Puberty
- Adolescence
- Bodies
- Body image
- Consent
- Contraception
- Disabilities
- Emotional literacy
- Families
- Family and domestic violence
- Friendships
- Gender
- Gender diversity
- Guidelines
- Health education
- Health literacy
- Help seeking
- Immunisation
- Intersex variations
- Intimate relationships
- Law
- Media literacy
- Mental health
- Multicultural
- Online
- Parenting
- Pornography
- Protective behaviours
- Puberty
- Reproduction
- Research and reports
- Safer sex
- Sex education
- Sexting
- Sexual diversity
- Sexual health
- Sexual abuse
- Sexualisation
- STIs and BBVs
Puberty
Boy puberty: How to talk about puberty and sex with your tween boy
Non-fiction
For parents/carers of 9 to 13 year olds to help them talk to their sons about puberty and sex. Tells you what topics to cover and gives ideas on how to start conversations.
Conversation Starters
Some ideas to help start conversations in general ways that aren't too personal or confronting.
Dr Yes
The Australian Medical Association of Western Australia (AMA WA) Dr Yes project sends specially trained volunteer medical students into high schools to have frank, open discussions on topics concerning youth health including sexual health. Enquiries can be made through dryes@amawa.com.au
Get the Facts - 'Laugh and Learn' videos
Check out the Get the Facts 'Laugh and Learn' series of videos on the Get the Facts website. Designed to make young people laugh while they learn about puberty, condoms, BBVs and keeping safe in sexual situations.
Girl puberty: How to talk about puberty and sex with your tween girl
Topics: puberty
Non-fiction
For parents/carers of 9 to 13 year olds to help them talk to their daughters about puberty and sex. Explains what topics to cover and how to start conversations.
Age: Parents and teachers of children 9 to 13 years.
Puberty booklet
A WA Department of Health booklet addressing the changes that happen during puberty and how to look after yourself during this time. Recently updated in 2021 to combine the 'Girls and puberty' and 'Boys and puberty'. Aimed at ages 10-13 years.
Relationships, sex and other stuff
A WA Department of Health booklet for teenagers addressing friends and relationships, sex and pregnancy.
Sex Ed Rescue
Sex Ed Rescue is run by Cath Hakanson, a sex educator who helps parents to get the knowledge, skills and confidence to have conversations with their children about sex and relationships. This site offers videos, resources, books reviews, and a free 5 day sex ed bootcamp. Sex Ed Rescue also have a parent Facebook Group that offers opportunities for parents to seek feedback on specific topics and scenarios.
Sexual Health and Blood-borne Virus Program
The WA Department of Health - Sexual Health and Blood-borne Virus Program (SHBBVP) provides sexual health information and resources for the community, health professionals and educators. Funds service providers to deliver free and low cost education sessions, professional development, clinical appointments, testing and treatment. All SHBBVP hardcopy resources (posters, pamphlets, etc) can be bulk ordered for free in WA by setting up a free account at doh.getquickmail.com. Email shbbvp@health.wa.gov.au for individual copies.
Sexual Health in Adolescence Clinical Nursing Manual
This guide aims to support nurses working in schools to provide primary health care for young people in secondary schools. Comprehensive guidance is offered on roles, responsibilities and actions. For teachers, it is useful to understand that the nurses support curriculum but the responsibility is that of teachers.
Talk Soon. Talk Often: a guide for parents talking to their kids about sex
A WA Department of Health booklet developed to support parents to initiate regular and relaxed conversations with their children about relationships and sexuality. Age and stage appropriate information for parents with children birth to teens. First published 2011, updated in 2019.
The parents' guide to puberty
Non-fiction
Information, question and answers, and resources for parents to help their children to thrive (not just survive) as they grow up.
Cath Hak's book review of The parents' guide to puberty (2min 4 sec) (external link)
The Relationships and Sexuality Education Project
The RSE Project provides a wide variety of professional development opportunities to anyone working in Western Australian schools. This includes two-day workshops, after-school seminars, webinars, symposiums and tertiary education units. We cover a broad range of topics, all related to relationships and sexuality education (RSE).
The sex education answer book
Non-fiction
Age appropriate answers to all of the tough questions children ask parents about sex. Set out in ages 3 - 14.
Age: Parents and teachers of 3 to 14 year olds
Top tips from Talk soon. Talk often.
Top 20 tips for talking to kids about relationships and sexuality and the top 10 reasons why we must talk soon and often. An A4 flyer that outlines the tips included in the Talk soon. Talk often book on page 10-11 and 76-77.
What does it mean to be intersex?
An ABC feature article that describes young people's experiences and their growing understanding of what makes someone intersex within what is a diverse community. It includes guidance on what not to say to an intersex person.
Why do we get periods?
Periods are the result of the uterus shedding its lining in order to have a fresh supply of blood and tissue in case of a pregnancy.
Yarning quiet ways
A WA Department of Health resource to help parents and carers of young Aboriginal people yarn about strong, safe and healthy relationships. Age and stage appropriate information for parents of children birth to teens.
Youth Educating Peers (YEP) Project
The Youth Affairs Council of Western Australia's (YACWA) YEP Crew support and educate young people in relationships, sexual health and blood-borne virus issues. They run a variety of interactive workshops for young people that run from 45 min to 1.5 hours and are led by peer educators. Topics include: respectful relationships and consent; STIs and BBVs; contraception; gender and sexuality; the technosexual world; sex and the law.