Page 1669 - Week 05 - Wednesday, 15 May 2019
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The YAC has also been focused on inclusive sexual wellbeing and respectful relationships. Indeed, all of its work is conscious of diversity, including diversity in gender and sexual orientation. Members would be aware that this Friday is the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersexism and Transphobia, better known as IDAHOBIT. The YAC has been working to endorse and promote IDAHOBIT as part of its broader focus to address the unique experiences of young people in non-traditional relationships.
The YAC is working to increase the inclusiveness of information available to young people and ensure that sexual health information reflects the diverse relationships and cultural needs of all young people.
The YAC has also undertaken to engage with the Women’s Centre for Health Matters in order to promote information and advice on how to safely access abortion services. These initiatives represent the frank, up-front and enthusiastic approach so many young people take in promoting a sexually healthy lifestyle.
At our most recent meeting the YAC co-chairs outlined some of their priorities and their new work plan for 2019-20, which continues their focus on sexual health and wellbeing. Over the next year the YAC will be working to engage with ACT schools about the sexual health education they provide as well as continuing to work to promote healthy relationships practices among young people and consistent understanding of consent.
I look forward to seeing this work progress over the coming months. Our conversations about young people and sexual health are too often focused on anxiety and fear. The work of YAC in this space is a perfect reminder of the positive role that young people can play in our discussion about health and about sex. Young people want to be responsible in their approach to sexual health. Young people want to stay safe. And as with all things, young people are unrelentingly enthusiastic about standing up for what they think is the right approach for them and their peers.
I support any efforts that seek to improve the effectiveness of sexual health services in our community. In the spirit of transparency and openness, I can also say that these are services I have accessed and found, as Ms Cheyne as said, to be incredibly professional and supportive. I support Ms Cheyne’s motion wholeheartedly.
MR RATTENBURY (Kurrajong) (10.28): I am pleased to speak on the importance of community education and awareness of sexual health issues and the provision of sexual health services. This may not be the most comfortable topic in the world, but it is crucially important, especially when so many sexually transmitted infections—STIs and bloodborne viruses, BBVs—can be prevented by following safe sexual practices.
Despite progress in some areas, we know that sexual health, particularly combatting STIs, remains a public health challenge in Australia, and the data from the ACT seems to be largely consistent with this. According to the fourth national sexually transmissible infection strategy released last year the prevalence of some
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