Reproductive and sexual health courses support & empower people with disability
Wednesday 4th March 2020
Family Planning NSW courses will improve reproductive and sexual health outcomes for people with intellectual disability and autism spectrum disorders.
Education and support around puberty, sexuality and relationships is vital to help people with intellectual disability or autism spectrum disorders achieve maximum health, wellbeing and safety.
FPNSW Senior Disability Health Promotion Officer Ee-Lin Chang says everybody has the right to enjoy good reproductive and sexual health, and support people have an important role to play in helping this happen.
"We know that the topic of sexuality can be an area of concern for parents, carers, disability support workers and educators who support people with disability, and often they report not knowing how or when to broach the subject," Ee-lin said.
"To make starting and continuing these conversations as stress-free as possible, Family Planning NSW has tailored courses for parents and carers, disability support workers and school educators with practical, up-to-date information and strategies to support positive sexuality and personal development outcomes for people with a disability.
"Providing these courses recognises that everybody deserves to have access to relationship and sexuality education."
"Our courses come from a holistic, whole-of-community perspective, where we upskill those who support people with disability in the community. It’s important to help parents, carers and educators develop confidence to navigate these topics in a positive and constructive way so the disability community can experience positive sexual health outcomes.
"We want to ensure that everyone has the tools they need to improve their reproductive and sexual health."
FPNSW workshops for parents and carers cover a range of sexuality topics across the lifespan, including childhood, adolescence and adulthood. This includes preparing for puberty, healthy relationships, supporting positive and safe sexual expression and tips for talking about sex and answering tricky questions.
"When parents and carers attend our workshops, they have an opportunity to access our experts and resources, meet other parents, find referrals to relevant services and have their questions answered," Ee-Lin said.
"This can make a world of difference for parents and carers who might be struggling to support people who need relationship and sexuality education. We’re here to provide that support."
Family Planning NSW is the leading provider of reproductive and sexual health education for disability support workers, with training provided by FPNSW expert educators and prominent external presenters.
- ends -
Media enquiries: Family Planning NSW E: media@fpnsw.org.au M: 0402 880 653 W: https://www.fpnsw.org.au
