Background: 

Hunter New England LHD in partnership with Miyay Birray Youth Services and PIUSX AMS Moree piloted a Parenting Aboriginal Sexual Health (PASH) program which aimed to increase parents’ sexual health knowledge and confidence to enable them to support their young people in making positive decisions regarding sexual behaviours.

Methods: 

Key stakeholders in 5 Communities were identified to support the program roll out. A four hour workshop was conducted in each Community targeting parents/carers of Aboriginal adolescents. Both parents/carers and adolescents participated in the workshops. Participates undertook pre and post evaluations to measure the change in parents and young people’s knowledge of sexual health and communication skills.

Results/Discussions: 

59 parents/carers and 81 adolescent participated in the program. Pre to post evaluation found increase in parent/carer knowledge regarding safe sex practices, contraception and STI knowledge. In addition parent’s confidence in providing their children with information increased. Adolescents also reported an increased confidence in talking to their parents/carers about sex or sexual health.

Conclusions/implications: 

The program has resulted in an increase in parents/carers sexual knowledge and confidence in regard to sexual health and an increase in adolescent confidence to speak to their parents. Programs designed at increasing parent’s sexual health knowledge and confidence may have a positive impact in reducing STI rates.