COLLECTIVE ACTION FOR RELATIONSHIPS AND SEXUALITY EDUCATION (RSE)

Welcome to our first e-newsletter for the year! As Sydney celebrates Mardi Gras season, we look forward to the inclusive and diverse festivities ahead, please stay safe, look after each other and have a pride-filled month. We have been working hard on policy submissions, including consultation on the Draft Action Plan addressing gender-based violence in higher education. As usual, we have included information about the latest research, advocacy efforts, resources and events - all focused on evidence-based RSE for young Australians.

Getting involved with Mardi Gras

How to get involved through 16th February-3rd of March. Click the image above to learn more.

 

Catching up with...

Felicia from The SHQ Education Team and Bloom-Ed

 1. How and why did you get involved in relationships and sexuality education?

 

I was working as a High School English teacher and had been asked to teach Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE) to refugee and migrant students. Teaching new content to students from a variety of cultural backgrounds speaking many different languages was a challenge in the beginning. I had a lot to learn about RSE and how to teach it, but understood how vital the information was to these students, so I undertook some professional development courses through Curtin University and Sexual Health Quarters (SHQ). Teaching RSE quickly became a passion, and after several years, I moved to my current position as an Educator at SHQ. 

 

2. Can you tell us about some of the projects you are involved with and which groups you work with?

 

The SHQ Education Team works with young people from a range of different backgrounds, as well as professionals. We work with both Primary and Secondary schools (which is mostly the work I am involved with), and we deliver a whole-school-approach to RSE in which we deliver age-appropriate, tailored sessions to students in every year group, including topics such as puberty, respectful friendships, safer sex, LGBTI+ diversity, contraception, consent, respectful relationships and many other areas. We recently started a newsletter for teachers to provide them with resources and additional support to help them deliver RSE in their schools. As a former school teacher, I know how pressed for time teachers are, so I hope this can be a valuable resource! Our educators also deliver RSE sessions to students in alternative education settings, young people in the juvenile justice system, Aboriginal young people, young people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and many more. We also run professional development training for those who work with young people to help them develop the knowledge, skills and confidence to talk to young people about relationships and sexual health. 

3. Why do you think it’s important that the people you work with have access to comprehensive relationships and sexuality education?

 

All young people have a right to health, education and information. They need the knowledge, skills and confidence to have ethical and respectful relationships and to keep themselves and their partners safe and healthy, and this can only be achieved through comprehensive relationships and sexuality education. 

 

4. Do you have any success stories to share?

 

We have delivered a whole-school approach to RSE in partnership with a metro Perth school over the last few years, and recently we were able to conduct focus groups with students and staff to gain a better understanding of their perspectives of the program. Students reported that SHQ staff were knowledgeable and unbiased, normalised topics, and created a welcoming environment to discuss topics about respectful relationships and sexual health. Students also said that the topics covered were relevant to them and were covered in detail. Students' understanding and skills were also reported to have improved, including effective ways to ask for consent. It is our hope to work with many more schools using this approach! 


If people are interested to know more about the work we do, please visit

 

https://shq.org.au/education/community-education/schools/

 

 

 

What's on and getting involved

ACON is inviting everyone to host events in support of LGBTQ health and wellbeing

Official Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade, March 2nd

Online Safety (Basic Online Safety Expectations) Amendment Determination 2023, make a submission by Feb 16th and hold industry accountable for age assurance measures

In the news...

 

There are plenty of ways to celebrate Mardi Gras.

This article is your guide to the various events, the 'need to know' and 'what not to miss'.

Plan your festive season after reading this.

 
read here
 

Justice Responses to Sexual Violence.

This Inquiry forms part of the Government’s commitment to strengthen and harmonise sexual assault and consent laws, and to improve outcomes and experiences for victim-survivors in the justice system.

 
read here
 

A raunchy new ‘Big History’ tells the story of sex, but raises some unanswered questions.

David Baker’s Sex: Two Billion Years of Procreation and Recreation condenses the story of the evolution of (predominantly) reproductive sex into 300 pages. That is quite a feat.

 
read here
 

Porn on the brain: new research examines teens' perceptions of online sexual content.

Research on teens’ perspectives of sexual content online is important because most often policymakers, educators and curriculum makers decide for themselves what’s best for teens.

 
read here
 

The government has announced the scope of its sexual violence inquiry. Here’s what it gets right (and what it doesn’t)

This week, the government announced the start of its promised inquiry into justice responses to sexual violence.

 
read here
 

Newington College furore reignites debate over single-sex education, with WA schools vowing not to go co-ed

The majority of single-sex schools in WA have declared they will not follow an Eastern States trend and switch to a co-educational model, a survey by The West has revealed.

 
read here
 

Why a focus on pleasure – not desire – could be key to a thriving sex life

In her new book, Dr Emily Nagoski explores the science of keeping the spark alive in long-term relationships, Katrina explores in SMH

By Katrina Marson

 
read here
 

Come Together - The Science (and Art) of Creating Lasting Sexual Connections

In Come Together, leading sexual wellness educator, Dr Emily Nagoski, takes on one of the most misunderstood subjects of all time - sex in long-term relationships - and shows us that most of what we've been taught about enjoying sex is wrong.

 
read here

Resources

 

The Commonwealth Consent Policy Framework

 

The Government has developed a framework to support any organisation working to prevent sexual violence, to promote healthy sexual relationships and sexual consent to young people.

 
learn more
 

Beforeplay campaign

 

Most STIs do not show symptoms. You can still pass on an STI even if you don't notice symptoms, or after your symptoms resolve.  

You can visit your doctor, a sexual health clinic, or community health centres to get a test.

 
learn more
 

Yarning about Sexuality

 

This course builds the capacity of Aboriginal Health Workers to provide reproductive and sexual health information to clients and community members.

 
check it out
 

Unintended Pregnancy Counselling Training

 

This two-day Unintended Pregnancy Counselling (UIP) course provides participants with knowledge and skills around non-directive pregnancy counselling.

 
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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