The Good Practice Guide for 'Supporting students affirming gender at school' has been launched by the ACT Safe and Inclusive Schools Initiative The Guide deals specifically with the ways school communities can be proactive in gender-inclusive practice, and support students who are transgender and gender diverse (TGD) when they decide they wish to share or express their gender identity at school.
National Condom Day is a health promotion event in Australia that promotes safe sex and the important role condoms can play in preventing sexually transmissible infections (STIs) and unplanned pregnancy and a perfect chance to raise awareness of healthy relationships, and safe, consensual sex.
This years theme is 'Be Your Own Hero', so go grab your FREE rose and condom pack and do just that #beyourownhero. Details of particpating locations below.
Getting tested for COVID-19? The ACT Government Weston Creek Walk-in Centre and the drive through facility at EPIC are busier than ever.
But did you know that there are other free and easily accessible testing facilities available?
If you think you have COVID-19, please call your GP or visit a Respiratory Assessment Clinic.
You can book into a free appointment at:
For details on testing, locations and opening times visit the COVID-19 website at covid19.act.gov.au
Testing children for COVID-19Due to the nature of the COVID-19 test, it is difficult to test children within a vehicle.
For this reason, children under eight should have their test at one of the following; the Weston Creek Walk-in Centre, one of the Commonwealth funded GP Respiratory Assessment Clinics (as listed above) or their local GP, rather than the drive through RAC at Exhibition Park in Canberra (EPIC).
Children under two years can only be seen at the Weston Creek Walk-in Centre when a GP is rostered on shift – please call 02 5124 8080.
IDAHOBIT stands for the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Interphobia and Transphobia and is held on the 17 May, each year around the world in over 130 countries! But what does all this mean?
Minority sexuality and gender identities, and people who are intersex, can face negative attitudes, stereotypes and prejudices that lead to discrimination, exclusion, harassment and violence.
Please note that this statement was relevant in Australia at the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, when the risk and consequences of COVID were assessed to outweigh the risk of contraceptive failure with extended use of LARC. Now that restrictions have eased, and regular access to contraceptive services have for the most part resumed, it is advisable to return to practice of replacing LARC at the standard time interval to minimise the risk of contraceptive failure. However should the situation change and restrictions reapplied this statement informs our approach to LARC access in these circumstances.
SHFPACT Position Statement: LARC Access During the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Extended use of and ongoing access to LARCs during the COVID-19 pandemic Provision of contraception is essential during the COVID-19 pandemic to prevent unintended pregnancies.
This is particularly important for individuals most at risk, including young people due to their high levels of fertility, people with serious health conditions, and for those who are post-abortion. Long Acting Reversible Contraceptive methods (LARCs) are more effective than shorter acting methods1 and increased community access and uptake is associated with lower abortion rates. 2-4
The SoSAFE! Tools (together with SoSAFE! User Training) provide teachers, trainers and counsellors with skills and simple visual tools to enhance the social, social-sexual and social safety training of people with moderate to severe intellectual disability. SoSAFE! uses a standardised framework of symbols, visual teaching tools and concepts to teach strategies for moving into intimate relationships in a safe and measured manner, and provides visual communication tools for reporting physical or sexual abuse.