Australian Research and Reports
Research & Reports - Australian
'Is it like one of those infectious kind of things?' The importance of educating young people about HPV and HPV vaccination at school (2017)
The HPV vaccination program in Australia commenced in 2007 for girls and 2013 for boys. Students at school receive little or no education about HPV or HPV vaccination prior to immunisation. This trial conducted an intervention in schools to improve knowledge, psycho-social outcomes and vaccination uptake.
10 principles of best practice RSE
SHINE's Relationships and sexual health education principles of best practice.
4510.0 - Recorded Crime - Australia, 2017
Statistics of the prevalence of sexual assault in Australia in 2017.
5th National survey of Australian secondary students and sexual health (2013)
The 5th National Survey of Secondary Students and Sexual Health was carried out in 2013 and involved over 2000 Year 10, 11 and 12 students from the Government, Catholic and Independent school systems and from every jurisdiction in Australia.
6th National survey of Australian secondary students and sexual health (2018)
The 6th National Survey of Secondary Students and Sexual Health was carried out in 2018 and involved over 6000 Year 10, 11 and 12 students from the Government, Catholic and Independent school systems from every jurisdiction in Australia.
7th National survey of Australian secondary students and sexual health (2021)
The 7th National Survey of Secondary Students and Sexual Health was carried out in 2021 and involved over 6000 Year 10, 11 and 12 students from the Government, Catholic and Independent school systems from every jurisdiction in Australia.
Adolescent romantic relationships - evidence summary report (2012)
An evidence summary outlining why adolescent relationships are important and whether they should be encouraged or avoided.
Alex. I'm intersex here's what that means. Minus18
Minus18 is an organisation tackling social isolation, education and advocacy, and youth empowerment of LGBTQIA+ young people. This story is by Alex who is intersex.
Australian standards of care and treatment guidelines for transgender and gender diverse children and adolecents
Australian Standards of Care and Treatment Guidelines aiming to maximise quality care given to trans and gender diverse children and adolescents across Australia.
Black rainbow
Australian volunteer enterprise to support and advocate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander LGBQTIA+SB people.
Building capacity in sexuality education: The Northern Bay College experience (2012)
A report on the first phase of a five-year project at Northern Bay College in Geelong to enhance sexuality education for Prep - Year 12 students using a whole-school and community partnership approach.
Challenging gender stereotypes in the early years: the power of parents
This paper provides an overview of survey findings and discusses the key results within the context of international literature on early childhood, gender and development, and parenting.
Cool Australia
A range of teaching resources and professional development including an eSafety unit of work.
Education programs for Indigenous Australians about sexually transmitted infections and blood-borne viruses (2013)
This 2013 resource sheet, produced by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, examines evidence on the effectiveness of sexual health education programs for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Everyone's got a bottom
A picture book to start conversations about public and private body parts, introducing the concept of protective behaviours. Written in a light and positive tone.
Experiences after HIV diagnosis
RISE Experiences after HIV diagnosis: report on findings from a qualitative cohort study of people recently diagnosed with HIV
Face the facts briefing: Young Australians and sexual health (2014)
A brief overview of current knowledge about sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among young Australians. Outlines the role of education and social marketing in reducing the prevalence of STIs (May, 2014).
Family, domestic and sexual violence in Australia: continuing the national story 2019
Family, domestic and sexual violence is a major health and welfare issue. It affects people of all ages and from all backgrounds, but mainly women and children. This report explores the impact of family, domestic and sexual violence among vulnerable groups.
Guide to responding to the sharing of explicit material
eSafety toolkit for schools: creating safer online environments
HIV/AIDS, hepatitis and sexually transmissible infections in Australia: Annual report of trends in behaviour (2012)
This report presents data from social and behavioural research conducted by the National Centre in HIV Research. Includes data on the sexual health of young people.
Increasing the resilience of young people at risk: A literature review (2009)
This report provides an analysis of a literature review focusing on what works to increase resilience for at-risk and marginalised young people.
Innovative social and emotional literacy card packs
Card packs with cartoons/photos and words to represent emotions, strengths, relationships, social justice, parenting, etc.
Love Bites
Respectful Relationships Education Program for young people aged 15-17 years. Consists of two interactive workshops: one on Relationship Violence, and one on Sex and Relationships, followed by creative workshops and community campaigns.
Making every school a health-promoting school
This article provides comment on the effects of COVID on mental health on children and social inequalities. It points to the idea that schools should be appreciated not only as sites for academic and social learning, but also settings that can enhance student health and wellbeing.
Mission Australia Youth Survey (2018)
Survey of 28,000 Australian young people aged 15-19 years. Covering topics such as: education; post school plans; employment; values and concerns; who they go to for help; family relationships; discrimination; what activities they are involved in; happiness; feelings about the future. Broken down into state responses.
Mission Australia Youth Survey (2021)
The Mission Australia Youth Survey is the largest annual survey of young people in Australia. The survey aims to identify the values, aspirations and issues of concern to young people at the national level, but also then presents information on states and territories of Australia. This report and overview provide findings the 2021 survey results. The top three issues in Australia in 2021 were COVID-19, the environment, and equity and discrimination.
Mission Australia Youth Survey (2022)
The Mission Australia Youth Survey is the largest annual survey of young people in Australia. The survey aims to identify the values, aspirations and issues of concern to young people at the national level, but also then presents information on states and territories of Australia. This report and overview provide findings the 2022 survey results. The top three issues in Australia in 2022 were the environment, equity and discrimination, and mental health.
Ms Represented
This web page is an overview of an ABC documentary that interviewed women who are or have been in Australian politics. The web page provides an introduction that highlights historical moments and that so many of these moments have only recently occurred in Australian history.
Not as simple as 'no means no': what young people need to know about consent
A news article from The Conversation written by Jacqui Hendriks from Curtin University.
On the number of intersex people
This article reviews available data on the number of intersex people, and the complications involved in data collection.
One in five Australians forced to improvise on period products over costs
SBS News article on period poverty 3 August 2021.
Online harmful sexual behaviours
esafety position statement on online harmful sexual behaviours (2020)
Online pornography - respectful relationships
A 34 second video from eSafety summarising how porn and real life respectful relationships are different.
Perceptions and Experiences of First Sexual Intercourse in Australian Adolescent Females
This article aims to better understand the factors that influence the initiation of first intercourse among adolescent females and to explore the context in which this occurs.
Planet Puberty
A digital resource suite by Family Planning NSW for parents and carers of children with intellectual disability and/or autism.
Porn and your kids fact sheet
1 page fact sheet with tips on how and why to talk about kids about pornography.
Responding to problem sexual behaviour in children and young people (2019)
Guidelines for education and care settings on responding to problem sexual behaviours (3rd edition, 2019). Lists age appropriate behaviours, concerning behaviours and serious behaviours with steps schools can take to respond and protect children.
Results of the first national survey of Australian secondary teachers of sexuality education (2010)
Results of a survey of nearly 300 secondary school teachers across Australia.
Sex education in a time of moral panic - and how it's failing our children (2019)
A news article from The Age.
Sex. Youth Law Australia
Youth Law Australia give free and confidential legal advice about sex and dating. This site discussed sex, dating, and relationships.
Sexting and young people (2015)
47% of young people have engaged in sending and receiving sexually suggestive pictures (sexting). Report to the Criminology Research Advisory Council.
Sexual consent toolkit
Toolkit from Rape and Sexual Assault Research and Advocacy (RASARA) that covers a range of issues relating to sexual consent and sexual assault. RASARA are an organisation that advocates for rape and consent law reform across Australia.
Sexuality education matters
A university program created by Deakin University preparing pre-service teachers to teach sexuality education.
Starting a Rainbow Group
A resource that helps schools develop groups that empower all young people and in particular members of the LGBTIQA+ community. This resource schools to be inclusive and supportive environments free from discrimination, bullying and harassment regardless of intersex status, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.
Support for school-based relationships and sexual health education: a national survey of Australian parents
2,427 parents participated in this nationwide survey to examine parental attitudes towards school-based RSE. Overall 89.9% of parents supported schools to deliver RSE and endorsed schools to address a diverse range of RSE topics.
Supporting sexual diversity, intersex and gender diversity in schools (2015)
Safe schools Coalition Australia resource created in 2015.
Surge in teens seeking cyberbullying and sexting help during COVID
ABC news article (Feb 2021) - searches on sexting and cyberbullying increased by 55% and 39% respectively since the pandemic began.
Talk it like it is
A guide to communicating with your children about life, love, relationships and sex from SHINE South Australia.
The digital lives of Aussie teens 2021
eSafety research on the digital lives of young people in Australia.
The effects of pornography on children and young people: An evidence scan
In 2016, the Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS) was engaged by the Department of Social Services to review what the available research evidence tells us about the impact exposure to and consumption of online pornography has on children and young people.
The practical guide to love, sex and relationships
A teaching resource from the Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society, La Trobe University, exploring relationships, sexual consent, equity and sexual and reproductive health.
There is a friend out there for everyone
1 min video from the book, 'Just like Molly' that looks at how friendships can change and how to cope with the changes.
Those are My Private Parts
A protective behaviours book that focuses on teaching children that we don't play 'game' with our genitals. The purpose is to power and protect children from being groomed for sexual abuse.
Trans Pathways summary report (2017)
The mental health experiences and care pathways of trans young people in Australia. Summary report of survey findings.
Trusted Moments
A film developed by the Legal Services Commission to engage young people in education about the importance of consent and respect in relationships as a strategy for the prevention of image-based abuse and sexual assault.
What bothers Australian kids online? Children comment on bullies, porn and violence
A report on what Australian children from age 9 to 16 say about troubling content online. Children are exposed to cyberbully, pornographic content and violence from a young age. This study was modelled on a similar report that was done across 25 European counties in 2013.
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.
Young People, Online Sexual Health Information, Science and Skepticism
A Qualitative Health Research article authored by Adrian Farrugia, Andrea Waling, Kiran Pienaar and Suzanne Fraser. The article is useful to people teaching RSE given it provides information on the extent to which young people trust online sexual health information. Most interesting is that the evidence supports the idea that young people desire information that acknowledges the varied, contingent nature of sexual life. Accordingly, RSE should include not only "facts" and "science" but experiences.
Youth survey report (2018)
Mission Australia's annual report on young people's values, aspirations, concerns and ambitions.
‘It is not all about sex’: Young people’s views about sexuality and relationships education (2016)
A report summarising the views of South Australian and Victorian high school students on sexuality and relationships education.