifetime award

The National Organisation for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder presented Dr Stone with the Sue Miers Lifetime Achievement Award on Friday, May 16.

Her advocacy over the years has played a key role in demanding action from the government and helping Australians understand FASD.

Dr Stone said she was honoured to have received the award.

“I’ve been working on FASD for many years with lots of other hard workers who established NOFASD, so it was a real joy for them to pass along this award,” she said.

“I am the fourth person to receive the award, and I was really humbled, I thought it was great.”

Dr Stone became passionate about the cause after learning of a 2006 case in Western Australia where community leaders had successfully stopped the consumption of alcohol in their town following a spike in alcohol-related deaths.

In 2007, the community became aware of children experiencing learning and behavioural difficulties and poor growth.

Research later found that the issues were linked to the consumption of alcohol during pregnancy.

Dr Stone began working alongside the community leaders and researchers to advocate for FASD nationwide.

Dr Stone said during her time in parliament, she fought for key developments in the recognition of FASD around Australia.

“While I was in parliament, I managed to finally get the Federal Government, both Liberal and the Coalition, to agree to have some research with federal funding across Australia,” she said.

“(There) were all sorts of concerns about kids and their parents and how they would be supported to help the children who have the condition.”

During her time as the chair of the House of Representatives Indigenous Affairs Committee, she also led an inquiry into alcohol’s impact on Indigenous communities, with a focus on FASD.

Additionally, she established and co-chaired the bipartisan group Parliamentarians for the Prevention of FASD, which created engagement between policymakers and experts, families and researchers.

She also authored the 2012 report, FASD: The Hidden Harm: Inquiry into the prevention, diagnosis and management of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders, which led to Australia’s first National Strategy on FASD.

Dr Stone said a lot had been achieved since advocacy for the cause began.

“Since those early times, so much has been achieved,” she said.

“Not only has NOFASD's support for families been so critical, combined with the FASD Hub the research and community communication is now occurring.

“So many have done so much. I am humbled to have been added to the recognition award.”