About Ngā Tupu Rau


An initiative from FASD-CAN to support Aotearoa’s educators

Heeding the call from educators in Aotearoa for more information about how to best support our neurodiverse Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) learners, FASD-CAN formed the 'Ngā Tupu Rau' (NTR) online group for educators.

Ngā Tupu Rau refers to weaving together our varied knowledge to build and strengthen understanding. It's a metaphor for networking with educators across Aotearoa supporting those with FASD. Read on below for further information.

We'd love it if you could please help us spread the word and share this with your colleagues!

Click here to jump to our registration form or read on for more about FASD in education and our facilitators.

FASD in Education

Te Whatu Ora / Ministry of Health has conservatively estimated that between 3-5% of the population each year is born with FASD in Aotearoa. This makes FASD one of the most common neurodisability in the world – more common than Autism Spectrum Disorder, Down syndrome and cerebral palsy combined.

Ministry of Education data tell us there has been a mean average of 56,600 of age 5 new entrants enrolled in New Zealand schools over the 2020 to 2022 3-year period. Using the Ministry of Health prevalence parameters, this means that educators will be welcoming between 1,698 (3%) and 2,830 (5%) children with FASD into Aotearoa’s schools each and every year.

The School of Population Health at the National Institute for Health Innovation within the University of Auckland conducted a survey on FASD in education over 2021/22. A report on the results was released in May 2022 which documented an overwhelming need to improve workforce capacity and develop guidelines that address the needs of frontline staff working with tamariki and rangatahi impacted by FASD in education settings.

Whatever your role in the education sector, you are going to come across FASD students at some point in your career, and that means you will need to know how best to support their learning and involvement in the school environment.

What's the group about?

The purpose of the FASD Ngā Tupu Rau Group for Educators is to provide you with knowledge about FASD best practice in the education sector, to connect and network with others and hopefully, to share your learnings with colleagues.

Each session will have a topic essential to understanding FASD or to managing the symptoms of FASD. It is not about working harder, but differently, from a place of understanding that FASD is a brain-based disorder.

Who is this for?

Membership in the group is free, personal and individual. It would be beneficial or of interest to people who:

  • are currently working in the education sector in some capacity;
  • are in training to join the education sector; or
  • have previously worked in the education sector.

There is no requirement to become a member of FASD-CAN before you join NTR, but we would love it if you would consider this! Becoming a member of FASD-CAN is free, there's no obligation 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. Join us here.

PLEASE NOTE: FASD-CAN has kanohi ki te kanohi / face-to-face support groups for caregivers and whānau here should any of the families you work with need support and guidance.

Our Facilitators

FASD-CAN is delighted to have two fantastic FASD-informed educators / trainers to facilitate the group, listen to your needs and interests, and develop some training on specific FASD and education topics.

Fiona Harkness is a Practice Leader in the Tai Tokerau South RTLB Cluster. She has been an RTLB since 2005. Fiona developed an interest in FASD when struggling to support a student with FASD; this experience was the basis of her desire to become an RTLB. A focus of her work is to support RTLB and teaching staff to take a strengths-based approach, understanding that some students are having difficulty – not being difficult – and to have practical ways of working which promote genuinely inclusive classrooms.

Contact: [email protected]

Kim Milne is the Principal Advisor at FASD-CAN. She is responsible for the education activities of FASD-CAN and developed the successful FASD training course for educators, 'Kete into Practice'. Kim also brings lived experience to her mahi as the mother of a young adult with FASD. 

Contact: [email protected]

Where and when?

The FASD Ngā Tupu Rau group meetings will take place online once a term for one hour on a Tuesday, from 4pm-5pm (avoiding school holidays).

2025 dates below – please put these in your diary now!

• Term One – 4 March

• Term Two – 3 June

• Term Three – 19 August

• Term Four – 4 November

Any questions?

If you have any questions or want to know more, please feel free to contact one of our FASD Ngā Tupu Rau group facilitators via their email address given above.

Registration

• To register for membership in the FASD Ngā Tupu Rau group please fill in the form below. 

• Once you've hit submit, you'll receive an email confirming your registration with your Zoom link – you'll use this link for all sessions of the group. You'll also receive a reminder email a few days before each session. 

• You can sign up to the group at any time throughout the year. 

• Members can cancel their membership at any time by emailing [email protected]

 

 

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