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Sunshine Coast Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Young People's Sexual Health Project

[ view project video ]

Produced by FPQ, this video features interviews with Black Swans young people and the staff who work with them. Filming was done by Black Swans young people,

[ view SNAKE documentary ]

Collaboration is one of the keys to working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to improve sexual and reproductive health outcomes. Produced by Marie Stopes International Australia, this documentary about SNAKE condoms features interviews with Elise Bailey, Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Health Worker from Queensland Health and FPQ’s Jo Stewart.

Check out the new Condoman and Lubelicious radio skit on Youtube

This community development project is funded by the Office of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health (OATSIH). The project seeks to improve the sexual and reproductive health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people (aged 12 -25) in the Sunshine Coast region, particularly for those at risk of homelessness, disconnection from education or employment, and/or substance use. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people are a priority population for health promotion activities in both the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Sexual Health and Blood Borne Virus Strategy and the National Sexually Transmissible Infections Strategy.

This project takes the fear and shame out of talking about sexual health and creates innovative opportunities to work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people through collaborative retreats, workshops, and other events. To date, successful events have ranged from Yarnin’ Together Without the Shame workshops for workers in Gympie, Caboolture, Cherbourg and Murgon to Black Swans’ Big Day Out days; a bus trip to the local sexual health clinic, sexual health screening and dinner for youth leaders. The project is working with young people to achieve increased levels of proactive sexual and reproductive health behaviour including condom purchase and use, STI testing, use of effective contraceptive methods and uptake of relevant immunisation (such as the Hepatitis B and HPV vaccines).

The project improves knowledge and understanding by educating parents and carers, Elders, community leaders and support workers in sexual health. They then are better able to meet the needs of the young people in their communities.

Education and other services developed by this project address language, culture, and literacy gaps, and empower young people and youth workers to identify and use their strengths to combat the disadvantage they face.

Young people interested in building their skills in the arts and creative industries have directly supported the development of materials addressing sexual and reproductive health. Workshops were conducted by the multimedia company, VMP, to teach young people skills in video production and facilitate their creation of material for the project. Visual art workshops were conducted by a local Aboriginal artist and cultural custodian where the young people assisted with the creation of artwork for resources on puberty and sexual health.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people inform the project’s planning as well as the program’s delivery. The project builds young people’s leadership skills through their participation on the Youth Advisory Group. Members of the Advisory Group value their involvement as advisors, while their parents, carers and support people have commented on the noticeable development of leadership qualities among young participants. The project has supported specific training in leadership, education strategies and other communication skills for these young people. The project has employed a Youth Advisor and sponsored others to attend forums and conferences. Some of these young people have also been involved in focus groups and other projects.

The Black Swans Steering Committee and the Youth Advisory Group have made significant contributions to the project’s success, especially to the work directly with young people, helping to ensure project accountability and cultural sensitivity as well as maintaining the project’s focus. A Project Advisory Group was also formed. This group is made up of representatives from North Coast Aboriginal Corporation for Community Health, Queensland Health (Cultural Healing team, Sexual Health and Indigenous Health Programs), Healthy Communities and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people. Ongoing consultation ensures that the project continues to address the genuine concerns of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people on the Sunshine Coast and the concerns of their parents/carers, community leaders and professionals providing support services.

The Sunshine Coast Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Young People's Sexual Health Project was the winner of the Deadly Sex Congress 'Collaboration for Change' Award in 2010.

Jo Stewart (Co-ordinator - Sunshine Coast Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Projects)
accepting the award from Lizzy Adams and Prof Gracelyn Smallwood

In presenting the award, Dion Tatow from QAIHC acknowledged FPQ's genuine commitment to working in partnership with both Aboriginal and mainstream organisations to implement this project.

For more information, please contact the Co-ordinator - Sunshine Coast Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Projects:

Ph: 07 5479 0755

Or submit an enquiry using our contact form.