Western Australian Research and Reports
- Adolescence
- Bodies
- Body image
- Consent
- Contraception
- Emotional literacy
- Families
- Family and domestic violence
- Friendships
- Gender
- Gender diversity
- Guidelines
- Health education
- Health literacy
- Help seeking
- Immunisation
- Intersex variations
- Intimate relationships
- Law
- LGBTI
- Media literacy
- Mental health
- Multicultural
- Online
- Parenting
- Pornography
- Protective behaviours
- Puberty
- Reproduction
- Research and reports
- Safer sex
- Sex education
- Sexting
- Sexualisation
- Sexual abuse
- Sexual diversity
- Sexual health
- Disabilities
- STIs and BBVs
Research & Reports - Western Australian
Circumcision
A GDHR printable illustration showing a circumcised and uncircumcised penis. This can be downloaded and printed for use in classrooms.
Conversation Starters
Some ideas to help start conversations in general ways that aren't too personal or confronting.
Curtin University provision of professional development services in school-based sexuality and relationships education: project overview (2014 - 2016)
Between 2014- 2016, Curtin University conducted a comprehensive educational program for both practicing teachers and pre-service undergraduate student teachers to equip them to deliver SRE in schools. This infographic provides a project overview, highlighting key achievements of the project over the three year period.
Evaluation of the implementation of a relationship and sexuality education project in WA schools (2019)
Article evaluating the implementation of a relationships and sexuality education project in WA schools.
Female reproductive system
A range of GDHR labelled illustrations of the female reproductive system - front view, side view, coloured and black & white. These can be downloaded and printed for use in classrooms.
Foetal development
A GDHR illustration showing foetal development during pregnancy within a side view of the body at 4 week intervals to 40 weeks.
GDHR impact evaluation (2016)
The final report, executive summary and accompanying documents associated with the independent Impact Evaluation of the Growing and Developing Healthy Relationships (GDHR) website in 2016.
Growing and developing healthy relationships annual website report (2018-2019)
Annual analytics and updates of the Department of Health's GDHR website
Guide to supporting a student to affirm or transition gender identity at school
A guidelines developed by Inclusive Education WA outlining how to support a student to affirm their gender. Inclusive Education WA was defunded in October 2020.
Guidelines for supporting sexual and gender diversity in schools (2014)
The Guidelines for Supporting Sexual and Gender Diversity in Schools were released by the Equal Opportunity Commission Western Australia in 2014 to assist schools, in both public and private education sectors, to effectively address bullying specific to sexuality and gender diversity.
Guiding principles for the provision and practice of sexual health education (2003)
This document, developed by the WA Department of Health in 2003, is a guide for the provision of effective community and school-based education about STIs.
Issues Paper: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex (LGBTI) children and young people
Paper by the Commissioner for Children and Young People on gender and sexual diversity.
LGBTIQ+ inclusivity school climate assessment
An assessment tool developed by Inclusive Education WA to assess the environment of the school for the safety and inclusive of LGBTIQ+ students and staff. Assessment tools for staff, administration and students.
Male reproductive system
A range of GDHR illustrations of the male reproductive anatomy - side view - coloured, black & white, labelled and unlabelled, with erection, without erection. Can be downloaded and printed for use in classrooms.
Mandatory Consent Education in Australia
Article that discusses the mandatory teaching of consent in Australian schools focusing on how consent is an integral part of all relationships but how education in schools must continue to develop and listen to young people in terms of how relationships are taught to students.
Menstrual cycle
A GDHR chart describing changes during the menstrual cycle. Can be downloaded and printed for use in classrooms.
Parents and sex education in Western Australia: A consultation with parents on educating their children about sexual health at home and school (2008)
This research project was commissioned by the WA Department of Health to report on the role and needs of parents and teachers as sexual health educators of their children.
Parents and sex education: Parents’ attitudes to sexual health education in WA schools (2010)
This project was commissioned by the WA Department of Health to determine parents' attitudes to sexual health education programs conducted in schools, and also what resources were required to assist parents to conduct sexual health education at home.
Pregnancy illustrations 0-24 weeks
A set of GDHR illustrations showing implantation to 24 weeks of pregnancy - a side view of foetal growth within the body. Can be downloaded and printed for use in classrooms.
Pregnancy illustrations in trimesters
A set of GDHR illustrations showing the first and second trimester of pregnancy in colour or b&w. Can be downloaded and printed for use in classrooms.
Profile of children and young people in WA (2020)
Commissioner for Children and Young People's profile of children and young people in WA.
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.
RELATE: Respectful relationships education program
A free three stage education program for high school students. Each stage offers a term of scaffolded lessons that builds upon the previous stage. Topics include: gender stereotypes and expectations, respectful relationship qualities, non-consensual image sharing, decision making frameworks, communication techniques, sexual consent and sexual assault, help seeking and critical analysis.
Relationships, sex and other stuff
A WA Department of Health booklet for teenagers addressing friends and relationships, sex and pregnancy.
Send noods?
Information on laws and issues to consider in relation to 'sexting' and sharing nude pictures with other people.
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.
Sexuality and gender based bullying in schools fact sheets
Equal Opportunity Commission fact sheets for students, parents/care givers and school staff.
Sexuality and relationship education training to primary and secondary school teachers: an evaluation of provision in Western Australia (2018)
A journal article describing the formative, process and short term impact evaluation of sexuality and relationships education (SRE) training for teachers in Western Australia over a three year period.
Sexuality Education: The why, who and what of relationship education in WA Schools (2009)
Report on Tertiary Lecturers' Seminar conducted in November 2009 to promote the Growing and Developing Healthy Relationships (GDHR) resources to tertiary educators and students.
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.
Teaching sexuality and relationships education (SRE): Getting it right for pre-service teachers (2014)
This report details the results of research with pre-service teachers to determine their confidence in teaching SRE, and their thoughts on the content and assessments of the proposed SRE course/unit at Curtin University.
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.
Using pronouns
A guide to using pronouns and supporting gender diverse students. A guideline developed by Inclusive Education WA (defunded October 2020).
WA Health Working with Youth: A legal resource for community-based professionals
This resource contains information for health professionals working with young people, but it also useful to teachers and schools. It provides detailed legal and policy frameworks in relation to various issues including duty of care, consent, confidentiality, sexual health, mental health, drugs and online safety. It also includes case studies.
Western Australian survey of secondary students and sexual health (2019)
A survey of WA Year 10-12's outlining: knowledge about STIs/BBVs; sexual behaviours; contraception use; online experiences; and informal/formal sexual health education.
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.
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.