Hey there!
September is International FASD Awareness Month.
Will you help raise awareness of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD)?
How
to get
involved
On 9 September, snap and share on social to help turn the internet red!
Step 1
Pop on a pair of red shoes or socks and snap a pic
Step 2
Share your photo alongside the carousel, tile or story templates sharing info about FASD (download below)
Step 3
Add a caption (sample copy below), use #FASD #RedShoesRock and tag @FAREAustralia
Step 4
Share to your social media
Step 5
Ask your friends to join you in helping to raise awareness
Add your caption
Short copy
It’s Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Awareness Month – I am showing my support by wearing red and sparking a conversation. To get involved and find out more visit: redshoesrock.org.au
#FASD #RedShoesRock
Long copy
This September I am putting on my red shoes for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Awareness Month. FASD is the leading preventable developmental disability in Australia. To help us raise awareness of FASD or learn more, visit: redshoesrock.org.au
#FASD #RedShoesRock
Ask about my red shoes tile story
Step up for #FASD tile storyNo red shoes or socks
but still want a personal pic?
Create some Red Shoes Rock Instagram or Facebook Stories!
Want to create a personalised Red Shoes Rock Story on social media to help raise awareness of FASD? Here is how:
- Open Instagram or Facebook and swipe right from your feed or tap the ‘Your Story’ icon at the top of the screen.
- Take a photo or video, or select one from your gallery, to use in your story.
- Tap the sticker icon (a square smiley face) at the top of the screen.
- In the search bar, type “Red Shoes Rock” or “FASD” to find stickers related to the Red Shoes Rock campaign.
- Browse through the available stickers and tap the one you want to add to your story.
- Drag the sticker to your desired location on the screen. You can pinch to resize or rotate the sticker as needed.
- Once you’re happy with your story, tap “Your Story” or “Share” to post it.
Pose with a Red Shoes Rock sign!
Got access to a printer? Snap a pic holding one of our Red Shoes Rock signs! This is a perfect way for organisations and community groups to show their support at upcoming events or market stalls:
- Print a sign and hold it up proudly!
- Get creative and strike your best pose.
- Take a photo with the sign to show your support.
- Post your photo on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter.
- Use the hashtags #RedShoesRock and #FASD and tag us (@FAREAustralia) to spread the word even further!
FAQS
Want to learn more about FASD, or have other questions?
We’ve got answers!
Alcohol consumed at any stage of pregnancy passes directly to the developing baby and can damage their brain, body, and organs. It can lead to a lifelong disability known as Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD).
People with FASD can experience challenges such as:
- physical and emotional developmental delay
- impaired speech and language development
- learning problems, such as issues with memory and attention,
- difficulty controlling behaviour.
The experience of each person with FASD is unique. A person living with FASD has their own individual strengths and challenges, but all experience some degree of difficulty in everyday life and will likely need additional support.
Red Shoes Rock is a global awareness campaign giving voice and support to those affected by prenatal alcohol exposure. It is marked in September to raise awareness of the importance of staying alcohol-free throughout the nine months of pregnancy.
The campaign was started by Canadian RJ Formanek, an adult with FASD. He decided to wear red shoes to stand out, be noticed and start a conversation about his invisible disability. In 2014 Jodee Kulp, a graphic designer and parent of an adult with FASD in the US, stepped in to help him build visibility and get the word out.
The campaign gained momentum and grew over the years, and Red Shoes Rock is now recognised all over the world!
Here at home, Australians wear red shoes or red socks throughout the month to spark conversations and create understanding about this largely invisible and preventable disability. Iconic buildings and landmarks also light up red across the country, to help raise awareness.
On 9 September – and throughout September – help turn the internet red! Share your content on social media with the hashtags #FASD and #RedShoesRock to show your support.
If you work for an organisation or are part of a community group, we encourage you to get involved as a community! Every organisation can share the Red Shoes Rock campaign within and across their networks.
Our Red Shoes Rock website has a range of copy and images your organisation can share across social media, newsletters, and publications.
Find out more at: redshoesrock.org.au
For more information about FASD and to access further support, please visit:
Red Shoes Rock: redshoesrock.org.au
Every Moment Matters: everymomentmatters.org.au
NOFASD: naccho.org.au/fasd/strong-born
FASD Hub: fasdhub.org.au
Meet the team
Jessica Birch
FASD Advocate
Jessica is a national advocate and speaker living with FASD.
Since her late diagnosis, she has turned her attention to awareness building and education around this complex injury, to create a better understanding of the prevalence and consequences of prenatal alcohol exposure in Australia.
Jessica shares her lived experience in an effort to arm individuals, families, carers and health professionals with information to create successful interventions and support; She believes awareness and action is key to slow the rate of prenatal alcohol exposure in our communities.
In just a few short years, Jessica has been involved in a number of projects and has appeared in a variety of news, radio and television interviews; Notably, she successfully campaigned alongside Australia’s peak bodies for clear pregnancy warning labels on all alcohol products within Australia, and was the first individual living with FASD to speak at Australia’s National Brain Injury Conference.
Jessica regularly consults with researchers, health professionals and decision makers, and sits on several expert and community advisory boards, including those for NOFASD, FARE and the FASD HUB.
FARE
The Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education (FARE) is a not-for-profit organisation with a vision for an Australia free from alcohol harms – where communities are healthy and well, and where laws, policies and programs are fair, equitable and just.
We work collaboratively to build the capacity of people wanting to create change, raise community awareness of alcohol harms, advocate for policy change aimed at preventing alcohol-related harms and increase accountability of companies that fuel harm.
Working with local communities, people with lived experience of alcohol harm, values-aligned organisations, health professionals, researchers and governments across the nation, we are improving the health and wellbeing of everyone in Australia.
NACCHO
The National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO) is a living embodiment of the aspirations of Aboriginal communities and their struggle for self-determination.
NACCHO represents over 140 Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services (ACCHSs) across the country on Aboriginal health and well-being issues and is Australia’s peak Aboriginal health body.
NACCHO aims to provide leadership and direction in the development of health policies affecting Aboriginal peoples, and to support ACCHSs in their delivery of comprehensive primary healthcare.
Angelene Bruce
FASD Advocate
Angelene Bruce is the biological mother to a thriving child diagnosed with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder or FASD. She is also a lived experience expert for NOFASD Australia, FARE Australia and a member of the Victorian FASD Special Interest Group as well as a passionate advocate for FASD awareness and prevention.
Ange has extensive experience and training in all aspects of FASD and is dedicated to helping others understand how alcohol harms an unborn child’s brain and body with a strict no blame no shame policy for biological mothers. Ange has been featured in a range of media. Ange is a mentor / coach to parents and caregivers of children with FASD all over the world.
NOFASD
The National Organisation for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (NOFASD) Australia is the national peak organisation representing the interests of individuals who have Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) and the families who support them.
NOFASD’s vision is the prevention of alcohol exposed pregnancies in Australia and an improved quality of life for those who have FASD. In addition to delivering support to individuals and families NOFASD Australia also provides education and training workshops to parent and carer groups, government and non-government service providers and school communities throughout Australia.
FASD Hub
The FASD Hub brings together the latest evidence-based content about alcohol, pregnancy and FASD in Australia.
The FASD Hub serves a range of stakeholders including health professionals, researchers, educators, people living with FASD and their families, and those planning a pregnancy or breastfeeding.
As well as housing the latest research and publications, The FASD Hub connects FASD-informed health professionals and families through the FASD Hub Service Directory, provides online training to accompany The Australian Guide to the diagnosis of FASD, and connects audiences with other specialist groups.
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