An innovative campaign that challenges partners and friends to go without alcohol in support of a loved one that is pregnant, has received funding and support from the ACT Government.
Pregnant Pause, an initiative of the Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education (FARE) is one of six ACT organisations to be awarded a Healthy Canberra Grant with over $282,000 provided over three years to support the campaign rollout in Canberra and its surrounding region.
FARE Chief Executive, Michael Thorn said he was delighted that FARE had been awarded the funding.
“Pregnant Pause is an important and innovative project and FARE is delighted to be given the opportunity to expand the successful campaign’s efforts in the ACT,” Mr Thorn said.
Recent studies have found that almost half of all pregnant women drank before knowing they were pregnant and 19.5 per cent continued to drink once they became aware of their pregnancy.
Mr Thorn says prenatal exposure to alcohol can lead to a range of severe adverse consequences during pregnancy including miscarriages, low birth weights, and Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD).
“Importantly, Pregnant Pause builds a support system to help expectant parents achieve an alcohol-free pregnancy. Today’s announcement will allow us to extend the campaign’s reach, to work together to reduce alcohol-related harms and contribute towards a healthier ACT community,” Mr Thorn said.
