Fetal alcohol study set up

AUSTRALIA's first study into the prevalence and impact of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder on indigenous children will be launched today.

AUSTRALIA's first study into the prevalence and impact of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder on indigenous children will be launched today.

The Gillard government will also announce a $64 million national program to help reduce domestic violence in indigenous families.

The fetal alcohol study, Marulu: The Lililwan Project, is being introduced at the request of the Fitzroy Valley community.

It will pool the expertise of pediatricians, allied health professionals and social workers from the George Institute for International Health, University of Sydney, and the Nindilingarri Cultural Health Service.

Federal Indigenous Affairs Minister Jenny Macklin said alcohol abuse was the main risk factor in indigenous family violence and the government would work with communities to stem the supply of alcohol where it led to high levels of violence.

A recent study by the Australian Institute of Criminology found alcohol was a primary risk factor for violence in indigenous communities.

Other priorities would be to strengthen police protection in remote communities, support community initiatives that healed trauma and changed attitudes, and to improve co-ordination of services to victims, especially children.

Funding for the Indigenous Family Safety Program has been provided for four years.

Ms Macklin said it would have a heavy focus on building skills within communities to make their own changes.

She said the government would work closely with communities that had high levels of alcohol abuse and with state and territory governments to introduce tough alcohol restrictions or strengthen existing restrictions.

"We will push for a transparent model for allocating state and territory police resources as many remote communities have an insufficient police presence," Ms Macklin said.

Community safety plans would also be developed in 29 remote priority locations nominated by the government.

The plans would cover alcohol use, policing, co-ordinated services to vulnerable families and community attitudes to family violence.

Elizabeth Elliott, a leading expert on fetal alcohol spectrum disorder involved in the Marulu project, said there had never been the funding or the expertise available to do such a study.

"People are worried about stigmatising families," Professor Elliott said. "In Australia we don't have any accurate data.

"We hope that it is going to have the benefits of establishing prevalence but also helping us develop models of care in the future," Professor Elliott said.

"This is not just a problem in indigenous communities . . . however, there are some areas in Australia where there has been excessive alcohol abuse and use."

Alcohol consumption in pregnancy can harm unborn babies, including brain injury and birth defects such as poor bone formation, kidney damage, eye and hearing problems. It can cause stunted growth, poor memory, attention deficiency, impulsive behaviour, and mental illness.