Media Release

Let's Talk About Sex

Sexual Health Awareness Week

14th - 21st February 2010

Sexual Health Awareness Week (SHAW) kicks off on Valentines Day, 14th February, and runs through till the 21st February 2010. SHAW is targeted at young adults between 18 and 30 years (both gay and straight) living within the Sunshine Coast and Cooloola region. This year's message 'Let's Talk about Sex' links directly with the campaign aim to increase awareness of sexual health issues and encourage the local community to start talking openly about relationships and sexuality.

 

SHAW wants to encourage lovers and others who are sexually active, to enjoy the experience and intimacy of sex in a open, safe and consensual manner. The week is about looking at sexual health in a broader context, not just simply the prevention of Sexually Transmissible Infections (STIs) or unwanted pregnancies. It's about increasing the skills and knowledge of individuals through access to accurate information to enable them to make informed healthy decisions in relation to their sexual health.

 

SHAW is also about encouraging individuals, groups and the entire community to begin speaking more openly and honestly about sexual health including relationships and sexuality. Sex is one of the last taboos' in Australia and while it's something usually practiced at home between two it's often in silence and Sexual Health Week wants you to talk about it, share your fantasies and expectations with your partner, explore together how you can have a fulfilling sex life and experience your sexuality to the full.

 

"It's important that individuals are able feel healthy and happy about their sexuality and relationships and through the use of open communication, be able to negotiate what they do and don't want to do," said Katie Bishop, Health Promotion Officer for the Queensland Association for Healthy Communities. "Not only are we encouraging everyone to talk about sex, but to also practise safer sex through the use condoms and water based lubricant to prevent STIs such as Chlamydia. We also want to highlight the importance of getting regular sexual health checks, especially when you are starting a new relationships, have multiple sexual partners, if you've had unprotected sex or the condom broke."

 

How we go about sex is as important as the act itself. Sex should always be consensual and safe. Gay men and young people are over represented in the rates for STIs. There were 15,700 notifications of Chlamydia in Queensland in 2008 - a 18% increase from the previous year. Many young people today are unaware of the growing risks of STIs including Chlamydia, Syphilis and HIV because they don't always show symptoms and therefore can be passed on without realising it. But by having a sexual health check at your local GP or sexual health clinic, these infections are often easy to test and treat. Free sexual health checks are available through Clinic 87 HIV/Sexual Health Service (07) 5470 5244.

 

A range of activities will be happening throughout the week which include Hot 91.1 Hot Rodder safe sex pack giveaways, library displays, free sexual health checks at Clinic 87, and gay men's clinic at QAHC, information van in Mary Street Gympie and an information stall at the University of the Sunshine Coast's orientation week market day. 

 

For more information on Sexual Health Awareness Week please contact either Clinic 87 (07) 5470 5244 or the Queensland Association for Healthy Communities (07) 5451 1118.