Alcohol, FASD & families: Good practice for social, justice &allied workers

Alcohol, FASD and families: Good practice for social, justice and allied health professionals.

By Professor Anita Gibbs, University of Otago, New Zealand.

Biography

Anita Gibbs is currently a professor of criminology and social work at the University of Otago, in Dunedin, New Zealand. Originally from Exeter (UK), she joined Otago in 1999, where she has been teaching and researching criminal justice, health and welfare topics ever since. She became passionate about FASD when parenting her two neuro-diverse adopted children. Her lived experience as a caregiver of children with FASD, ADHD and autism has led to extensive engagement and advocacy with the full range of health, welfare, justice, education and disability systems for many years. Her current research interests are focused on supporting caregivers of children with FASD, and understanding professionals’ perspectives on FASD; her practice focuses on training for caregivers and professionals, alongside developing materials to work with neuro-divergent people; and her teaching ensures all of her 300 plus students per year are educated with at least one module on FASD.

Talk Abstract

In Aotearoa New Zealand and similar countries around half of all pregnancies are exposed to alcohol, and conservative estimates are that 3-5% of the population will be impacted by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). FASD is a lifelong physical disability which can impact a person across cognitive, physical, emotional, behavioural, social and spiritual aspects of their lives. Parenting or caregiving a child or youth with FASD can be extremely challenging and rewarding and will depend on the formal and informal supports and services on offer. In this talk, Anita Gibbs will draw on her research with caregivers and professionals, her practice as a social worker, and her lived experience as a caregiver of young people living with FASD, autism and ADHD, to explore good practice for social, justice and allied health workers. Anita has developed a range of workshops and training materials for justice, social and allied health workers in New Zealand; and has created highly regarded online courses for caregivers in both Australia and New Zealand. In this talk, she will refer to some of these materials, recent developments in New Zealand, and her latest research on caregivers’ experience of coping with child to parent adolescent violence and abuse (CAPVA), which is common in families where neuro-divergent conditions exist.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Allerton Building, Room L207, Allerton Building, Manchester, United Kingdom