April 2010     In celebration of National Youth Week (10 – 18 April), Australia’s leading sexual and reproductive healthcare organisation today opened the vault on The Sex Files project, revealing what hundreds of youths around Australia had to say about all things sexual health related.

Launched last year, Marie Stopes International developed The Sex Files to gain insight into the sexual health issues effecting youth in this day and age.

“With this week being all about Australia’s youth, we felt it was an ideal time to open the files and learn what young people really want to know about sex and how to have healthy relationships,” said Jill Michelson, National Clinical Advisor for Marie Stopes International.

“Not surprisingly, most youth highlighted the need for quality sex education programs in schools,” Ms Michelson said.

Other comments left by young Australians in The Sex Files included:

• The need to increase both access to and affordability of contraception.
• Clarification around the legal age of consent.
• The need for better access to confidential sexual health services.
• The need for more information on the emotional aspects of sex and relationships.

“Teenagers are becoming sexually active at an earlier age, yet they aren’t necessarily being equipped to deal with such emotional and physical challenges, and many are left feeling confused and confounded,” said Ms Michelson.

“It is therefore vital that we encourage teens to tell us how they feel about their sexual health situation and to let us know what resources and support they want and need at this time in their life.”

The Sex Files is informed by an online survey that asks teens questions about themselves and their current sexual situation and provides them with an open forum to have their say.

The project was developed following recent research conducted by Quantum Market Research which found that 9 out of 10 teens felt that the Government should do more to expand teenagers’ sexual health education options.

“Marie Stopes International will collate all feedback submitted as part of The Sex Files project and provide it to the Government to better inform their policies and programs,” said Ms Michelson. “To best support our teens, open communication and a thorough understanding of their situation is crucial, and we hope that through The Sex Files project we can become one step closer to meeting their needs.”

To contribute to The Sex Files project, visit http://www.likeitis.org.au/. The online survey will be running until the end of September 2010.

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