By becoming part of LANSAS, our FASD Learning and Networking group for Social Workers and Support Workers, you'll gain access to FASD-informed best practice every three months, with experts discussing specific issues around FASD and the social sector.
Click here to jump to our registration form or read on for more about the group.
The Ministry of Health has conservatively estimated that between 3-5% of the population each year is born with FASD in Aotearoa. This makes FASD the most common neurodisability in the world – more common than autism spectrum disorder, Down syndrome and cerebral palsy combined.
Research from an University of Auckland survey as well as feedback from our membership has shown a strong requirement to provide learning opportunities and support to Aotearoa’s social sector professionals who are working with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) clients.
To find out more about the enormously important role that social workers and support workers play in supporting those with FASD and those who support them see a couple of videos below – and also check out our professionals page on our website here.
• ‘Social Work Perspectives on FASD’ – a video by NZ presenters, Professor Anita Gibbs, Dr Joanna Chu and Karleen Dove.
• 'The role of Social Workers in supporting childen and families towards and beyond an FASD diagnosis' from the UK's FASD Hub.
PLEASE NOTE: For caregivers and whānau you may be supporting, FASD-CAN has both an online and kanohi ki te kanohi / face to face support groups around the motu here and lots more information for them here.
The main goals of the FASD Learning and Networking Group for Social Workers and Support Workers (LANSAS) are:
• to provide you with ongoing knowledge about FASD best practice in your mahi via quarterly online webinars
• to provide an opportunity to learn from each other, and
• to connect and network in order to share knowledge and experience.
Membership in the LANSAS group is on a personal/individual basis, not an organisational basis.
Membership of this group is free and would be beneficial or of interest to people:
We would love it if you could become a member of FASD-CAN – it's free, there's no requirement on your part – it will simply support us by increasing our numbers. You will also receive a copy of our monthly newsletter, keeping you up to date with FASD developments in Aotearoa.
FASD-CAN is privileged to have the knowledge and support of two professionals working in your sector to co-facilitate this group. They’ll be the ones listening to what you want from membership, developing some training on specific FASD topics, and facilitating the online meetings and presentations.
Kia ora koutou. Ko Nikki Geeson ahau. I live in Doubtless Bay in the Far North. I am a registered psychologist primarily working with children, adolescents, and parents/caregivers across Northland. I complete assessments and provide therapy, including group therapy, in my current role. I have several postgraduate qualifications in psychology, and I am currently completing a Postgraduate Certificate in Infant, Child, and Adolescent Mental Health at the University of Auckland. I spent 17 years working in various roles for the New Zealand Police before retraining as a psychologist.
I am experienced at facilitating groups and have a strong professional interest in FASD. I have volunteered to be a co-facilitator for the online learning and networking group as I’d like to help increase knowledge of FASD across the social services sector, and learn from other group members.
Contact: [email protected] | Mobile: 022 010 4373
Rose works to create awareness of FASD and other disabilities and to support people living with these differences and those around them to live their best lives. Rose has created FASD resources and has presented about the disorder at many workshops, forums and conferences, both in Aotearoa and internationally, promoting simple ways to help understand and respond to FASD. Rose is a Regional Disability Advisor for the Ministry for Children in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Contact: [email protected] | Mobile: 029 650 0505
The FASD LANSAS group will meet online every three months on a Tuesday from 4pm-5pm from February 11, 2025.
To register, please fill in the form below. You can join us at any time throughout the year.
Once you've hit submit, you'll receive an email confirming your registration with dates for 2025 and the Zoom link which you'll use for each meeting.
Members can cancel their membership at any time by emailing [email protected]
If you have any questions or want to know more, please contact one of our FASD Learning and Networking group facilitators via their email address given above.
