Health Promotion Activities
An important priority for CERSH is to enhance levels of activity of evidence based sexual health promotion in rural communities.
Overview
To have an impact on sexual health in rural communities, it is critical to know how rural communities, and specific population groups within these communities, understand sex, sexuality and relationships. Health promotion initiatives supported by CERSH therefore need to be developed sensitively with the community itself to build detailed knowledge of the community, and trust to work collaboratively and respectfully. Health promotion practice in the rural context, therefore, encapsulates partnerships, service integration, holistic and multi-strategic approaches and strengths-based participation. CERSH has adopted the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) definition of sexual health promotion as the holistic process of enabling individuals and communities to increase control over the determinants of sexual health, and thereby managing and improving it through their lifetime. A multi-strategic approach is thereby essential to tackle the social determinants of sexual health, and the issues of equity, diversity and fairness. As this priority is very broad, 2010 focused on developing networks, reviewing existing activities and delivering evidence based STI prevention efforts, largely in partnership with key stakeholders. Subsequent years will focus on improving the evidence, refining programs and developing mechanisms to build capacity of rural organisations to deliver high quality sexual health promotion efforts. Also, CERSH will work to establish or link with effective mechanisms to translate new methodologies to other regions of Victoria.
Goal:
Optimize sexual health for rural Victorians residing in the Hume
region.
Objectives:
- Enhance and support sexual health promotion strategies aimed at increasing the capacity of young rural people to live healthy sexual lives, including a focus on the prevention of unwanted pregnancy
- Increase the awareness of STI prevention, clinical management strategies and access to clinical care for rural residents
- Increase knowledge and awareness of specific sexual health promotion strategies aimed at achieving optimum sexual health for Culturally and Linguistically Diverse communities (CALD), Aboriginal and Men who have Sex with Men (MSM) rural communities
Target populations:
- Young People (through secondary schools and youth/community services)
- Aboriginal communities
- Culturally and Linguistically Diverse communities
- Men who have Sex with Men
Intended impact:
Improve the sexual health of Hume residents in general and more specifically young people, MSM, CALD and Aboriginal communities by reducing the risk of contracting an STI, reducing the number of unwanted pregnancies and enhancing any influence that empowers individuals to make healthy sexual choices.
Programs
- CERSH Health Promotion Discussion paper October 2010
- Sexual Health Network Goulburn Valley and Northeast Victoria
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples: sexual health working party
- People from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, including refugees
- Gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, intersex and questioning (GLBTIQ) people: ‘How2 education series’
- Condom Vending Machines in Northeast Victoria
Completed Projects
- Eating “Out” Program
- Take Care Outback There
- Adolescents and young people: Safer Sex in The Sticks and Beyond Project
Upcoming Seminars
Sexual Health Network Meeting
15/06/11
11am - 3pm
Delatite Community Health Service
Coster Street
Benalla
This sexual health meeting will focus on sexual health and respectful relationship education and support in the school and education systems.
Speakers are: Jenny Walsh (ARCSHS), Pauline Gilbert (CASA), Ros Ward (SSCV) and Karen McNamara (DEECD).
Sexual Health Network Meeting
14/09/11
Time & Venue to be advised
Benalla