Bloom-ED Update

COLLECTIVE ACTION FOR RELATIONSHIPS AND SEXUALITY EDUCATION (RSE)

Update from the Bloom-ED team

The Australian Senate Standing Committee for Community Affairs has recently undertaken an inquiry into Universal Access to Reproductive Healthcare. Bloom-ED made a written submission and we were also invited to to give evidence at a public hearing. Over 300 written submissions were tended and thse can be found here. A transcript of all public hearings can be accessed here. A final report from the committee is currently being drafted.
 
Don't forget to check out Bloom-EDs webpage! Recent updates include an archive of all our previous eNews issues, and a host of (mostly) Australian resources that can help young people to improve their understanding of relationships, sex, sexuality, and sexual health.
 
Remember, you can always let us know if there is something else out there that we should spotlight.

check out our website

HAPPY IDAHOBIT DAY
IDAHOBIT Day is May 17th. Click the image below to learn how you can be involved. 

Catching up with...
The STOP Campaign

We had the opportunity to catch up recently with a fabulous ally of Bloom-ED, The STOP Campaign. 
 
What does The STOP Campaign stand for?
 The STOP Campaign is a grassroots, student-led organisation that was started in 2018 at the
Australian National University (ANU) by our founder and director Camille Schloeffel. The STOP Campaign is dedicated to empowering young people to create and sustain positive sociocultural change regarding sex and sexual violence in tertiary communities. As a volunteer-led intersectional feminist organisation, we stand for integrity, respect, and passion - aiming to start important conversations and break down stigmas through different education and empowerment-based projects.
 
 What is one of or some wins that STOP Campaign have been able to celebrate over
the last year?
Last year The STOP Campaign launched the Safe Response Toolkit (SRT). The SRT is an online and physical resource that provides information for victim-survivors and supporters on how to safely respond to sexual violence disclosures and access support services across Canberra. The SRT aims to advocate, empower and raise community awareness about sexual violence by providing information on the available legal avenues and physical and mental health support services.
We have distributed over 1000 SRT’s around Canberra and are currently distributing our 2nd
edition, with updated information.
 
Does STOP Campaign, currently have one major endeavour you’re working on or a
number of projects that are being developed?
As a smaller community, we usually work on one major project at a time. Currently, we are
preparing for the College Program. The College Program is a series of peer-led education and
advocacy workshops delivered to tertiary students in residential halls to help prevent sexual violence and promote sexual wellbeing. The Program has been developed, with the support of White Ribbon Australia and funding from the Department of Social Services, as part of the National Community Action Group Program. 

The key objectives of the College Program are to:
Destigmatise discussions surrounding sex and sexual violence and promote sexual
wellbeing.
Discuss the behaviours, institutional structures and cultural norms that drive sexual violence and how these can be mitigated or eliminated.
Provide evidence-informed and trauma-informed resources on sexual violence, consent, health and wellbeing that are suitable for residential hall students.
Lead discussions with students in leadership or pastoral care positions on safely responding to disclosures and critical incidents.
How to be an effective bystander and supporter, and dealing with vicarious trauma and burnout.
Recommend trauma-informed policies and procedures that promote the safety of victim-survivors.
Empower students to engage in sexual violence activism and advocate for positive sociocultural change in their communities.
 
These objectives align with The STOP Campaign’s primary prevention efforts in the sexual violence space. Our projects are underpinned by a whole-of-community approach when identifying and addressing the underlying drivers of gender-based and sexual violence to
prevent violence before it occurs. 
The College Program aligns with the Campaign’s vision of tertiary learning communities free from sexual violence and stigmatisation, by equipping students and staff with the tools to identify the factors that lead to sexual violence and the steps to prevent it. The Program also aims to empower participants to safely and effectively support their peers who experience sexual violence and engage in activism and advocacy, which are integral to achieving our vision.
 
 Is there any way that non-members can participate in your work?
The best way non-members can participate in our work is by staying active and engaging with
our content on social media by liking, commenting and sharing. We also suggest that non-members reach out to get our programs implemented in their community spaces. And we are always looking for more volunteers!

The STOP Campaign website

What's on...

In the news...

After several weeks of negotiations and tireless efforts of UN Member States, Rutgers regrets a resolution could not be adopted by consensus on population, education and sustainable development at the Commission on Population and Development (CPD). “The pushback by anti-rights forces prevented an agreement from being made.”

read article here

Comprehensive sexuality education is the key to a better tomorrow. CSE empowers young people and adolescents to know their rights, make healthy choices, stay in school and flourish.

read article here

ACT becomes first jurisdiction to offer free abortions as Canberra patients shed light on troubling experiences.

read article here

Intersex community hopes law changes will change way society, medical professionals treat them.

read article here

Bloom-Eds Giselle Woodley: Shake off the stigma for better, safer, and more satisfying sex.

read article here

Five important things you should have learned in sex ed – but probably didn’t.

read article here

New resources

Welcome to Sex
 
Welcome to Sex is a frank, age-appropriate introductory guide to sex and sexuality for teens of all genders, from the creators of the best-selling guides Welcome to Your Period, Welcome to Consent and Welcome to Your Boobs.

check it out

Asking for It
 
Jess Hill explores the contemporary sexual revolution seeking to bring about an era of 'enthusiastic consent' at a time when millions of Australians are living with an epidemic of sexual violence. This documentary recently aired on SBS, and is supported by teaching resources suitable for grades 5 and up.  

check it out

Relationship Heartbreak
 
A new study has found 16 to 24 year olds experience extreme distress after a relationship breakup. The BTN Team take a look at how to deal with heartbreak, and the science behind our brain when it happens.

check it out

Let's Talk About Consent 
 
As a parent, you’ve probably heard discussions about ‘consent’, but you may not know what it entails or how to introduce the topic to your child. This podcast investigates how to introduce consent concepts with younger children. 

check it out

How to talk to your kids about...Sex
 
Over four podcast episodes, Dr. Tess Opie from inyourskin interviews three different Australian experts to help parents talk about sex more openly with their children.

check it out

Friends can Tell
 
This site provides a series of animations with young people for different age groups about how to support friends in unhealthy relationships.

check it out

We want to celebrate, share and make aware. As part of Bloom-Ed's mission to create collective action for RSE, we would love to showcase the fabulous work that is happening around Australia. We want to spotlight any work that supports efforts to provide evidence-based RSE to Australians - be this through homes, schools, community groups, or other means. 
 
How can you help?
If your current work aligns with our mission to provide evidence-based RSE to Australians, we would love to include your organisation's name and logo on our websites under our 'Allies' tab. Check out the amazing list of allies who have already joined us!
Let us know if there is campaign, petition, consultation or event that we should now about. We'd love to share it. 
Do you know of a good RSE resource or program that we can showcase on our socials or in our next newsletter? We are always keen to spotlight fabulous initiatives. 

Get in touch

So who is Bloom-ED? We are a collective of teachers, researchers, sexologists, students, parents and activists who operate as an alliance - in conjunction with other organisations - to advocate for comprehensive RSE. Learn more about our hopes for RSE here. At the current time our focus is on improving RSE delivery in Australia, but watch this space...

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