Supporting Young People’s Sexual Health: Practical Skills for Youth Services Professionals

About our workshop

Young people consistently tell us they want honest, inclusive and stigma-free conversations about sex, relationships and health. Youth services professionals play a critical role in creating spaces where those conversations can happen safely and confidently.

This full-day professional development workshop will build your knowledge, skills and confidence to support young people around sexual health, consent, relationships, and sexually transmissible infections (STIs) and blood borne viruses (BBVs).

Grounded in a rights-based and harm reduction framework, the day will combine evidence-informed content, practical tools, real-world scenarios and reflective practice.

Please note: This session is an updated version of Sexual Health Victoria's Young People and Sexual Health course: https://shvic.org.au/courses/ycw?eventtemplate=35-young-people-and-sexual-health

What we’ll cover

1. Why This Work Matters – Foundations

We begin by grounding the work in principles of sexual health rights, equity and harm reduction.

Topics include:

• The impact of stigma, racism and discrimination on young people’s health outcomes

• STIs & BBVs in Australia: key rates, trends, risks and common myths

• Youth perspectives: what young people say they want — including open conversations about consent, navigating rejection and online sexual content

• Understanding how inequities shape access to care and information

2. Creating Safe & Inclusive Spaces

Explore how to build youth-friendly environments where young people feel safe to ask questions and seek support.

Topics include:

• Establishing confidential, trauma-informed and stigma-free practice

• Queer-inclusive approaches: language, representation and affirming conversations

• Recognising intersectionality, including the experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people and LGBTQIA+ communities

• Practical strategies to foster trust and safety in your setting

3. Skills for Sexual Health Conversations

Develop practical tools and scripts to navigate real-world conversations with confidence.

Topics include:

• Talking about STIs and BBVs without shame or fear-based messaging

• Consent and navigating rejection — practical phrasing and role-play

• Online sexual content: porn, sexting, social pressures and expectations vs reality

• Responding appropriately and safely to disclosures

4. Youth-Centred STI & BBV Support

Understand what youth workers need to know to support young people.

Topics include:

• Screening, testing and treatment basics

• Finding and sharing accurate, evidence-based health information

• Referral pathways: clinics, peer supports and online services

• Identifying LGBTQIA+-affirming and youth-friendly providers

• Harm reduction approaches: safer sex, PrEP, PEP and needle and syringe programs

• Confidentiality and legal responsibilities (age of consent, mandatory reporting and privacy considerations)

5. Putting It All Together – Supporting Young People

Consolidate your learning and build confidence for complex situations.

Topics include:

• Integrating safe spaces, inclusive language, stigma reduction and referrals into daily practice

• Reflective practice: identifying and addressing personal bias and assumptions

• Building confidence through scripts, phrases and practical responses for tricky moments

Who Should Attend?

This workshop is designed for:

• Youth workers

• Case managers

• Outreach workers

• Program coordinators

• Community and wellbeing staff working with young people

No prior sexual health expertise is required.

Why Attend?

By the end of the day, participants will:

• Feel more confident initiating and navigating sexual health conversations

• Understand current STI and BBV trends and youth-specific considerations

• Have practical tools and scripts to respond to challenging situations

• Be better equipped to connect young people to appropriate, affirming services

Registration

Places are free but strictly limited.
Morning tea and lunch are included.

Register now to secure your place.