WA: FAS creating another Stolen Generation, Prof Fiona Stanley

AAP General News (Australia)
12-17-2007
WA: FAS creating another Stolen Generation, Prof Fiona Stanley

A former Australian of the Year says the high rate of Foetal Alcohol Syndrome in Kimberley
Aboriginal communities is creating another Stolen Generation.

Professor FIONA STANLEY's broken down in tears .. speaking of child mortality rates
at an inquest into the link between substance abuse and Aboriginal suicides in Perth today.

She says successive Australian governments have failed to implement the recommendations
of a number of studies .. resulting in a range of worsening problems in Aboriginal communities.

Professor STANLEY's told the WA Coroner's Court the impact of the Stolen Generation
is one of the main causes of issues surrounding alcohol abuse in Aboriginal communities.

And she says while FAS rates in Aboriginal communities are very high .. data on the
syndrome is limited.







Professor STANLEY broke down as she revealed nine in every one thousand indigenous
children dies between 13 and 16 in indigenous communities .. from accident .. injury or
infection.

She says empowering Aboriginal communities by supporting their strategies and employing
Aboriginal people in Aboriginal run services is key to change.

AAP RTV ah/tm/bart

KEYWORD: INDIGENOUS WA (PERTH)

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