Russell Family Fetal Alcohol Disorders Association

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The Russell Family Fetal Alcohol Disorders Association will be established to enhance the lives of people with FASD while providing hope and resources to the people who love them. The RFFADA has been established to honour Devin and Clete Russell both of whom live with FASD and their father Peter Russell who has been a strong and stadfast influence to them throughout their lives. The Association will support people who have been affected prenatally by alcohol and their carers reflecting the difficulties that the Russell boys, their mother, Elizabeth and father have had obtaining appropriate services and support for Devin. The Associationwill also support diagnosis and multidisciplinary management planning for affected individuals; education and training of professionals including Centrelink staff; and the support of birth mothers.

Objectives:

  1. Together with rffada partners, the Australian, State and Territory governments and health and community partners, assist in whatever way possible to establish diagnostic centres in major centres in Australia
  2. To assist in the education and training of non-medical professionals including Centrelink Disability Officers, Job Capacity Assessors and other people in key positions so they fully understand the implications of a diagnosis of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS), partial FAS (pFAS), Alcohol Related Neuro-developmental Disorder (ARND) or Alcohol Related Birth Defects (ARBD) on individuals’ ability to obtain and maintain employment
  3. To provide advocacy and information to those individuals and their carers in their attempt to obtain the Disability Support Pension
  4. To link individuals to existing services including The National Organisation for Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and Related Disorders (NOFASARD), Westmead Hospital and the Telethon Institute
  5. Using a straightforward application and assessment process provide assistance to affected individuals to enable them to access the services at the same time providing appropriate support to gather any information required, attend appointments and complete forms
  6. To identify, support, educate and care for birth mothers using a “no blame no shame” ethos
  7. To assist the rffada partners to achieve their aims and objectives in the prevention, education and support of people with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder and their families