Module content

Children by Choice have been offering school and community based sexual and reproductive health educational opportunities to the south-east region of Queensland for a number of years now. All modules are approximately 70 minutes long, and are delivered in an interactive and relaxed style that maximises youth learning. These modules have been design to be used in conjunction with various strands from both the lower and senior school syllabus of the Health and Physical Education curriculum. For more general purposes module sessions are also well suited to the Health and Relationship Education curriculum. These modules can also be used as part of any community or youth programs.

The material presented can be tailored to suit the group's learning needs, to focus on a particular area and can be adapted to timeframes and group sizes.

Module One: Human Sexuality

Module 1 explores how sexuality is crucial for understanding sexual behaviour, the growth and development of our bodies, how we experience our gender roles, what constitutes a healthy relationship, how to have children when and if we want to, how to communicate with our intimate partners and how to prevent health problems and unwanted pregnancies.

Module Two: Sexual Decision Making

Module 2 helps adolescents understand their options as they start to explore their sexuality, including but not limited to abstinence and how to communicate and negotiate their wishes to a partner. It explores the range of behaviours that constitute sex, the reasons adolescents decide to or not to have sex and alternative ways to express love, affection and sexual feelings. It teaches decision-making skills for setting limits, responding to pressure, avoiding risky situations, negotiating safe sex and mutual respect for other people's decisions and rights.

Module Three: Healthy vs Unhealthy Relationships

Module 3 examines power issues and imbalances in a relationship and how they impact on a partner. It covers expectations and desires, determining if relationships are healthy, relationship and communication skills and recognising and coping with difficulties. Participants will identify dating situations that can be risky and the warning signs of serious relationship problems. They will also identify the qualities that are most important to them in a long-term partner, how they can assess whether or not a potential partner has those qualities, and the characteristics of healthy relationships.

Module Four: Smart Contraceptive Use

Module 4 challenges the prevailing myths about contraception. It focuses on the methods young people use by providing thorough basic information - the names of the various methods, how to use them, how they work, effectiveness, advantages and disadvantages, cost and where they are available. It explores gender issues including ideas and stereotypes about with partner is responsible for contraception (and for the pregnancy if contraception is not used or fails) and who should obtain or purchase the contraception. It personalises the risks and the responsibilities of sexual intercourse so that participants will be motivated to protect themselves.

Module Five: Unplanned pregnancy and Sexually Transmitted Infections: prevention

Module 5 seeks to place in context the reasons for unplanned pregnancy and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) and to explore solutions at a personal and societal level. Participants have the opportunity to explore the various types of sexually transmitted infections, their symptoms and treatment options; discuss the issues young people face in accessing a variety of contraception information and options, and explore strategies to prevent unplanned pregnancy and STIs.

Module Six: Making a decision

Module 6 reflects the complexities that people face when discovering they have an unplanned pregnancy. It explore the various decision-making pathways available to young people, those being abortion, adoption and parenting. Through a series of interactive activities students will explore factors that influence our decisions; the practical, emotional and ethical questions regarding each decision and the advantages and disadvantages attached to them.

Module Seven: Schoolies Survival

Module 7 aims to ensure that the Schoolies festival is a safe and enjoyable experience for students. Through a series of interactive activities, students will get the opportunity to identify unsafe scenarios that may arise and assess the risk to their wellbeing and safety (with focus on sexual assault). Participants will develop a safety and back-up plan for when dangerous situations occur or the unexpected happens. They will learn about the common types of sexually transmitted infections, their symptoms and where to go for medical help.