Australian Guidelines for the Assessment and Diagnosis of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD): Development and Dissemination.

The 2025 Australian Guidelines for the Assessment and Diagnosis of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) represent a landmark achievement in the Australian FASD sector and a collaborative national effort to improve the assessment and diagnosis of FASD across Australia. Developed through extensive research and consultation with clinicians, researchers, community representatives, First Nations stakeholders, and people with living and lived experience, the guidelines are the first FASD diagnostic guidelines to receive endorsement from the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC).  

Alongside the diagnostic guidelines, the project also developed the Australian Indigenous FASD Framework, the first framework of its kind globally. The Framework supports practitioners to deliver culturally safe and appropriate FASD assessment and diagnostic services, while also supporting First Nations communities to build local capacity and strengthen culturally responsive service delivery. 

The project has progressed through two key stages: the development of the guidelines and the current dissemination and implementation phase, which focuses on supporting their awareness, uptake, and consistent application through co-designed resources, education, and engagement activities across Australia. 

Phase 1: Guideline Development 

The first phase of the project focused on the development of the Australian Guidelines for the Assessment and Diagnosis of FASD and the Australian Indigenous FASD Framework. The development of the guidelines occurred through a rigorous process involving extensive evidence reviews, research synthesis, stakeholder consultation, and engagement with a broad range of experts and community representatives. The guidelines were informed by dedicated Working and Advisory Groups and shaped by the perspectives and experiences of practitioners, researchers, First Nations stakeholders, and people with living and lived experience of FASD. 

The Australian Indigenous FASD Framework was developed through an extensive co-design process that placed First Nations voices, knowledge, and priorities at the centre of its development. Consultation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, practitioners, researchers, community leaders, and people with living and lived experience of FASD helped ensure the Framework reflects culturally safe, strengths-based, and community-informed approaches to assessment and diagnosis. As the first Indigenous FASD diagnostic framework of its kind globally, it provides guidance for practitioners while supporting First Nations communities to strengthen local capacity and culturally responsive service delivery. 

Further information about the guidelines, including access to all guideline documents, the Australian Indigenous FASD Framework, details of the development process, project governance, Working and Advisory Groups, and the extensive research that informed their development, is available on the project website: 

Australian Guidelines for the Assessment and Diagnosis of FASD 

See the Australian Guidelines for the Assessment and Diagnosis of FASD

Phase 2: Guideline Dissemination  

The project is now focused on the dissemination of the guidelines and the accompanying Australian Indigenous FASD Framework to support their uptake across Australia and promote consistent, high-quality, culturally responsive assessment and FASD diagnosis. A key priority of this phase is the co-design and development of tailored resources for practitioners, First Nations communities, and individuals and families with living and lived experience of FASD. Developed in partnership with communities of practice, First Nations stakeholders, service providers, and people with living and lived experience, these resources are designed to be practical, culturally responsive, and relevant to a range of service settings. 

The dissemination phase supports the translation of guideline recommendations into everyday practice across urban, regional, rural, and remote communities throughout Australia. In addition to resource development, the project delivers a national webinar series and periodic newsletter to share dissemination activities, new resources, and project updates, helping to build awareness, strengthen capability, and support the sustainable adoption of the Australian Guidelines for the Assessment and Diagnosis of FASD.