Bodies, relationships, puberty, and sexual health are important parts of growing up and overall wellbeing. Parents, carers, families, and communities have a key role in supporting children and young people to build the knowledge, confidence, and skills needed to stay safe, healthy, and connected. Yarning Quiet Ways (YQW) is an Aboriginal-specific resource developed through a partnership between the NSW STI Programs Unit (STIPU) and Family Planning Australia, with the cultural guidance of the Aboriginal Sexual Health Programs Advisory Group (ASHPAG). Grounded in culture, the resource supports parents, carers, families, and communities to have strong, safe, and culturally relevant conversations with children and young people about bodies, relationships, puberty, and sexual health. It provides practical guidance and age-appropriate information to help make these important conversations easier, more accessible, and culturally safe. Download Yarning Quiet Ways
In NSW, the age of consent for sexual activity is 16 years. However, young people often express their sexuality earlier through behaviour with their peers as part of their normal sexual development. The challenge for the law and those working with young people is to ensure young people are protected from sexual exploitation but not disempowered or criminalised for normal sexual exploration. Distinguishing the behaviours that require a child protection or legal response, and those which represent healthy sexual development can be difficult. Resources that can help include: child protection policies and procedures, mandatory reporting guidelines, and guides to understand, identify and respond to sexual behaviours in children and young people. For more information on consent and the law, and sexual behaviours in children and young people, see the references here. Download Consent and the law factsheet
