Integrating sexual health promotion within your organisation

Did you know that young people in Australia face higher risks of sexually transmissible infections (STIs) yet are less likely to undergo screening compared to the general population? This is just one reason that shows the need for professionals working with young people across NSW to embed sexual health promotion within their organisations.
As professionals dedicated to supporting young people, you hold an important role in promoting healthy sexual practices, such as condom use and regular STI testing.

But what does this health promotion look like in real life? Alongside the right policies and procedures, sexual health promotion is about enabling people to make the most informed decisions for their health and take control (over the things they can) to achieve good health outcomes. This includes fostering a culture where discussions about sexual health are welcomed, where resources and accurate information are readily accessible, and where staff are empowered and equipped to address sexual health topics and support young people to achieve the best health outcomes possible.

1. Provide access to staff training

One of the most important elements of successfully embedding sexual health promotion into an organisation, is staff education and upskilling. There are various free training programs available from trusted organisations across NSW. If you’re short on time during the busy workday, you can include some of the online trainings mentioned below as part of new staff onboarding. They are a great way to introduce staff to sexual health promotion with young people and will greatly benefit both your organisation and the young people you work with.

Sticky Stuff Online

Developed by Yfoundations, Sticky Stuff Online offers engaging tools and activities for organisations and workers involved in youth care to promote sexual health. New to the topic? This is for you. Need a refresher? This can help. This free self-paced online training is free, takes about an hour, and grants a certificate upon completion. Access it through Play Safe Pro.   

Nitty Gritty Online

Developed by Family Planning NSW, Nitty Gritty Online is a free self-paced course with five modules, designed to build on from the knowledge gained in Sticky Stuff. The core module covers communication strategies, health literacy, consent, STIs, and contraception. The other four modules, each around 45 minutes long, focus on effective strategies for working with priority groups like LGBTIQA+ young people, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people, culturally and linguistically diverse communities, and young people with disabilities. This self-paced training also grants a certificate upon completion. Access it through Play Safe Pro.

Play Safe Pro

Play Safe Pro also has various easy-to-read factsheets, which provide additional information for working with diverse audiences:

• Sexual health promotion with young people of diverse gender and sexuality
• Sexual health promotion with culturally & linguistically diverse young people
• Sexual health promotion with Aboriginal young people
• Sexual health promotion with young people with a disability
• Trauma Informed Care Booklet (especially helpful if you work with young people in out of home care)

While not formal training, these resources can be used to upskill in down time and learn more about working with diverse groups of young people.

ACON Pride Training

ACON’s range of paid LGBTQ+ inclusion and awareness eLearning will help your organisation improve safety and inclusion for people of diverse sexualities and genders (the LGBTQ+ community). They can also work with your workplace to arrange bespoke training packages, and in-person training.

2. Assess your values and create a supportive environment

As well as training staff on the facts around sexual health, think about the culture of your organisation. What can be done to create a safe space, where young people feel comfortable talking openly?

Setting your organisation up

Is your organisation set up to create a supportive environment around sexual health promotion? Play Safe Pro has developed an organisational checklist to help you assess where you are at and plan sexual health activities as part of your work. It is based on the five areas of action for health promotion in the integrated health promotion kit by Vic Health.

Organisational policy

As part of creating a supportive environment, having an organisational policy that ensure all young people
have access to the information and support they need to achieve optimal sexual health and wellbeing, is important. Not sure where to start? We have drafted a model policy you can use to adapt to your organisation’s needs. It outlines the rationale for developing a safe, non-judgemental and sex positive environment that provides the best possible sexual health outcomes for young people.

As part of creating a safe space and before speaking with young people about sexual health or sexuality, it is important to be familiar with your own beliefs and values. Play Safe Pro has a factsheet that can help with exactly that.

Other proactive steps you can take to create a supportive environment when chatting with young people about sexual health, are:

• Always use age-appropriate language
• Actively listen to and validate concerns, and address them honestly
• Keep explanations clear and free from medical jargon. When needed, call in the experts like Nurse Nettie who can help you answer questions you’re not quite sure about
• Emphasise that sexual health is not a shameful topic – explain that it’s important to look after sexual health in the same way you’d look after your physical and mental wellbeing
• Never make an assumption about a person’s sexual identity or their sexual behaviour.

3. Example sexual health topics to discuss with young people

Sexual health is complex and there are many different topics that may come up in conversations. However, some of the most important messages to covey to young people are:

Regular STI testing

Encourage young people to prioritise regular STI testing. Discuss the importance of testing, where to get tested, and how often it should be done. These resources can help:

• Navigating STI testing: Separating fact from fiction for young people
• Sexual health Check Fact Sheet

And example statements you might use in conversations, are:

• “Regular sexual health checks are simple and usually only require a urine sample and sometimes a blood test.”
• “Most STIs can be easily treated with a short dose of medication.”
• “If you’re sexually active, have a sexual health check once a year or every time you change partners.”
• “STIs often have no symptoms so people may not know if they have one. If left untreated, STIs can lead to health problems.”

Safer sex practices

Discuss the importance of safer sex practices, such as using condoms and other forms of contraception, to prevent STIs and unintended pregnancies. It’s particularly important to be well-versed in condoms, as they are 99% effective when used correctly so are a great one to be able to talk about confidently. These resources can help:

• Condom Ordering Tool (did you know we provide free condoms to services working with young people)
• Condom Protocol – guide to providing condoms at your service
• Condom Card Game
• Contraception conversations: Supporting young people

And example statements you might use in conversations, are:

• “Contraception is the best protection against unintended pregnancy.”
• “There are many different types of contraception available. Talk with your GP about which would suit you best.”
• “Condoms are the best protection against STIs.”
• “Take condoms with you when you go on a date, whether or not you think you might need them.”

Consent

Educate young people about the significance of consent during everyday life and sex. Explain what consent means, how to ask for it, and how to respect someone’s decision if they say no. These resources can help:

• Beyond yes and no: How to navigate conversations about consent with young people
• Consent Age and the Law Fact Sheet 

And example statements you might use in conversations, are:

• “Just because you agree to going out with someone, doesn’t mean you have to have sex. It can take time before you, or your partner, feel ready.”
• “You may consent to sexual activities, but you can still change your mind at any time, for whatever reason, and your partner must respect your decision.”

4. Incorporate sexual health discussions into the day-to-day

If you’ve completed training, delved into your values and familiarised yourself with the latest information on sexual health, condoms, consent and STIs, it’s time to make sure that everything you’ve learned is put into practice.

1. Continual staff training and development: Implement or ensure you take part in training sessions to ensure you feel confident and equipped to initiate conversations about sexual health with young people. This ongoing development ensures that staff remain up-to-date and comfortable with addressing the topic of sexual health. Sign up to the PS Pro newsletter for new tools and resources.

2. Utilise sexual health promotion resources: Introduce resources like posters into your service environment to foster spaces that encourage conversations and normalise STI testing and condom use, and don’t forget to order your free condoms. These materials can act as conversation starters, sparking interest and encouraging dialogue about sexual health among young people
3. Normalise discussions: When you’re speaking with young people, integrate discussions about sexual health into broader conversations about overall wellbeing. By weaving these topics into everyday conversations, you help normalise discussions around sexual health, reducing stigma and promoting a culture of openness. Our Talking About Sexual Health Tool offers a practical way to do this:

• STEP 1 – Seek permission: Begin by asking for permission to discuss relationships and sexual health. This demonstrates respect and helps young people feel safe.
• STEP 2 – Open the conversation: Find out what the young person already knows and let them guide the discussion. Use open ended questions like ‘What do you already know about…?’ (e.g. sexual health/condoms/STIs/going on a date).
• STEP 3 – Provide information: Provide relevant information to address concerns and expand on existing knowledge, such as the importance of condom use and regular sexual health checks.
• STEP 4 – Check-in: Acknowledge their thoughts and understanding of what you’ve spoken about – this gives you a chance to address any misconceptions.
• STEP 5 – Resources: Offer access to additional information and resources, such as websites or videos.
• STEP 6 – Referral: You’re not expected to be a sexual health expert, so always introduce them to appropriate support services, such as GPs or sexual health clinics for more information and support.

Making sexual health promotion a natural part of your organisation’s culture is crucial. When conversations about sexual health are easy, resources are available, and staff feel confident discussing sexual health topics, we can help to improve the sexual health of young people across NSW.