Relationship and Sexuality Education

What are the benefits and challenges young people face in relationships?

Dr Melisa Chong, a lecturer in HPE at University of Southern Queensland speaks with Tameaka Lakey and Alexandra Bell, health promotion officers at Ballarat Community Health.

In this episode we discuss the habits of young people in relationships and the support teachers can receive in teaching the relationships and sexuality’ focus area in the HPE curriculum. 

Transcript

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00:00:02 Melisa

Hi, good afternoon.

00:00:03 Melisa

I'm Melissa, you know, from the Health Promoting Schools Committee in HPA, and today we have Tameaka Lakey and Alexander Bell from Health Promote, who are health promotion officers at Ballarat Community Health in Western Victoria.

00:00:20 Melisa

They lead a diverse portfolio of youth health and well-being initiatives, including respectful relationships, consent,

00:00:28 Melisa

and sexuality education, mental health and well-being, vaping prevention and education, and strengthening help-seeking pathways.

00:00:38 Melisa

So they're committed to improving youth health and well-being through whole school approaches and the delivery of evidence-informed, locally relevant, and inclusive school-based programs.

00:00:50 Melisa

So today we're going to be talking about relationships, which is the program that they do run.

00:00:56 Melisa

So

00:00:58 Melisa

Tameaka and Alex, so what do we currently know about the habits of young people in the area of relationships?

00:01:08 Tameaka

Hi, so yeah, I'm Tameaka.

00:01:10 Tameaka

I'll take this one to start if that's all right.

00:01:15 Tameaka

So actually recently, so as recent of May this year, 2026, we just had the release of the eighth Australian survey of secondary students in sexual health.

00:01:25 Tameaka

And this is from the Australian Research Centre in Sexual Health and Society at La Trobe University.

00:01:30 Tameaka

And so the survey is like a cross sectional study capturing snapshots of adolescent populations over time.

00:01:38 Tameaka

So we've been doing this since 1992.

00:01:40 Tameaka

And so it's really taking deep dive into, you

00:01:44 Tameaka

young people's sexual experiences, their relationships, intimacy, but also their RSC, so their relationships and sexuality education that they're learning in schools.

00:01:58 Tameaka

So young people that participate the age 14 to 18 living in Australia.

00:02:02 Tameaka

And so we're really excited because this is the most recent statistics.

00:02:08 Tameaka

And so the study is actually showing that overall young people are doing pretty well when it comes to their own relationships and sexual health.

00:02:17 Tameaka

This is about approximately half of them were sexually active, which has actually remained steady since 1992.

00:02:25 Tameaka

So that's about the same.

00:02:26 Alexandra

Yeah, and we're so lucky to actually have that data to compare, you know, since 1992.

00:02:31 Alexandra

You know, that's a fantastic, you know, section of data to draw back on to look at trends.

00:02:36 Tameaka

And it's also really exciting because most young people who are sexually active describe their last sexual experience as pleasurable and enjoyable.

00:02:45 Tameaka

So 75%, but also safe, which is at 85%.

00:02:49 Tameaka

And this is just amazing.

00:02:51 Tameaka

I'm so excited.

00:02:52 Tameaka

Definitely see these stats.

00:02:54 Tameaka

And then also most, so 80%, had condoms available, but only half actually used said condom.

00:03:03 Alexandra

Opportunity for work there, definitely from our perspective.

00:03:08 Tameaka

And then also from like a school's perspective, comprehensive relationships, consent and sexuality education, or RSE, because that's such a mouthful.

00:03:19 Tameaka

Young people actually saying that 92% of them said that they received RSE at school, usually in year 6 to 9.

00:03:27 Tameaka

So got a start, but there's, yeah, still a long way to go, I think.

00:03:33 Melisa

Okay, thank you.

00:03:35 Melisa

I mean, it's interesting in terms of that stat, do you think in terms of if we look at what we have been doing, since 1992 in the area of RSE, all right, is there any change that we can see in terms of improvement to basically inform us that the teaching has been

00:03:57 Melisa

helpful and the students have taken on this learning.

00:04:02 Tameaka

So more recently, the surveys including more questions around relationships and consent in particular, especially with the affirmative consent mandate across Australia now.

00:04:15 Tameaka

So although they're receiving RSE, we actually also found in the study that only 45% or less than half said it was relevant to them.

00:04:26 Tameaka

And this is even less for those identifying as LGBTIQA plus.

00:04:31 Tameaka

So we know that RSE is best taught across all year levels from foundation to year 12, but schools and teachers, they really need some extra support.

00:04:40 Tameaka

So we've got the curriculum, particularly here in Victoria, under the Resilience Rights, Respectful Relationships curriculum from Department of Education.

00:04:51 Tameaka

And then also our Sexual Health Victoria, which is our lead organisation in sexual reproductive health and relationships education.

00:05:01 Tameaka

But actually teachers need that little bit more support because it takes a village to raise a young person.

00:05:08 Tameaka

everyone has their role to play, whether it's the teachers in the school, at home, but also the students themselves when they're ready to learn.

00:05:18 Tameaka

but then also wrap around with our community services.

00:05:21 Tameaka

So like Ballarat Community Health, as well as our local service, local women's health services too.

00:05:28 Tameaka

So it's a really whole community approach to not just what's being taught in the curriculum.

00:05:35 Alexandra

I think that's definitely becoming more evident with the importance of that whole of school approach.

00:05:39 Alexandra

Respectful Relationships has it.

00:05:41 Alexandra

Sexual Health Victoria has it.

00:05:43 Alexandra

We use it to underpin our work.

00:05:45 Alexandra

And I think that's becoming a real theme that recognising that education is not in isolation.

00:05:50 Alexandra

It actually is part of this comprehensive framework.

00:05:54 Alexandra

And if we use this, we can actually achieve change.

00:05:58 Melisa

Right.

00:05:58 Melisa

So you're actually talking about the Health Promoting Schools framework, isn't it?

00:06:02 Melisa

Yeah.

00:06:02 Melisa

So how does that actually support your working relationships across like local schools?

00:06:08 Alexandra

So we use the Health Promoting Schools framework as the foundation for all of our work with schools.

00:06:14 Alexandra

Whether they're looking at relationships, whether they're looking at food and nutrition, whether it's vaping, whether it's sun protection, we will use that as our cornerstone of our work.

00:06:25 Alexandra

In Victoria, we use the Healthy Places, Healthy Futures initiative.

00:06:30 Alexandra

So previously it was called the Achievement Program, but we've had a name change since it was launched June?

00:06:36 Alexandra

June, yes, June this year.

00:06:38 Alexandra

So we're really excited about that.

00:06:40 Alexandra

And one of the really advantage, one of the, I suppose, the advantage of that for our schools is it is free and you get access to a range of tailored support, including your local health promoter.

00:06:52 Alexandra

So for our schools, that's Tameaka and I.

00:06:55 Tameaka

And so with the whole of school approach, we are looking at policies and procedures.

00:07:00 Tameaka

So what are the mandates through Victorian government, but also Australian government, for instance, the affirmative consent as well as child safety?

00:07:11 Tameaka

What other policies do schools need to have?

00:07:14 Tameaka

as well, including like diversity and inclusion and things like that as well, which then underpins that school culture and teachers feeling supported to not only teach the curriculum, but also be positive role models.

00:07:28 Tameaka

When we're talking about relationships, it's more than just education.

00:07:32 Tameaka

We're really talking about people's values and their beliefs.

00:07:35 Tameaka

And sometimes people come from lots of different backgrounds, have different experiences, different home life.

00:07:43 Tameaka

And so there can be lots of different values and beliefs in that school community.

00:07:48 Tameaka

So it's really about working together, um, building that staff capability, but also parent and family engagement too is really, really important.

00:07:56 Tameaka

And then linking to those local health services.

00:07:58 Tameaka

Like we said, community health, our local women's orgs, but also to other services too, whether it's like our local CASA or Victoria Police or Headspace even as well.

00:08:11 Tameaka

So it's really working

00:08:13 Tameaka

together to support that children and young people's overall health and wellbeing and really underpinning and supporting what we're teaching in the classroom as well.

00:08:21 Alexandra

I think to add to that too, the real value of being a health promoting school is it's not just for students.

00:08:27 Alexandra

It is around families and carers and it is around staff.

00:08:30 Alexandra

Schools are a workplace as well.

00:08:32 Alexandra

So supporting our teachers with their own health and wellbeing is crucial.

00:08:37 Tameaka

Exactly.

00:08:39 Melisa

Yep, very good, very good.

00:08:40 Melisa

very glad to hear about that emphasis about bringing, the whole entire school community, not just with students, because eventually, teachers are the ones who are responsible or rather, they have to deliver their curriculum and if they are not well taken care of, that's going to be a bit of an issue, isn't it?

00:08:57 Alexandra

Yeah, absolutely.

00:08:59 Melisa

So in terms of like, RSE, okay, what are the

00:09:06 Melisa

benefits and challenges you think young people may actually face.

00:09:10 Melisa

this area.

00:09:12 Tameaka

So I guess it really comes back to that point we were saying before about RSE being best taught across all year levels from foundation to year 12 and being part of that whole of school approach.

00:09:24 Tameaka

Because what we're seeing back if we think about this study is saying that many young people received most of their RSE in years six to nine.

00:09:33 Tameaka

And so, year six, often around puberty, but actually many children have actually started puberty a lot earlier.

00:09:40 Tameaka

So grade six is a little bit too late.

00:09:43 Tameaka

But then also by year nine, like majority of young people are yet to actually initiate any sexual experiences.

00:09:50 Tameaka

So it's almost a little bit too early.

00:09:53 Tameaka

So it's really that mix, that

00:09:57 Tameaka

It's really important time for prevention work, like doing things early, but from a young person's perspective, the information may or may not seem relevant at the time.

00:10:08 Tameaka

So it can also be difficult to, when the time or if and when the time is right, to actually have to recall and remember and reapply that learning years later.

00:10:17 Tameaka

So.

00:10:19 Tameaka

especially if they start to begin navigating relationships, consent, intimacy or real life situations as they getting into those older year levels.

00:10:27 Alexandra

And we know that young people, like if it's not quite relevant for them at that particular time they're at, they're probably not going to tune in in great detail.

00:10:36 Alexandra

And it's just like, oh yes, you know, that doesn't apply to me, you know, this time.

00:10:40 Alexandra

And then as Tameaka said, recalling that information when it does become relevant is really difficult.

00:10:45 Alexandra

And that's where, you know, our young people might start accessing

00:10:48 Alexandra

information from maybe not the most reliable sources.

00:10:52 Alexandra

So seeing what, you know, Dr Google has to say about, you know, how do I ask someone out or, you know, what happens with this?

00:11:00 Alexandra

You know, we want to make sure that we're providing that the right information at the right time when our young people are ready.

00:11:07 Tameaka

Definitely.

00:11:08 Tameaka

And so also being part of that whole of school approach puts a face to our community health, health service

00:11:17 Tameaka

to these young people as well.

00:11:19 Tameaka

So they know that we exist out in the community that they can come and see help and support if and when they need as well.

00:11:27 Alexandra

But they can access free condoms, which would be really useful if we're thinking of that stat about, not quite half are actually using condoms when they are having a sexual encounter.

00:11:36 Tameaka

Exactly.

00:11:37 Tameaka

But it also comes back to,

00:11:40 Tameaka

Why it's so important to build the foundations of respect for relationships like consent, body awareness and sexuality education really from those early years and then continue those conversations bit by bit each year.

00:11:53 Tameaka

So thinking about early primary school, we're building those foundations, those building blocks so we can continue those conversations every single year, bit by bit, that's age, stage appropriate, but also relevant at the time for those young people as well and their evolving needs.

00:12:11 Alexandra

And really sharing the load, when we're talking about if we're thinking foundation to 12, if all teachers are taking on some responsibility to teach this, we're sharing the load across all years.

00:12:23 Alexandra

We know the curriculum is jam packed.

00:12:25 Alexandra

There's not a lot of wriggle room in there.

00:12:27 Alexandra

So if we can spread it across, we will lighten the load, particularly for our teachers who are in, you know, grade 6 to year 9.

00:12:35 Alexandra

and making sure we are providing that consistent messaging.

00:12:38 Tameaka

Definitely.

00:12:39 Tameaka

And that way then we're moving beyond RSE being a one-off event and it's something that's growing alongside the children and young people as they're growing as well.

00:12:49 Melisa

All right.

00:12:49 Melisa

That's a very good point because basically, you know, if we look at the Australian Curriculum HPE, you know, all the focus areas which includes relationships and sexuality, which is where this sits within, it's supposed to be done from P to 10.

00:13:05 Melisa

which means, and there's no like, you mentioned about them teaching about puberty in year six.

00:13:11 Melisa

I mean, there is nowhere in the curriculum that stipulates that's when they have to teach it, So, and you're right, by the time they reach year six,

00:13:22 Melisa

a good number would have already gone through puberty.

00:13:26 Melisa

And they definitely need this information to know what, they, what sort of actions they have to take, right?

00:13:33 Melisa

And how to understand their body and know what's going on with them, especially if they don't actually receive any sort of.

00:13:41 Tameaka

Information at home at all.

00:13:43 Tameaka

Definitely.

00:13:44 Tameaka

Like it really does build on their knowledge, skills and behaviors so they can make responsible and safe choices for themselves.

00:13:52 Melisa

100%.

00:13:52 Melisa

Yep.

00:13:53 Melisa

So, okay, so in terms of this, right, what sort of support teachers are able to receive relating to the teaching of relationships and sexuality for that focus area within the HPE curriculum?

00:14:07 Tameaka

Well, the good thing is teachers don't need to start from scratch.

00:14:11 Tameaka

Yeah, it's great.

00:14:15 Tameaka

Often we're pulling bits and pieces from different places because new evidence is coming out or new activities and resources and organisations are coming out all of the time.

00:14:27 Tameaka

But really there are excellent supports available, including curriculum aligned resources and lesson plans, as well as professional learning.

00:14:36 Tameaka

And this is done best, I believe, through the Family Planning Alliance member organizations.

00:14:42 Tameaka

So each state and territory have their own.

00:14:45 Tameaka

So for instance, in Queensland, there's like true relationships and reproductive health.

00:14:50 Tameaka

In South Australia, they've got Shine SA.

00:14:53 Tameaka

Here in Victoria, like we've got Sexual Health Victoria.

00:14:57 Tameaka

But then also here in Victoria, our Department of Education has the Resilience, Rights and Respectful Relationships curriculum.

00:15:04 Tameaka

And this is actually designed from foundation to year 12.

00:15:07 Tameaka

So it's including year 11 and 12 students that often get missed as well.

00:15:12 Tameaka

And all of these resources and curriculum is

00:15:16 Tameaka

really available for teachers to download online.

00:15:20 Tameaka

So that could happen across all of Australia to other states who are trying to get some different ideas or ways, especially when we're coming to that consent education or talking about gender and sexuality as well.

00:15:31 Tameaka

There's whole chapters and activities that are age and stage appropriate.

00:15:36 Tameaka

But I think the real opportunity is moving beyond those individual lessons and not just thinking about the curriculum, but really looking at that whole of school approach.

00:15:45 Tameaka

So is it time that we do an audit around relationships in a school?

00:15:49 Tameaka

Let's look at the policies, what needs to be updated?

00:15:53 Tameaka

Looking at our school culture, what...

00:15:56 Tameaka

support are we providing our teachers?

00:15:58 Tameaka

What professional development are we providing our teachers and school staff?

00:16:02 Tameaka

How are we engaging with parents?

00:16:04 Tameaka

How are we talking to them about what messaging we're doing at school?

00:16:08 Tameaka

We're giving the facts and figures and it is up to the parents and their carers to talk about their values and beliefs and for the young person to merge those two things together.

00:16:18 Tameaka

But then also more importantly as well is those referral pathways into our local health services, whether that is for the students themselves

00:16:26 Tameaka

teaching staff, but also their families and carers as well, that we are here to help and support every step of the way as well.

00:16:35 Tameaka

Because if we all work together to support children and young people, the whole, for their, sorry, I forgot what I was saying.

00:16:46 Alexandra

It's all about working together and this is definitely around growing healthy and thriving young people and we want to see that.

00:16:53 Alexandra

And as Tameaka said earlier, it does take a village and this is where we can all work together to do so.

00:17:00 Alexandra

That's what I was saying.

00:17:02 Melisa

Okay, thank you very much.

00:17:04 Melisa

I think this is most helpful, just for whoever's listening, just to understand, from the perspective of young people, what's happening within the curriculum, because this is an important component.

00:17:16 Melisa

And eventually, whichever state they might be in, right, where they can actually obtain some form of assistance, because we do need young people to learn this in schools, and that's actually really important.

00:17:30 Alexandra

Absolutely.

00:17:31 Alexandra

And I think it's a really good opportunity to sort of break down some of those silos between states where we can share resources.

00:17:39 Alexandra

Yes, the specifics of the curriculum might change between state to state, but we are all guided by the Australian Curriculum and we are teaching the same thing.

00:17:50 Alexandra

You know, a consent activity in Victoria will still work for a school in WA.

00:17:56 Alexandra

So.

00:17:58 Melisa

That's exactly right.

00:17:59 Melisa

So thank you very much today, Tameaka and Alex, for your time.

00:18:04 Melisa

I really appreciate it.

00:18:05 Melisa

And hopefully, we'll hear you very soon again in our next podcast.

00:18:11 Melisa

So thank you.

00:18:12 Tameaka

Thank you.

00:18:13 Tameaka

Thanks for having us.

00:18:14 Tameaka

It's been great.

00:18:17 Melisa

Okay, goodbye.