COLLECTIVE ACTION FOR RELATIONSHIPS AND SEXUALITY EDUCATION (RSE) |
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We hope you are excited to dive into our our third e-News for the year, to learn a little about an awesome RSE program, and to connect with what's happening in the RSE space throughout Australia. As always, we're keen to share the latest research, advocacy efforts, resources and events that are focused on evidence-based RSE for young Australians. If you have something that people need to know about please get in touch! Don't forget that Wear it Purple Day is on at the end of this month and this is a great opportunity to foster supportive, safe, empowering and inclusive environments for rainbow young people. |
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Are you connected with us on socials? | |
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Bloom-Ed caught recently caught up with SECCA. A great organisation based in Boorloo (Perth). How did it begin, and how it has evolved? SECCA has been supporting people with disability, and their significant carers, for over 30 years. Founded in 1991 by a small group of professionals working in the wellbeing sector, whose own lives involved people with disability. This group identified a gap in education and therapeutic support for people with disability regarding their sexuality and relationships. SECCA has evolved from training and counselling, into educational resources and aims to expand on their resource base as often as possible. Can you tell us a little bit about the services SECCA provide? SECCA is split into 4 main realms of service: 1). Counselling – We work individually with people of all ages and abilities who seek support with sexuality and relationships. Counselling is conducted on a one-to-one basis, enabling clinicians to deliver unique sessions that meet the particular learning style, needs, age, and ability of each individual. 2). Education – including community workshops for carers, parents, health professionals, and people who support people with disability. Resources that are Easy English and picture-based. SECCA is often well-known for our picture tiles that display sexuality and relationship concepts in a clear and accurate manner and the SECCA App that provides a way to embed and scaffold knowledge of relationship and sexuality topics in a safe and fun manner. SECCA is also very proud of our Suzanne Paust library that houses many books, dvds, anatomically correct dolls and other tools that can help increase knowledge around sexuality and disability. 3). Consultancy - SECCA provides a consultancy service to disability service providers, family members, allied health professionals and teachers of people with disability. |
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4). Advocacy - For SECCA, advocacy is simply raising awareness of the issues impacting our clients, and their unique needs. This is how we support the core services we are funded to deliver. It usually takes the form of submissions to enquiries and commissions and meeting relevant stakeholders to inform and share research. Is there currently a particular focus for SECCA? The current and continued focus for SECCA is providing ongoing relationship and sexuality education (RSE) to clients, stakeholders, parents, and carers. Through the use of resources and clinician practice to empower further knowledge and support related to RSE. Where is your work based? Our offices are in West Perth and the majority of counselling is done from our offices. However, we have done consultancy, educational trainings, and advocacy Australia-wide. How can other people get involved in your organisation? If you are in Perth, come along to our workshops and learn from the experts. If you are outside of Perth all our resources are available for free on our website! Is there a highlight of success from your organisation that you would like to share with us? SECCA and Sexual Health & Family Planning ACT as part of their Safer Girls Safer Women project have partnered together to design and develop two books about consent. These books were developed with people with disability.
We are so excited for people of all abilities to use these books that have Easy English and SECCAs tiles along with Plain Language to scaffold the teaching and learning of this vital topic. The PDF's are up on SECCA's website now, and print versions are on their way!! --- Ange Curry, Bloom-Ed team member |
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Click on the image above to check out SECCA website |
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ADVOCACY AND RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES |
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Petition: Training for First Responders |
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Australia lacks mandatory trauma-informed training for first responders, leaving victim-survivors vulnerable to re-traumatisation and victim blaming when seeking help. Please consider signing the petition below. |
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Australian Survey of Secondary Students and Sexual Health (SSASH) |
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SSASH is a national study exploring the sexual health and well-being of Australian adolescents. The anonymous survey asks questions about knowledge, behaviour and educational experiences related to sexual health and well-being. The Australian Department of Health has funded this survey approximately every 5 years since 1992. SSASH will be recruiting young people until March, 2025. Please do what you can to promote this survey to all young Australians aged 14-18 years! |
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True Relationships & Reproductive Health are trying to close the gap on sexuality education in Australia. What misconception did you have about sexual health that you later learned was incorrect? Please share your thoughts via the survey below. |
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Submissions are currently being sought for a Special Issue in ‘Youth’ titled Sexuality: Health, Education and Rights. Submissions close 30 September 2024. |
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Wear it Purple Day, 30 August 2024 |
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Free webinar, 10 September 2024 |
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Australasian HIV & AIDS Conference, IUSTI, and the Australasian Sexual and Reproductive Health Conference, 16-20 September 2024 |
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Sexology in Practice Symposium, 19-20 October 2024 |
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Learn practical skills in RSE delivery, 21-22 October 2024 |
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2024 Youth Health Conference, 11-13 November 2024 |
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"Not Just Another (Feminist) Conference": Gathering To Explore Courageous Feminisms, 13-15 November 2024 |
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| | Consent can't wait Most Australians agree that consent is key to healthy sexual experiences. But what does consent mean? What does it look like in action? | | |
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| | Young adult perspectives on sexuality education in Australia: Implications for sexual violence primary prevention | | |
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| | Preparation of the pre-service teacher to deliver comprehensive sexuality education: teaching content and evaluation of provision | | |
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| | Australia’s new consent campaign gets a lot right. But consent education won’t be enough to stop sexual violence. | | |
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| | Wondering how to teach your kids about consent? Here’s an age-based guide to get you started. | | |
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| | Rolling out funding to support consent and respectful relationships education in schools. | | |
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| | Consent education funding needs to go beyond five years if we want to eradicate sexual violence. | | |
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| | 1800 4 CHOICE 1800 4 CHOICE is a free helpline providing confidential support to people experiencing unintended pregnancy and advice to the health sector in Western Australia | | |
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| | Reproductive Healthcare Across the Gender Spectrum Resources This poster series is inclusive of gender diverse, intersectional identities | | |
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| | Introduction to Sexual Consent A book about sexual consent for people of all abilities. | | |
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| | The Unsaid Says A Lot Everyone deserves to be safe, supported, and equal. Help make Victoria more inclusive by supporting our trans and gender diverse communities. | | |
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| | Shine On this page you can download the toolkit and order resources to learn about syphilis, organise testing and download resources. | | |
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| | Talking to your teen about sex matters – here’s how to do it More Australian teenagers are sexually active and one in three has experienced unwanted sex. Experts say talking to your kids about teen sex is non-negotiable. | | |
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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? 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.
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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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SPREAD THE WORD. Forward this email and encourage colleagues to subscribe... |
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