FACS NZ provides Support, Education and Awareness around Fetal Anticonvulsant Syndromes.

What is FACS?

FACS (or the relevant syndrome) occurs when the anti-seizure medication that was taken by the childbearing person during pregnancy crosses the placenta and into the developing foetus.

ACC FACS Videos

FACS NZ and ACC have worked together to produce videos showing a small glimpse into the lives of some of our FACS families and what they wish they had known.

FACS NZ Patron : Penny Ashton

We are extremely proud, and fortunate to announce FACSNZ's Patron: Penny Ashton.

 Here's a bit about Penny:

 Penny Ashton has been touring the world for over 20 years, and in that time has performed over 1000 solo shows. She has sold out from Edinburgh to Edmonton to Mosgiel, and has represented NZ in Theatresports and performed Slam Poetry at The Glastonbury Festival. Her award winning solo musicals; Promise and Promiscuity (Austen inspired), Olive Copperbottom (Dickens inspired) and The Tempestuous (Shakespearean) have gathered sparkling reviews and happy fans as they go and in 2023 and 2024 both The Court and Circa Theatres mounted her full length adaption of Austen’s Sense & Sensibility, which she also directed in Wellington.

 She is also an improviser, performance poet, voice over artist, social commentator (including on RNZ’s The Panel), Wedding Celebrant, menopause podcaster with Showy Ovaries, and all round jazz hand enthusiast. In 1990 Penny was diagnosed as having temporal lobe epilepsy after a seizure in high school assembly. She was 16 years old and was immediately told by the Doctor about the dangers of epilepsy medications to unborn children. She finds it heartbreaking and unbelievable not all women were told, and is proud to help FACS spread that word far and wide and loud and long.

 Help us by welcoming Penny.