Queer Screen

Queer Screen

If you havent had a look at Queer Screen - its time you did.

Queer Screen is a not for profit arts organisation whose main aim is to celebrate and promote Australian and international queer screen culture in all its diversity and richness.

To achieve this aim, Queer Screen produces an annual program of events including:
• Mardi Gras Film Festival – one of the largest LGBT film festivals and the most significant contributor to queer screen culture in Australia.• My Queer Career - the competition for Australian made queer short films, culminating in a national tour and DVD release.
• queerDOC - the world’s premier LGBT documentary festival.

Queer Screen is run for the benefit of it’s members and the wider queer community, with an objective to challenge, inspire and lead the local and international film industry in a philosophy of inclusiveness, representation and respect for diversity.

Oral Contraception - No need to get a prescription

SOUNDS GOOD TO ME!!

"Controversial pilots offering the contraceptive pill in pharmacies without prescription will be launched next year, Pulse can reveal. Women and girls aged 16 and over will be able to obtain the contraceptive pill under the two pilot schemes to be run in three London PCTs from January, after bids for funding were signed off by the Department of Health. "

Go here to read more:

Thin Kills

This is an eating disorder awareness video. The song is Shes Falling Apart by Lisa Loeb.

A video that I saw awhile ago and just remembered to put on here.

InSpot

Have a look at this website.
If you think you need to inform someone that you may have passed on an STI to them. This site lets you send an ecard. Its for people who dont have the courage or ability to do this face to face.

Because sometimes you just can’t find the words or space to tell someone something important, (like you might have an STD) ISIS Inc has taken care of some of the hard stuff. All you need to do is use responsibly and click send. InSpot.org lets you send a free, anonymous e-card to lovers past and present to let them know they need to get tested for potential STD’s. How great is that? A service that takes the stress out of dropping that uber embarrassing bomb.

What do you think? Is this a good idea? Does anyone know how many people are NOT informing others because they are too embarrased?

Early Info re teaching about abortion workshop 2009

A 2009 SHine SA Sexual HealthAwareness WeekEvent

Workforce Forum: Teaching about abortion

An interactive session about abortion as a part of sexual health education.

For youth workers, teachers, community health workers, nurses, doctors or anyone who work in the area of sexual health

· How do we teach about this much accessed service in a respectful way
· Update on medical and surgical abortion in South Australia
· Reality vs perceptions


Tuesday 17th February, 2009
5.30 – 7.30 pm (light supper)
Education development Centre
Milner Street, Hindmarsh

RSVP Sharon on 8300 5317 by Thursday Feb 12.
Places are limited so please book early.
This is a free event.

Are you gettn it?

Are You Gettin' It?

I just had another look at this site ( its been awhile). Have a look - its really good
On TeenSource.org website, you will find correct and important life-saving information on sexual health, relationships, and issues that affect you today. Find answers to your questions, hear directly from other teens in recorded interviews, watch streaming videos, take a virtual clinic tour, and even find a clinic near you. Protect yourself from sexually transmitted diseases, unintended pregnancy, and start making responsible choices today! HOWEVER VERY HETEROCENTRIC even tho there are links to other sites. All the videos seem to be about girls with guys or guys with girls.

Semen Recipes

There are many myths about changing the flavour of semen. This is a recipe book that actually uses semen as a main ingredient.

I am not sure if this will change the flavour but it definately makes for interesting reading. Just zoom in on the recipie book and turn the pages

Violence against women in Australia

Violence Against Women: Australian Facts and Figures

Compiled by Michael Flood, August 2006.

Overview: Anywhere from 40 - 57% of women will experience physical or sexual violence by a man at some point in their lives, a nationally representative survey have found. In the last year, between five and ten per cent of Australian women experienced at least one incident of physical and/or sexual violence by a man.

The DataAustralia has had three national surveys on the incidence of violence against women: a 1996 survey by the ABS, a survey by the Australian Institute of Criminology in 2004, and a third by the ABS in 2006. The results of the two most recent surveys are summarised below.
ABS national survey (2006)

In the last 12 months:
One in 20 women (5.8%), or over 440,000 women, were the victims of violence in the last year. 4.7% (363,000 women) experienced physical violence (including physical assault, attempted assault, or the threat of assault).

1.6% (126,100 women) experienced sexual violence (including sexual assault,attempted assault, or the threat of assault).

Violence during a lifetime:
Over one-third (39.9%) of Australian women report experiencing at least one incident of physical violence or sexual violence since the age of 15.
Since the age of 15, an estimated 3,065,800 women had experienced violence. 29% of all women (2,243,600 women) had experienced physical assault, and 17% (1,293,100) had experienced sexual assault.

SOURCE: A national survey of 16,500 Australian adults (18 and over).PUBLICATION: ABS (Australian Bureau of Statistics) (2006) Personal Safety Survey Australia. Canberra: Australian Bureau of Statistics (Cat. 4906.0).
AIC national survey (2004)

In the past 12 months:

10% of Australian women reported experiencing at least one incident of physical and/or sexual violence by a man. They were more likely to report physical violence (8%) than sexual violence (4%). (This could include violence by male partners or ex-partners, male friends and acquaintances, work colleagues, and strangers).
Violence during a lifetime:
Nearly two-thirds (57%) of Australian women report experiencing at least one incident of physical violence or sexual violence by a man over their lifetime. Just under half (48%) have experienced physical violence, and one-third (34%) have experienced sexual violence.
Over a third of women (34%) who have ever had a boyfriend or husband report experiencing at least one form of violence during their lifetime from an intimate male partner. About half have experienced physical violence and a third have experienced sexual violence.

SOURCE: A national survey of 6,677 women aged 18-69.PUBLICATION: Mouzos, J., and T. Makkai (2004) Women’s Experiences ofMale Violence: Findings from the Australian Component of the International Violence Against Women Survey (IVAWS). Canberra: Australian Institute of Criminology, Research and Public Policy Series, No. 56.

Gay Marriage

This is an awesome link supporting gay marriage. It is linked to facebook so it is up to you if you decide to join. When I checked it last there was just over 19000 signitures of support.

Sexual Health Rights - A Global Challenge

Ever wonder what Sexology experts/sexual health practitioners/educators talk about when they get together: Have a look at this - the World Association of Sexologists XIXth World of Sexual HealthCongress .

Here is the intoductory blurb:

"The conference theme, Sexual Health & Rights: A Global Challenge, reflects the 8 priorities of the WAS Declaration for the Millennium and echoes the urgent need for action to ensure sexual health and rights for all. The WAS Congress is held every two years, and brings together the outstanding clinicians, researchers, educators, activists and policy makers from around the globe to share knowledge on the diverse and often controversial issues of contemporary sexual health. Sweden has always played a pioneering role in promoting sexual education, health and equality. Furthermore, a grant from the Swedish Government will enable participants to attend from many developing countries where economic conditions prevent them from participating in this enriching global meeting".

New Domestic Violence stats

This just came through to me.

New research has revealed one-in-five South Australian children has watched physical domestic violence against their mother or step-mother. The findings of a national report also showed 6% of South Australian women have experienced some form of physical or sexual violence in the last 12 months, which is above the national average of 5.8%. There is now concern for children who witness these acts of violence, as living in a violent home has been linked to depression, increased aggression and poorer education.
© Media Monitors 2008

This is so timely as I am curremtly reading 'The Macho Paradox' by Jackson Katz. I will put a quote from the book here.


" For women and men involved in the batterred womens movements, especially those who deal daily with victims, convincing people - especially men- of the urgency of the situation may appear to belabour the obvious. Doesn't everyone already relise how big a problem this is? Dont they know there are survivors in thier own families?

Well not necessarily. A lot of people cannot face the ugly reality - or dont want to. It is important to remember that coming to terms with the extent of the problem can be disorienting, and profoundly disruptive. As a man, once you are aware of the degree to which women suffer from gender violence and all forms of sexism, you cannot simply go about your business and pretend everything is fine. You have to do something about it or lose your self respect. "

Another quote: " If the term 'male basher' silences women who speak out against men's violence, a similar process applies to the increasingly popular convention in media where alleged rape victims are referred to as 'accusers'. This usage accelerated during the Kobe Bryant case ( a top professional basketballer), when media commentators routinely referred to the 19 year old alleged victim as 'Kobe's accuser'. This usageusage subtly but powerfully undermined the credibility of the alleged victim, furthering the mistaken impression that it was a 'he said -she said' case.Language matters. Imagine if every time people said Bryant's name, they referred to him as ' the accused' or 'the accused rapist' Kobe Bryant. Whether it was intentional or not, the widespread practice of calling the basketball superstar's alleged victim his 'accuser' no doubt contributed to a shift in peoples perspective on what happened........Instead of focusing on the merits or deficiencies of the prosecution's case against Kobe Bryant, the use of the term accuser subtly but profoundly turned people's attention to the actions of the young woman.


The Macho Paradox is availalable for loan from the SHine Library

Miss Bimbo Game - I can hardly believe it

Go here: http://www.missbimbo.com/ to have a look at a game that is everything that is abhorrant about young women and media today. You can become queen of the bimbos ; bimbo of the month blah blah. 'Become the hottest, coolest most intelligent and talented bimbo the world has ever known!'

I found this link via the about face website top 10 gallery of offenders.

Makes me think of this poem by Jewel ( pretty) from her book 'a night without armour'

There is a pretty girl

on the

face

of the magazine

And

all I can see

are my dirty

hands

turning the page

SE&X course dates 2009

Here are the dates for the SE&X ( Sexuality,Exploration and Xpression) course for youth workers, community health workers, peer educators and others in 2009.

Course 1

March 4/5 -April 1/2 -April29/30

Course 2

September 23/24 - October 14/15 - November 4/5

OR if you live in rural/remote South Australia and cant get down to the face to face course there is an online version which starts on June 15

If you are interested in either option please contact me: Lud Allen

lud.allen@health.sa.gov.au

or go here for more information

Your Sexual Rights

Have you ever thought about sexuality in terms of your rights? I wonder what they are - or should be. In 1999 the world association of sexology adopted a bill of sexual rights in Hong Kong. Go here on Cory Silvermans blog to have a look. There are 11 of them in all and they encompass so much yet clearly from my perspective many people around the world and Australia are having thier sexual rights curtailed.

The Effects of Genital Image and Body Image on Sexual Functioning in Women - A survey

I came across this study from the University of Sydney: You might be interested in passing this on or completing it yourself.


The Effects of Genital Image and Body Image on Sexual Functioning in Women

This study will evaluate the association between genital image, body image and sexual satisfaction in women across the reproductive spectrum.
Coping with psychosexual issues for individuals and their partners can be difficult. Disappointment, isolation and poor quality of life can occur if sexual issues are not understood. Perceptions of one's physical self plays a significant role in one's sexual self-esteem. The more discomfort one has about their body the more avoidance one may experience in expressing their sexuality.

Genital image is an important component of sexual functioning that is poorly represented in the literature. Indirect evidence for the concept of genital image can be found in the media that document the recent increase in women seeking cosmetic surgery for their genitalia.

This research will investigate further, the intimacy issues for women by evaluating if genital image concerns influence comfort during sexual activity. The research aims to evaluate the type of framework or prevention intervention that is necessary to enhance quality of life for women who have genital image concerns. One way of achieving this is helping women become more knowledgeable and comfortable with their genitals.The study invites participants to complete questionnaires on-line which will take approximately 20-30 minutes to complete. Participate in the online survey now

Men as perpetrators of violence

Violence as a mens issue is often rarely said. It is most often considered a womens issue. Why is this when by far the majority of crimes against women children (and men) is perpetrated by men? ( is it because men dont have to worry about this so much - that men are supposed to act strong and violent?

In one short look at my local news I came up with these headlines:

Man found guilty in battered baby case:

Man charged with driving car at Raymond street school students

Man convicted of child porno case

Man convicted of murder

This is appalling and makes me angry. Its time all men woke up and started addressing the priviliged position that we have in society. STOP violence against women and children

IPPF Sexual Diversity Toolkit

I just had a look at this tool kit. It is a bit compicated but may be of use to you in working with your organisations. It is very interesting.

This tool kit includes an index used to assess agency readiness to work with sexually diverse populations.
Product Detail:
It also includes a guide of indicators useful for planning service provision or advocacy; and a survey to measure provider and staff attitudes and knowledge around working with sexually diverse populations.

Placement

I received this email awhile ago. I thought maybe one of your organisations in South Oz might be interested in taking advantage of this.Here it is.

Dear Lud,

My name's Nelfio and I'm a fifth year medical student at the University of Adelaide. In 2009 I will be doing a placement called INternational Primary Health Care for six weeks. The first three weeks will be based at the university and will involve lectures and seminars on issues regarding
international health,primary care, STDs, HIV, rural health, etc.

In the second three weeks we are able to undertake a placement related to an area we have covered in the first three weeks. I was wondering if you might know of a placement (that would be considered rural in S.A. eg: Gawler, Mt Barker, Barossa, etc) that might be interested in having two students in the second half of 2009. Maybe youth work? Social work? Helping at a youth organisation? Talking to some of the children about what we do? Basically we're interested
in anything relating to primary care, social health and international health. Just wanting to find out if you might know of anything that might be available.
Sorry if you're not the right person to ask about this - maybe youcould suggest a contact that might have some ideas otherwise. Thank you so much for your time and I hope you don't mind me e-mailing you
Kind regards,
Nelfio Di Marco
5th Year MBBS,
The University of Adelaide

I asked Nelfio if he would like me to post this onto the youthnetwork blog and this is his reply.

That would be fantastic!
Just my e-mail nelfio.dimarco@student.adelaide.edu.au would be great!
Just has to be a placement that is considered rural: i.e. a placement in a place with 100,000 people or less.
Thank you so much for all your time and effort. Much appreciated.
Happy for you to go ahead with that. Thanks again

So if you are interested or can support Nelfio just contact him on the above email

Youth suicide

This link is to the ABC news website. The story is telling the world what us as Youth and Social workers what we already know.
It talks about suicide amongst same sex attracted youth.

Have put the link up for you to look at. Its in the title

Hi everyone

Ok here it goes.
I have been involved in Lud's experiment of online training for Shine. Through this he has invited me to post the occasional Blog.
I thought my first Blog should be letting you all know who I am and what I do.
My name is Jeremy and I live in Whyalla South Australia ( just incase you didn't know where it was).
I am married with 2 children. 1 boy and a girl. These kids with my wife are the only reason I continue to exist or so I thought.
Two and half years ago I started working in a program called Youth Pathways. This program is aimed at school retention. As you all know school is often the last thing on a persons mind when they are caught up in this cyclone called life. My role is to mentor and support the students into some form of education.
I am qualified Youth Worker and am in the process of gaining my formal Counselling qualifications.
I love my job and it was through this that I became aware of Shine and the work that they do. When Lud said that they were doing a remote online training session I was in like a flash. It has been frustrating at times ( hasn't it Lud ), but overall I think it is successful.

So what am I going to share with you guys. Not real sure as yet. Lets just see where the mood takes us.

Hope to talk to you soon
Jeremy

Sexual Assault Part of School Life!!!!

Its about time we stop accepting any form of assault and abuse as 'normal' (This was sent to me by one of the youthnetwork blog readers)

Sexual assault 'part of school life'

A new report has found sexual assault between school students is being ignored because it is seen as part of normal high school life. The Australian Institute of Family Studies report says school children are often reluctant to report sexual assault from other students because the fear the social consequences and do not think they will be believed.
It says most children find it hard to define when they have been sexually assaulted by another student.

The institute's general manager of research, Dr Daryl Higgins, says teachers are also dismissing sexual assault between high school students too easily.

"I think for teachers it's really difficult to be able to recognise that there's a serious problem on their hands when children at their school are being subjected to, let's say, an assault from a peer at a school," he said.
"It's much easier to turn a blind eye."

The report recommends schools do more to support young people who report assault, like creating safe areas, offering more training for teachers and separating victims and perpetrators. It says while only about 15 per cent of sexual assaults are reported to police, around two-thirds of victims tell someone in their informal support network.
The report says older teenagers aged between 14 and 17 are more likely to tell someone.
It also says situations involving technology like mobile phones, digital cameras and the Internet are difficult to define as assault under the law.

In 2006, the Australian Bureau of Statistics found 14 per cent of females and 3 per cent of males aged 12 to 20 had been sexually assaulted, most of them by people they knew.

This sounds like a really good conference to attend:

Where is the child and youth focus in domestic violence?

One Day Conference

Wednesday 26th November 2008
This one day conference will explore the important and sometimes overlooked perspective of children and young people in Domestic Violence.
Two new resources will be launched - YWCA’s
‘Relationship Things’ for young people and NEDVAG’s ‘Domestic Violence Information’ booklet.
Guest Speakers:

Professor Freda Briggs - University of South Australia
Noel McLean – Acting Senior Sergeant - South Australian Police
Sharron Hollamby - Central Domestic Violence Service
Deb Clark - Women’s and Children’s Hospital
Sharlene Pope - CAMHS Northern Region
Where: City of Tea Tree Gully
Civic Centre, 571 Montacute Road
Modbury
When: 9am - 4.15pm
Cost: Employed: $20.00
Community Members: $10.00
Lunch included
RSVP: 19th November to Maggie
lestm@cttg.sa.gov.au

Sexual Health Awareness Week - 2009- Grants

Hi everyone:

Its time to put your applications in for sexual health awareness weeks grants for 2009:

We are pleased to announce that community grants of up to $500 are available to community groups and agencies for activities that promote awareness of sexual health issues during Sexual Health Awareness Week 2009 (14-21 February).

What is Sexual Health Awareness Week?

Sexual Health Awareness Week (SHAW) is targeted at young adults between 18 and 30 years. It aims to increase awareness of sexual health issues and encourage South Australian communities to start talking openly about relationships and sexuality.

What is the Community Grants Program?
SHine SA recognises that communities need the flexibility to develop their own sexual health promotion strategies and activities that meet the needs of their community, taking into consideration the differing social, cultural and value sensitivities.
And that's what the Community Grants Program is all about. It's been developed to encourage individuals, groups and communities to take greater responsibility for their sexual health.
Focus of Sexual Health Awareness Week 09.

The 2009 campaign will focus on accessing knowledge to encourage young adults to think about keeping themselves healthy in the context of their personal relationships. The key message, Safety, Pleasure, Respect - Now I get it!, emphasises the importance of individuals having the knowledge to make their own decisions in relation to their sexual health, wellbeing and the positive expression of their sexuality.

Go here to get your application form!

Silly Interpretation

It is "unfortunate" that a recent study that found an association between teen pregnancy and viewing of sexual content on TV did not "factor in the impact of various approaches to sex education," Salon columnist Tracy Clark-Flory writes in an opinion piece.
Havea look at this article from 'medical news today here or here http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/128372.php

Posting Apology

I apologise to the regular readers of this blog for the lack of postings in the past month. There has been a terrible tragedy within the family of one of our authors and this has over ridden any other activities.

Frequently Asked Questions

Hi,
I was doing a bit of web research and was reading some of the frequently asked questions on the sexuality and u website. It's a very comprehensive list which i think health workers may find useful.

"If you've got questions about sex or sexual health (and who doesn't?) then we've got answers. sexualityandu.ca has one of the Internet's largest collections of frequently asked questions about sex, contraception, and sexual health.
Does the pill really make you fat? Do you need your parent's permission to go on the Pill? What if my sex drive doesn't match my partner's?"

http://sexualityandu.ca/faqs/index_e.aspx

The NT Intervention

I will certainly be watching this documentary on the NT intervention with interest:

It’s about the lives of community members and workers in Beswick, Barunga, Eva Valley and Binjari and their experience of the Emergency Intervention.

It asks the questions:

What new evidence of sexual abuse has been uncovered?

How is life better for children and thier parents in these remore communites?

What did the intervention deliver?

INTERVENTION, Katherine NT

ABC October 30 9.30pm

Gay friendly school

I was reading in todays advertiser about a 'delay' in the Chigago public school system to vote on proposed gay friendly high school that would weave gay and lesbian heroes into its curriculum.

While I think it is a great idea to include GLBTIQ heroes into school curriculae - it is ridiculus that we need a 'vote' for this. Shouldn't all our heroes be included in school curriculum? I'll follow this process with interest.

This process in Chicago is being undertaken at the 'Social Justice High School' If only ALL schools were centres of social justice!!!

Reclaim the Night

Here is a brief modified copy of this years reclaim the night pdf poster that was sent to me.

LET’S ALL BE SAFE AS HOUSES

CALLING all mothers, daughters, sisters and aunties -
join us in acknowledging 30 YEARS OF ACTION IN RECLAIMING SAFETY for women in their home and community. Don’t miss the PARTY! Come and
celebrate with a fun night of dj’s, music, food and drink.
MORE INFO: Women’s Electoral Lobby [WEL]
call Jo 0423 783 252 / Marg 0406 488 730
or email welinc.sa@gmail.com

7pm til 11.30pm -Friday Oct 31st 2008

Yungondi Courtyard - Lion Arts Centre Cnr North Tce and Morphett St

AND for all the men out there: Support your sisters,mothers,daughters and friends to RECLAIM the NIGHT. Almost ALL violence against women -in ALL parts of the world-is perpetrated by men.

Online HIV/AIDS course

This is a great basic online course for gaining knowl;edge re HIV/AIDS. It is easy to use and work through. It does require a reasonably high level of literacy but I really liked doing this. I got it from the youth infonet newsletter that regularly sends out recently developed program resources. Please have a look.

This on-line course is primarily designed for those who educate young people in formal and informal settings. Learners will gain an in-depth understanding of the scientific, social, behavioral, and health-related aspects of HIV and AIDS. By the end of the course, learners should understand the links between the factors that drive the pandemic and those that affect people living with HIV and AIDS.
Organization: UNESCO

If you have completed the SHineSA SE&X course

If you have completed the SHineSA Sexuality Expression and Xploration course ( SE&X course) Could you please take the time to fill in a survey regarding how you feel about this course.

The survey is in THE context of the letter below that has gone out to our stakeholders:



" Hello,

Can we ask for your help in providing some feedback about SHine SA via a short questionnaire accessed through the following link?

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=yXRot86z8nBk9ag72JLP_2bw_3d_3d

SHine SA is committed to continually improving its service and achieving the highest standard of sexual health care for its communities.

Every three years, the organisation is involved in an accreditation review to assess the quality of its services.

Part of this review process is to invite a group of consumers of our service to give feedback to the review team about their impressions and experiences of SHine SA as an organisation.

We would like to invite you to participate as a valued consumer.
Please answer as much of the survey as you wish.
Thank you for completing this survey- it will assist in Shine’s Quality Assurance Review.


If you would like any further information about the review, please contact Rebecca Tubman tel. 08 83005339 or e-mail rebecca.tubman@health.sa.gov.au "


Yours sincerely
Kaisu Värttö
Chief Executive Officer
SHine SA

Strategies for Communicating Contraceptive Effectiveness

This latest information regarding BEST strategies for communicating contraceptive effectiveness comes from the Family Health International news briefs.

A new Cochrane review, conducted with partial support from USAID, may help family planning providers better explain contraceptive effectiveness to their clients.
The authors from Family Health International reviewed five well-designed clinical trials comparing different strategies for communicating contraceptive effectiveness, including a slide-and-sound presentation versus a physician's oral presentation; a table describing the relative effectiveness of different methods versus a table expressing absolute effectiveness in terms of pregnancy rates; and an enhanced counseling program versus a standard one.
The audiovisual presentation improved women’s understanding of contraceptive effectiveness more than the oral presentation, and the table showing relative effectiveness had a stronger impact than the table showing absolute effectiveness. Women who participated in the enhanced counseling program were more likely than the women in the standard program to choose sterilization or a modern contraceptive method. The remaining two trials did not evaluate women’s understanding of contraceptive effectiveness.
More research would need to be done to test these strategies in clinical settings and determine how they affect contraceptive choice. Only then can more formal strategies be designed for communicating information about contraceptive effectiveness and risks.
To read more about this topic, see:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD006964.pub2.

Source
Lopez LM, Steiner MJ, Grimes DA, Schulz KF. Strategies for communicating contraceptive effectiveness. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2008;16(2):CD006964.

Healthy Youth Project

For those of you living and working in South Australia - This is for you!!


I received this email the other day from Megan. I told her I am not comfortable sending her my distribution lists but would post this on the blog: The following is her email to me. It sounds like a good idea.

"Hi there,

We are hoping you will be able to assist us to access your distribution lists in order to send out a mapping tool across the regions to services providing support to young people. Accessing these lists are to assist us in achieving two purposes:
1. To invite service providers to complete a mapping exercise, and
2. To invite service providers to a capacity building Forum to be held in November

We are seeking the email and contact details for services which provide support to young people, including services who do not necessarily identify as specific youth services (eg, Anglicare etc who provide youth programs). We would like to access contact details for these services so that we are able to compile a comprehensive statewide list of all relevant agencies and services so that they may be involved in the mapping exercise and service provider forums.

The mapping and forums are being undertaken as part of the Healthy Youth Project within the Australian Better Health Initiative (ABHI). The Healthy Youth Project aims to improve the lifestyles of young people through addressing the lifestyle and risk factors that can contribute to the onset of chronic conditions in later life. The BSNAPD (Body image, Smoking, Nutrition, Alcohol use, Physical inactivity and Drug use) risk factors have been identified as the most relevant when working with young people. This has informed the development of the BSNAPD initiative which is a collaborative partnership across the Youth Health Regions - The Second Story (CYWHS), Shopfront (CNAHS) and Southern Primary Health/Marion Youth (SAHS). The mapping tool aims to gain a comprehensive understanding of established services which address the BSNAPD risk factors.


If you are able to assist, could you please send contact details and distribution lists by Friday 3rd October 2008. If you are unable to meet this deadline, but are able to help, please contact me on the details below.

Thanks kindly,
Megan"


Megan Birchmore
Social Work Student
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday


Megan.Birchmore@cywhs.sa.gov.au
Australian Better Health Initiative (ABHI) The Second Story - North
6 Gillingham Road Elizabeth SA 5112 p: 8255 3477

Australian Centre for the Study of Sexual Assault

Have a look at this site: In their latest newsletter you will find information on...

Dr Jan Jordans' recently published book Serial Survivors: Women's Narratives of Surviving Rape, based on her interviews with 14 women who were all assaulted by convicted New Zealand serial rapist, Malcolm Rewa.

The SADA project (Sexual Assault in Disability and Aged care Action Strategy). Project and how it has gone about improving responses to and prevention of sexual assault in those institutions responsible for the care of some of the most vulnerable members of the community.

There is a review of Joanna Bourke's Rape: A History From 1860 to the Present, as well as brief summaries and reviews of a number of recent research publications and conferences of relevance to the sexual assault sector. As always, AIFS Librarian Joan Kelleher has compiled a comprehensive bibliography of recent publications related to sexual assault and violence against women.

Also - have a look at this sad but strong post on the 'pictures worth a thousand words' website. Here is what the site is about.
"A Picture's Worth" was launched on 1 August 2003 as a personal project to highlight the emotions and memories triggered by a photograph of personal significance. By inspiring people to bring out the meaning or story behind a personal photograph, "A Picture's Worth" provides a haven for people to truly "show and tell".

Libido

This is a question from Sexual health.com that you might find interesting.

I would like to know if there is an herb or medicine I could take to reduce my libido. I've been married for 17 years, and my wife is unable to have sex. My libido causes me to have nearly constant sexual thoughts most days, which is distractive and interferes with my productivity. Go here to read the answer.

Finding the Sweet Spot

Have a look at this: I got this from Dave Pollards blog 'How to Save the World'

Project 10 to the 100th: Google is offering $10 million for the top ideas that help people help other people, in these categories:

Community: How can we help connect people, build communities and protect unique cultures?
Opportunity: How can we help people better provide for themselves and their families?
Energy: How can we help move the world toward safe, clean, inexpensive energy?
Environment: How can we help promote a cleaner and more sustainable global ecosystem?
Health: How can we help individuals lead longer, healthier lives?
Education: How can we help more people get more access to better education?
Shelter: How can we help ensure that everyone has a safe place to live?
Everything else: Sometimes the best ideas don't fit into any category at all.

You have until October 20th to enter. What's most interesting is that their evaluation criteria are very similar to the criteria that make for a good Natural Enterprise:

Reach: How many people would this idea affect?
Depth: How deeply are people impacted? How urgent is the need?
Attainability: Can this idea be implemented within a year or two?
Efficiency: How simple and cost-effective is your idea?
Longevity: How long will the idea's impact last?
So whether you win or not, if you believe in your idea, get a copy of Finding the Sweet Spot and realize your idea!

Sound like Primary Health care to me!!!!!!!!!!!

Alcohol+Sexual Health

Have a look at this Newsletter from the Alcohol Education Rehabilitation Foundation.

It has such topics in there as:

1. Alcohol and Pregnancy
2. Party Safe 2008
3. First Tase: How Indigenous Australians Learned about Grog
4. Recent Radio and TV Programs: On the Piss and Playing Up.

This is a pretty good and informative newsletter with direct links to the subject it talks about. Really good.

Reader request - Can you help?

Last week one of our blog readers sent me an email asking abouyt a particular program: I havent seen or heard of it. Maybe some of you can help. Here is the email I was sent.

"CHOICES, DECISIONS, OUTCOMES (CDO) Program
I’d like to know if anyone has any experience with this program which is run in secondary schools. I’m curious as to whether there is an underlying ‘anti abortion’ focus and whether the relationships part is inclusive of the diversity of relationships - heterosexual, homosexual etc. The website is http://www.cdo.net.au/site.htm. What are other worker’s experience and knowledge? "

Very interesting roundup of USA blogs

This is quite a facinating roundup of entries in a range of sexual health blogs in the united states leading up to the USA presidential election. Things like the republican runner for vice president 'Palin' not supporting public funding of rape kits because they contain emergency contraception.

Could this happen in Australia? Of course it could.

Go here to read about the range of issues

Physician advocacy essential for Canada's First Nations

Sometimes its good to take a wider look at what is happening all around the world. In this blog we often mention projects that are happening through family health international in developing countries. Rarely have we taken a look at what is happening in Canada even though it often is similar to Australia: Have a read of the teaser below and then go to the link.

"The Government of Canada recently apologized to our First Nations' people for its residential school policy, which effectively suppressed the linguistic, cultural and spiritual practices of their pupils, with the ultimate aim of assimilation. Federal underfunding coupled with harsh discipline, exacerbated by the presence of abusive staff in some schools, also served to demoralize students and compromise their resistance to disease. " Go here for more

CCC Chlamydia

Hi Everyone,

Sorry it has been a while since my last post, i've been quite busy in clinics at the moment.

Just wanted to let you know about a new project that will be beginning soon called the 7 C's of chlamydia;
THE 7 C’S OF CHLAMYDIA: A SIMPLE MEMORY TOOL FOR SCREENING AND MANAGEMENT OF CHLAMYDIA INFECTION.
A partnership between Sydney Sexual Health Centre, NSW STI Programs Unit and Australian Practice Nurses Association was successful in gaining a Nursing & Midwifery Innovation scholarship for the project to develop a simple memory tool for health professionals designed to assist in recall of the steps involved for screening and management of genital Chlamydia infection.

Chlamydia is the most commonly notified sexually transmitted infection in Australia and is most prevalent in people under 25 years of age. The infection is often asymptomatic and the sequelae of untreated infection can include pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), chronic pelvic or testicular pain, ectopic pregnancy and infertility.

The project aim is to develop, disseminate and evaluate a simple memory tool for health professionals designed to assist in recall of the steps involved for screening and management of genital Chlamydia infection.

Key message: It is easy to screen for and treat Chlamydia infection.

The project, due for completion in June 2009, will comprise engaging interactive online learning activities and be aimed at practice nurses, youth health nurses, women’s health, midwives, community health care workers and nurses new to the speciality of sexual health.

I look forward to seeing the finished product and hopefully being able to use it in my clinical setting for teaching and training.

Kellie

CHLAMYDIA

Just watched a great new dvd on Chlamydia produced by the Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society, La Trobe University.

The dvd was funny with youth actors, real conversations and short and to the point. Seeing as how Chlymida is SUCH a comm9on STI this is great timing. Go get one ( DVD NOT STI)

This is what the blub about it says.
" Chlamydia - the secret is out- is a new teaching resource to inform young people aged 16 - 20 about Chlamydia testing and to demystify the process of going to a health service to have the test carried out."

5000 copies of 'Chlamydia the secret is out' dvd and workbook are available free to secondary schools and VET settings via department of education in each state ajnd territory. For more information contact:
Jenny Walsh
Australian Research Centre in Sex,Health and Society
jennifer.walsh@latrobe.edu.au or 3 92855382

Scenario

In the SE&X course that I teach we often have online forum questions that we ask people to respond to: One such question goes like this.

One of your clients comes to see you, really excited as she now has somewhere to live. She has been without a place for several months. The house is owned by a young man who is living with 2 other young men. One of the conditions for her to move in is that she has sex with each of the men once a week. The young woman says she is fine with this.
What are you thinking?
What are you feeling?
What will you do?

Below is one of the responses from a person that is doing the course: I think this response is great and wanted to share it with you.

"What am I thinking?I would be concerned for her physical and psychological safety. I would be wondering if she has an abuse history. At the same time, being transient for a lengthy time is also risky and 'sex for favours' may not be overtly stated as an 'agreement' but may be the unspoken reality for young people-young women and men. "Survival creates strange bedfellows." I would be surprised if the young woman hadn't either been involved with this or been exposed to this, as she's 'fine with this'. I'd suspect that she's not completely fine with it but that its better than the alternatives. I would go through the various accomm options but realistically they are limited especially for those over 18. Under 18 the options are better but still restricted and there are waiting times. I would not be thinking of referring this young person for counselling for exploration of issues at this time. I would be mainly concerned about her immediate and longer term safety so I would be considering safe sex, (access to contraception & condoms), linking her with a youth health service, linking her with support. I think that I would be trying to work out a safety plan with the young person in the event that the situation becomes 'dangerous' (at least from her perspective) e.g making sure the y/p has emergency no.s for crisis support. I would want to try and remain in a support role for the y/p and would suggest counselling at a later stage. I find suggesting counselling too soon in the picture can result in it being rejected outright. While later its more likely to be considered. I think this is because in the early stage y/p sense they're being judged. "Counselling is for sick people I just need a place to live. I'm only doing this so I have a place. If you realised just how tough it is to survive you'd know why this is an ok option for me, its better than the streets. This isn't about me its about my situation." I would be respecting of the Y/p choices but would point out that the young men are using their power as 'home ful' to extort from the 'homeless'. I would try to link the y/p into services and would discuss mandatory notification requirements if the y/p was under age.What am I feeling?I'd be feeling sad and angry about the lack of accomm options available. Frustrated that I couldn't do more. I would be feeling extremely irate if the y/p was under age as the likelihood of FSA intervening is small due to resource issues and that is so wrong! Aust is signatory to the United Nations Rights Of the Child and yet so often young people are neglected and abandoned by the very services designed to assist them. I would be feeling good that the y/p person felt that she could talk to me as she hasn't got much support. I would be hoping that the young person felt that she could trust me to talk to again. It is always better to feel that only one person cares than to feel no-one does."

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

How about you - what would you do???????

New site - safer sex

Check it out. It's a similar layout to Somazone. I've signed up for free weekly TEXT messages on safer sex.

Safer Sex is based on the Somazone website (http://www.somazone.com.au/) and offers young people:

- Information about contraception, sexually transmitted infections and sexual health.
- An anonymous and professional Q&A service that provides clear, unbiased, non-judgemental answers to any questions they may have about sexual health. The answers are provided by a panel of health professionals.
- A safe space to share their stories and experiences.
- A searchable database of Australian youth-friendly health services and organistations.
- The ability to sign-up for free sexual health SMSs.

I wonder what young people think of sites such as these - has anyone eva received feedback on them??? I know I find them helpful.

Chris.

Help with a question

Hi everyone.

I have been working with a group over the last few weeks and each week we do question time - kids write a question for the box which we answer the following week. I wouldn't mind some help with this one;
Is it OK for year 7's to watch porn?

I still haven't read the Porn Report yet Lud but I will have to get it, it seems like a really balanced report on an inportant topic compared to a lot of the emotional conversation flying around. I have had a look at the report's website to seek some views on findings concerning minors watching porn but the info here is limited.

I am grateful that I have the opportunity to discuss this topic and here are some of my thoughts;
Obviously there is the law perspective - being 18 or over to view explicit materials.
It's highly likely that kids under 18 will view porn so I don't want to close the conversation by saying NO.
I would like students to feel OK about talking in the classroom forum (or in other ways) about porn which they may have found to be disturbing to them.
I would like to recognise that porn that is viewed which portrays violence, non-consensual sex, sex with children, "unhappy scenes", sex with animals etc is not OK - that sex is something we do with people - not TO people.

It's been quite clear to me that some in the the class have already viewed porn so I think the question warrants a rigorous response.

How do I make my reponse age appropriate?? Can it be age appropriate? They are 12!

I would love to receive some feedback, have others discussed the topic of porn with groups???

Make Poverty History

Poverty contributes to so much inequality in our world. Inequality contributes so much to low sexual health outcomes. Maybe joining in this can make a difference: Check it out here: See if the make poverty history tool kit actually works.

Its time

I attended this forum last week ( see the program below): What struck me afterwards was that its time that more men became advocates and activists in the process of stoping violence. Vested interest or not violence is not a response that should be acceptable to anyone.

This first abstract from Alan Jenkins is the content that really got me thinking:

'Alan Jenkins
Alan has worked in a range of multi-undisciplinary teams addressing violence and abusive behaviour for 25 years. Rather than tire from this work, he has become increasingly intrigued with possibilities for the discovery of ethical and respectful ways of relating. The valuing of ethics, fairness and the importance of protest against injustice has led him to stray considerably from the path prescribed in his early training as a psychologist, towards a political analysis of abuse. He is currently a director of Nada, an independent service that provides intervention in family abuse, violence and workplace harassment. He manages the Mary St. Program for young people who have sexually assaulted, along with their caregivers and members of their communities.
Title: The ethics of intervention with men : a parallel journey for workers
Intervention practice aims towards the cessation of abusive behaviour, restitution to those harmed and reclamation of a sense of integrity with a capacity for engagement in respectful ways of relating. This work invites men into the territory of ethics and requires a parallel ethical journey for intervention workers. How might we engage with the politics of our practices and the dilemmas this brings forward? How might we promote ethical self-critique when we work with men? Can we engage with shame without shaming men who have abused?

IT’S TIME: Creating a future free from violence - men’s responsibilities

Program
Bob Pease - Working with men as partners in violence prevention
Brighton Secondary School Boys Choir
Alan Jenkins - The ethics of intervention with men: a parallel journey for workers
Brooke Friedman & Bo Rankine - Tough Guise (with respect to Jackson Katz)

Concurrent Workshops

Tony Fletcher - "Men" and the issue of "change" – philosophically, theoretically and practically
David Tully & Sharon Lockwood – Community education around sexual violence: what’s gender got to do with it?
Major Sumner - Aboriginal culture & western society: things that work and things that don’t work
John Hartley - The fires of our ancestors are burning

Concurrent Workshops

Kathryn Stone & Anne-Marie Martin - Measuring success & change: sexual and other violent offending
Marg Rowntree - Resurrecting (sexual) violence prevention: a public health approach
Damien McInerney and Jacqueline Riviere - Factors implicated in the experience of domestic violence in Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) communities

Panel Discussion – Sharon Lockwood
Bob Pease, David Tully, Alan Jenkins, Tony Fletcher
Pulling it all together

ETHICS

Hello everyone: Its been a long time since I posted and I apologise:

However I have been doing some things that I would like to blog about.

I attended the 'Its Time: Creating a future free from violence - men's responsibilities' forum last Friday the 22nd August. One thing that really struck me was a key note speaker who spoke about the Ethics in delivering services - not in terms of 'what are my ethics?' but in terms of 'what are the ethics of this person that they are showing them to society in this particular way?' For instance: Is a man being violent because he has an ethic of 'an eye for an eye' or because he has an ethic that 'power shouldn't be taken from people therefore I will take it back".


I might not be very clear to you about this but what it gave me was a way to find 'goodness' to work on with people BEFORE I decide on thier fate. Maybe we DO have similar ethics but dont display them in the same way. Maybe discovering a persons ethics (not thier behaviour) is a way to start sometimes.


What got me started on ETHICS was some research into ETHICS for a lecture that I had to deliver: The main thing that I found out for myself was: ( and this can be described by some formal terminology -go here at the Galilean Library - it is a really easy to read intro to ethics)

The main thing I have been rethinking though is this:
Metaethics: where do my ethical notions come from and what they mean? What do I think is good?
Normative ethics: What principles tell me my moral behaviour —and what does not.
Applied ethics: How do I apply these in a dilemma of moral dimension.

Believe it or not these simple questions along with attending the forum have got me rethinking many things.

If you want to hear a cool podcast on 'Is killing wrong" ( go here - to the BBC Open U ethics bites podcast.

Also if you want to be part of discussing ethical dilemmas in youth work go here to the Youth Action and Policy NSW website - youth work ethics blog. IT IS GREAT

Encouraging

This information from the The Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality is very encouraging and positive. I wonder what they are doing that we aren't!!!!!

Trends in sexual health and risk behaviours among adolescent students in British Columbia
Elizabeth M Saewyc, Darlene Taylor, Yuko Homma, Gina Ogilvie. . East York: 2008. Vol. 17, Iss. 1/2; pg. 1, 13 pgs

Abstract (Summary)
Regular monitoring of trends in sexual health and sexual behaviours among adolescents provides strong evidence to guide intervention programs and health policies. Using the province-wide, school-based British Columbia (BC) Adolescent Health Surveys of 1992, 1998, and 2003, this study documented the trends in sexual health and risk behaviours among adolescents in grades 7 to 12 in BC, and explored the associations between sexual behaviours and key risk and protective factors. From 1992 to 2003, the percentage of youth who had ever had sexual intercourse decreased for both males (33.9% to 23.3%) and females (28.6% to 24.3%) and the percentage who used a condom at last intercourse increased for both males (64.4% to 74.9%) and females (52.9% to 64.2%). Among students who had ever had sexual intercourse, the percentage who had first intercourse before age 14 decreased for both sexes. These encouraging results may be related in part to concurrent decreases in the prevalence of sexual abuse or forced intercourse among both male and female adolescents. Protective factors such as feeling connected to family or school were also associated with lower odds of having engaged in risky sexual behaviours. These findings emphasize the importance of including questions about adolescent sexual health behaviours, risk exposures, and protective factors on national and provincial youth health surveys, to monitor trends, inform sexual health promotion strategies and policies, and to document the effectiveness of population-level interventions to foster sexual health among Canadian adolescents.

HIV awareness video - Its the buzz

Another great video that has been around for a few years. But we need more HIV awareness again:

Children See Children Do

This video called 'children see children do ' is fantastic. Go here to see more on National Child Protection Week

Peer Skills Training

Hey - does anyone remember this great course which used to operate across the country? It used to be under the banner of Boystown and Kids Help Line.
It still exists, in QLD(with Lifeline), WA and some other small pockets in the eastern states.

It's a fantastic program - I did the facilitators training many years ago and have seen it in action - very powerful - very useful. Brilliant for exploring relationships.

Here is a quick blurb on it, more can be found here;

The Peer Skills Workshop is a two day interactive learning experience designed to acknowledge and build on the natural listening, helping and problem solving skills of young people. The workshop helps young people develop their relationship skills and increases their confidence in safely assisting a friend or peer who is experiencing a problem.

The Peer Skills Program uses a problem prevention, youth development and community development framework to support its peer work with young people. The Peer Skills Workshop and Peer Skills Facilitator Training Program use an experiential style of learning, underpinned by the principles of empowerment and child centred practice.

I rang the coordinator yesterday and she is keen to get it into SA - many possibilities here but she was also wondering if there would be an agency or organisation that may be interested in being the overseeing body of the program in SA. Any thoughts? I will ring another lady in SA who is working with QLD to get it re-established and let you know what her thoughts are.

Chris.

Numbers of STIs on rapid rise in UK

These figures are quite alarmimg: After all the work that is being done to prevent STIs they are STILL on the rise. I wonder why this is? Could it be that we keep trying the same things over and over again? Even when they don't work! I wonder what MIGHT work?

'People ages 18 to 24 account for only one-eighth of the total population, but the group accounts for about 50% of all newly diagnosed STI cases in the U.K. In 2007, people ages 18 to 24 accounted for 65% of new chlamydia cases, 55% of new genital warts cases and 50% of new gonorrhea cases (Castle, Reuters, 7/15). Borriello said, "It's increasingly the case that among young people, a casual shag is part of the territory, it's part of life." He added, "Increasingly a shag now stands for syphilis, herpes, anal warts and gonorrhea." '(Peter Borriello, director of HPA's Centre for Infections.) from http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/115442.php

Frank Team

This looks like a great website - FRANK TEAM. It's kinda for young female entrepreneurs - social and the like - young women with ideas. Here's a blurb from the home page, have a look around;

Ever wondered where all the good people have gone? In our rollercoaster world, it's hard to know what's genuine. When it comes to life satisfaction there's stacks of things to distract us from what's real - celebrity magazines, dodgy politics, 'reality' TV...

So we got to thinking, if we're a company made up of enterprising people who value the real over the fake, people over profit, where can we make the biggest difference?

They have a free online magazine called Frank Mag, the most recent issue has a story in it on an event YWCA staged in Adelaide on International No Diet Day - there you go, i didn't know such a day existed.

Determined to take the focus off food, the YWCA wanted to mark the day with a message of positive body image. So they set up a stall in the city's central Mall, armed with two Polaroid cameras, black textas, and a blank canvas. The idea was to ask people to have their photo taken and write on the photo what they love about themselves.

Just as excited about the concept as we were, one woman noticed us, stopped, and was delighted by the idea. She smiled as her photo was taken and simply wrote 'Breasts' on her image. She spoke lovingly of how they had fed her children, and that they were without question what she loves most about her body.

IDAHO

Here is a copy of an email that I received re -planning for International Day Against Homophobia 2009. If you are in Adelaide and want to be part of this please go along. It is really fun.


"Hello

August 5th @12 midday Darling House has been named the first planning meeting for Idaho 2009. The goal Fondation Émergence has proposed for the International Day Against Homophobia on May 17, 2009, is to combat homophobia within cultural communities, to raise awareness among the newly arrived and to support gays and lesbians from these communities. With this in mind it is important to put your thinking cap on and look for representative of differing cultures to be part of the IDAHO 2009 planning committee. This meeting will be used as a think tank session and it would be greatly appreciated if you could RSVP to this meeting to hugh.beil@gmhealth.org.au if this has been forwarded on to you.

I also hope that someone will know the best contact at Nunkuwarrin Yunti that this could be forwarded to

I look forward to hearing from you "

Cheers

Hugh Beil
Community Development Officer
Gay Men’s Health

Parents Talk with Adolescent Kids about SEX

This program looks really cool and I am excited about it. Here are some extracts: I found out about it in medical news today ( which you can see on the side bar)

Talking Parents, Healthy Teens is a workplace program that is designed to increase the comfort and skill level of parents who wish to talk to their adolescents about sexual health. The study sample consisted of 569 parents of adolescents (aged 11-16 years) who were randomly assigned to attend the Talking Parents, Health Teens program or to receive no intervention. Participants assigned to the program were in one of 13 workplaces in California and received 8 weekly one-hour sessions. "We'd teach them some skills one week, and they'd come back the next week bubbling over with excitement that they'd talked with their teen about relationships, love, or sex…their teen had actually engaged in a real conversation with them, or role-played a topic like how to say no to unwanted sexual advances." The researchers found that the intervention was quite successful, with immediate significant and lasting effects on parent and adolescent communication. The surveys indicated that parents who attended the program were more likely to engage in discussions of new sexual topics and to continue conversations that had been previously started and they were more open to communication about sex.

Go here to read more.

What would you say if your undies had the last word

Go here to have a look at some fantastic entries in the Internet Sexuality Information Services "What would your undies say if they had the last word" competetion. Some of these are fantastic! What a great idea.

http://www.undiecontest.com/gallery.php

text /internet/sexual health service

Interesting recording (podcast) of a discussion re reaching young people with information about sexual health and relationships education in a way that suits them.

"Educators say that in-class lessons about sex ed are no longer enough to get their message out. They're turning to podcasts, video games and social networking sites to teach kids about sex. Alex Cohen speaks with Deb Levine, executive director of Internet Sexuality Information Services (ISIS) in Oakland."

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=91841220

Quote

I just wanted to add this quote that I just read from Neale Donald Walsh from his book 'Conversations with God - an uncommon dialogue' It struck me as a quote about the type of person I would like to be towards the young people that I work with.

" ..It is clear to me that all of us could produce a list of people who have touched our lives in ways so meaningful and so profoundly as to defy catorigisation or description; people who have shared with us thier wisdom, told us thier truth, suffered us our faults and our foibles in thier infinate patience, and who have seen us through all of it; seeing the best in us, as well as thier refusal to accept parts of us they new we really didn't choose, caused us to grow; to get bigger somehow.