Donations 2006/07
University of WA – Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences
Approximately 90% of women using heroin are of reproductive age, and some women undergoing treatment with the addiction control implant naltrexone become pregnant. Even though naltrexone is not recommended for use during pregnancy, many women keep the implant either due to fear of relapse or because surgical removal requires general anaesthesia. Keeping the implant means that human fetuses are inadvertently exposed to the drug. Published studies on the neonatal outcomes from drug exposure in humans are limited and safety data using experimental animals is required.
Waleed Farid undertook Honours in 2005 under the supervision of Professor Dunlop and Professor Hulse. He is now enrolled at UWA with a PhD scholarship to examine whether GOMedical naltrexone implants, when given to a female who then becomes pregnant, are safe for her offspring. The studies will be undertaken in rats.
The Australian Children's Trust is sponsoring this research.
Visit Waleed Farid's PhD website by clicking here.
Songs of the Mission
Margaret Mission Wonghi women sing Indigenous folk songs in their language for the purpose of preserving the songs so that Aboriginal children in the future can learn an important part of their heritage. The Australian Children's Trust funded the making of a Songs of the Mission DVD by Benchtop Productions, which is available to all Indigenous cultural programs and schools.
Family Training Institute, Kalgoorlie
The Australian Children’s Trust was responsible for raising $200,000 towards the total cost of $250,000 to establish an intergenerational children’s playground in Kalgoorlie, Western Australia, as an addition to an existing Family Training Institute (FTI).
The playground caters for children with disabilities and has attracted many families to FTI who are seeking counselling. It is regarded as the best playground in the city of Kalgoorlie-Boulder.
FTI was established to address serious issues in the community relating to family breakdown. It has been very successful in addressing such issues, across a range of socio-economic groups in the community, including Indigenous people.
Matters addressed through FTI include tracing surface problems to root causes. These include how to overcome feelings of inferiority, resolve family conflicts, remove guilt, conquer anger and bitterness, transform sources of irritation, discover purpose in life, gain financial freedom, recognise the right life partner, build genuine friendship, have harmony in marriage, and apply effective child discipline.
FTI also hosts character building seminars, applicable to business, community and the education sectors.