Teenage Pregnancy Research Report - 3p Consulting

Sex Education in TasmaniaSex education in Tasmania has traditionally been theprovince of individual schools and taught through theHealth and Wellbeing elements of the curriculum. Inaddition, schools have received some support throughexternal providers with specialist knowledge in youthhealth services, clinics and specialist sexual healthservices. To date, implementation of a best-practice,consistent and comprehensive sex education programthat can impact on teenage pregnancy rates is at a strategystage and has not been implemented. The directionoutlined in the Tasmanian Curriculum Policy states that:“all schools should offer all students a comprehensive,developmentally appropriate relationships and sexualityeducation program.“ 16There are a number of Tasmanian government policy andprogram responses to the high teenage pregnancy ratesin Tasmania. Tasmania Together benchmark 4.1.3 hasthe aim of reducing teenage birth rates and the Office ofChildren (DHHS) 10-year strategy for children and youngpeople has specifically highlighted reducing teenagepregnancy rates by “improving access to youth healthservices and delivering comprehensive relationships andsexual health education”.Most recently the Making Choices Two Action Planis a direct response to the Our Children Our Future,Tasmania’s Agenda for Children and Young People ActionArea Two. Making Choices Two Taskforce brings togethergovernment and non-government services to ensureimplementation of relationships and sexuality educationin Tasmanian schools, introduce youth health clinicsacross secondary colleges if needed and/or improvereferral pathways in colleges and extending the cu@homeprogram to rural areas and vulnerable young people. 17A direct policy initiative has been the recent launch ofthe Relationships and Sexuality Education Strategy forgovernment schools expected to be implemented by2014. This strategy recognises that there is an increasinginterest and expectation by the Tasmanian communityfor relationship and sexuality education in Tasmanianschools. The three-year strategy aims to increase boththe quality and extent of relationships and sexualityprograms in Tasmanian schools. This includes theintention that programs will be:• sequenced;• development-appropriate;• coherent; and• inclusive of all students.Overall, the strategy has three broad action areas:1. Increase school and system awareness andaccountability through curriculum policy guidelines forschools;2. Work in partnership with local communities, schools,school networks, Learning Services and alliedagencies; and3. Promote best-practice relationships and sexualityeducation provision. 18Further to the policy agenda, how the sexuality andrelationships education is implemented and how it isviewed by students, will be discussed in the key findingssection of this report.Reality & Risk: Pornography, young people and sexuality36