CatholicCare Nurturing Best Beginnings
In 2023, CatholicCare Social Services launched a pilot project in two local high schools using specialised infant simulators to educate students about the impacts of substance use during pregnancy.
In 2023, CatholicCare Social Services launched a pilot project in two local high schools using specialised infant simulators to educate students about the impacts of substance use during pregnancy.
Across vulnerable communities, a growing number of babies, children, and young people are being diagnosed with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) or identified as drug-impacted at birth – conditions that often have lifelong consequences.
Led by two of CatholicCare’s family and parenting specialists, Nikki Reece and Sara Evans, the pilot, titled Nurturing Best Beginnings, was delivered to hundreds of students in Years 9 to12 as part of their PDHPE curriculum.
During the sessions, students engaged with two infant simulators alongside a typically developing baby simulator, allowing them to observe and compare the impacts of prenatal exposure to drugs and alcohol. The program offered a powerful, hands-on learning experience, sparking reflection and discussion around maternal and paternal substance use, fetal development, infant withdrawal symptoms, and overall infant and maternal health.
The pilot formed part of a broader study led by the University of Tasmania, exploring the effectiveness of infant simulators in pregnancy and parenting education for school-aged students. The findings were promising, with 60% of participating students reporting an increased understanding of how substance use affects fetal, infant, and maternal health.
In their feedback, students shared that seeing and hearing the simulators made the learning experience more impactful. Observing the drug-affected baby shake and cry was a new and eye-opening experience that grew their understanding of the real-world consequences.
The success of Nurturing Best Beginnings led to Sara and Nikki accepting an invitation to present their work at the Network of Alcohol and other Drug Agencies (NADA) Conference in Sydney in June, and at the International Childhood Trauma Conference in Melbourne in August. Researchers from the University of Tasmania will also present the findings at the International Forum on Quality and Safety in Healthcare in Canberra this November.
Building on the pilot’s success, CatholicCare is now exploring opportunities to expand the program into additional settings, continuing their mission of working together with local communities.
What is FASD?
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder is a lifelong neurodevelopmental condition caused by alcohol exposure in utero. It encompasses a range of physical, cognitive, behavioural, and learning challenges that can persist throughout a person’s life.
How common is FASD?
FASD and drug-affected infants are often underdiagnosed, as their symptoms can resemble other conditions such as ADHD or autism. It’s estimated that FASD affects approximately 3.64% of the Australian population, with drug-affected births occurring at similar rates.
What are infant simulators?
Infant simulators are lifelike models of newborns equipped with electronic features that mimic real infant behaviours such as crying, feeding, and needing nappy changes. They are widely used in sex education and parenting programs. In this project, the simulators were specially designed to replicate the behaviours of infants affected by FASD or drug exposure, providing a realistic and impactful learning experience.