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, supported by the , has launched a new campaign, to raise awareness of the risks of drinking alcohol during pregnancy and safe breastfeeding practices.

The campaign has been designed in collaboration with representatives from various Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, which informed the development of resources to make yarning about this complex topic easier.

NACCHO CEO Pat Turner said, 鈥淭he Strong Born campaign is about raising awareness and understanding of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) and reducing stigma and shame.

鈥淭he campaign includes culturally appropriate health information for women and families, educational materials for our Aboriginal healthcare workers and guidance for healthcare providers that work with Aboriginal communities.

鈥淚n collaboration with our regional and remote member organisations, we鈥檒l also support opportunities to bring our communities together to create safe places for yarning about the impacts of alcohol on pregnancy.

鈥淕rowing strong healthy mums and bubs leads to healthy communities. Our communities need to understand the risks of drinking alcohol during pregnancy, and where to go for support, so they can ask for help if they need it.鈥�

FASD has long been an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community controlled health priority and NACCHO has been working with FASD clinical, cultural and community experts across Australia to design the new campaign.

FARE CEO Caterina Giorgi commented, 鈥淔ar too many Australians have FASD and there continues to be misinformation about alcohol, pregnancy and breastfeeding. It is great to have the opportunity to collaborate with NACCHO on this important campaign as part of the broader Every Moment Matters initiative, which provides evidence-based health information about alcohol, pregnancy and breastfeeding.鈥�

Senator Malarndirri McCarthy, Assistant Minister for Indigenous Health, said, 鈥淔ASD is often referred to as the invisible disability but as far as many families and communities are concerned, it鈥檚 a very visible part of daily life. It鈥檚 important that people understand that FASD is not confined to a particular community or demographic; it is a disorder that crosses socioeconomic, racial and educational boundaries.

鈥淭hat said, the AMA tells us that in some high-risk Indigenous communities the prevalence may be as high as 12%. All kids deserve the best start to life and the Strong Born campaign is an important campaign to keep raising awareness and taking the shame out of talking about these complex issues.鈥�

Campaign resources will be made available to all rural and remote Aboriginal and Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHOs).

Image credit: iStockphoto.com/wildpixel