Doing ‘IT‘

#23: The Pleasure Agenda

In this episode, FPV Chief Executive Officer, Claire Vissenga talks about pleasure. One of the most common reasons for people to choose a sexual relationship is the pursuit of pleasure. Yet discussions of pleasure are left out of curriculum and policy. Claire talks through FPV’s approach to this discussion and its importance.
Resources listed in the podcast:
World Health Organisation definition of sexual health. Research and recommendations about Sexuality Education see the UNESCO International technical guidance on sexuality education: an evidence-informed approach. Scarleteen has articles for young people on sexual health and sexual pleasure. Information about FPV school programs including resources and lesson plans go to the schools portal on the FPV website.
More information about FPV @ fpv.org.au. Contact us directly at doingit@fpv.org.au.

#22 Inclusive Language

In this episode, Natalie from FPV talks us through inclusive language and how it applies to the way we talk about relationships and sexuality. In her work as Community Engagement and Health Promotions Officer, Natalie talks with many community groups to find out what is important to them, making FPV's services more inclusive and accessible. We discuss the importance of pronouns, define some key terms and are encouraged to challenge the stereotypes and prejudices that we all carry. Enjoy!
Resources listed in the podcast are:
Tasmanian Education Department Guidelines for Inclusive Language.  Australian Institute of Family Studies glossary of terms. Minus 18 has great resources for schools and families. The Diversity Council includes short videos about inclusive language in the workplace. Melbourne Bisexual Network for community led advocacy of bisexual+ health. Also see ACON Inclusive language guide.
More information about FPV @ fpv.org.au. Contact us directly at doingit@fpv.org.au.

#21 Condoms

In this episode, sexual health nurse Alison everything you ever wanted to know about condoms. As Educators, we are frequently asked to talk about condoms in our classes. Upper primary school children often have questions about them. Secondary school students get a lot more information about what condoms are, what they are used for and how to use them. We also discuss how to talk to young people about what to do if sex without a condom happens. Condoms are the only type of contraception that protects against both STI’s (sexually transmissible infections) and pregnancy. This is important information for everyone to know before they have a sexual experience. Enjoy!
Resources:
Access a wealth of information about condoms the FPV website or on the Kidshealth site. For more information about the sexual behaviour of young Australians have a look at the 6th National Survey of Australian Secondary Students and Sexual Health 2019. by Australian Research  Centre into Sex Health and Society at La Trobe University. Or have a listen to our episode about this research here.
More information about FPV @ fpv.org.au. Contact us at doingit@fpv.org.au.

#20: Trans & Gender Diverse Parents

In this episode, we interview writer and LGBTIQ advocate Jac Tomlins.
Jac has created a resource called Trans and Gender Diverse Parents Guide. In it, she records the experience of parenting as a transgender, gender diverse person or a person who is transitioning while parenting. These individual stories are published together to start building a picture of a collective experience and provide insights and advice for people within the community (LGBTIQ and more broadly). Children often have questions about what it means to be transgender and what that might mean for someone's fertility. This guide provides insight into this experience and guidance on ways to communicate this to young people. Enjoy! le. 
Resources:
Information about Jac Tomlins at her website. The resource TRANS AND GENDER DIVERSE PARENTS GUIDE  available through Jac’s website also at Rainbow Families. The guide ends with a list of resources state by state, nationally and internationally, they include: Transgender Victoria; The Gender Centre; World Professional Association of Transgender Health.
More information about FPV @ fpv.org.au. Contact us at doingit@fpv.org.au.

#19: Victorian Assisted Reproductive Treatment Authority (VARTA)

In this episode, we interview Kate Bourne from the Victorian Assisted Reproduction Treatment Authority (VARTA). VARTA is responsible for the registration of reproductive clinics, public education, donor conception registers and can connect people with a sperm or egg donor.
Statistically, there is a child in every class who was conceived through some kind of Assisted Reproductive Technology. When FPV run classes in primary school about making babies we talk about IVF and other types of Assisted Reproductive Technology. We think it is important that all types of conception are included.
Kate discusses the role of VARTA, provides guidance about what to say to children about alternative methods of conception, and when to have those conversations.
Enjoy! 
Resources:
VARTA website for news about fertility, includes links to support groups. VARTA page titled When to tell: ages and stages giving detailed advice on how to tell children about IVF or ART at different ages.  The Donor Conception Network  for books to help explain different types of conception. Corey Silverberg’s book – What Makes A Baby  is a great book to start a conversation about babies no matter how they were conceived.
VARTA & FPV teaching module is a classroom resource to use for students grade 3- 10 when teaching about Assisted Reproductive Technology.
More information about FPV @ fpv.org.au

#18: Fiona Katauskas on The Amazing True Story of How Babies Are Made

In this episode, we interview Fiona Katauskas.
Fiona is a cartoonist, author and illustrator. She is the artist behind The Amazing True Story of How Babies are Made, a popular book that has been animated into a three-part series for families and schools. 
Fiona has created a funny, accurate and inclusive narrative as a way to guide a conversation about how babies are made. Family Planning Victoria have endorsed the resource and we have seen first hand how classrooms of students react to its humour and honesty in such a positive way. In this episode we talk about the creative process of writing and animating this story and the reactions it has had. 
The Amazing True Story of How Babies Are Made is available in bookshops, and at Kmart. Online bookstore here. The animated series in 3 parts has it’s own webpage amazingbabies.tv.  This is where to find the animations,  extra family resources and teacher toolkit.
For more information about us go to fpv.org.au.  
 
 

#17: Going to the doctor

In this episode, we talk to FPV’s Nurse Educator Sam Read. Young people often ask questions about sexual health information and seek information about how to protect their privacy. Sam talks about what it takes for a young person to get themselves to the doctor. What age can someone see a doctor on their own? Does a parent have to know if a young person has been prescribed contraception? What even is Medicare and the My Health record? Enjoy!
Family Planning Victoria is one of several sexual health clinics available in Melbourne. There are other sexual health service providers in Melbourne and in capital cities as well as General Practitioners. 
Resources:
Links for Medicare transfer forms. Information about my health record.
The Better Health Channel and Headspace have great information about young people and going to the doctor.
Vic Youth Law has legal information about sex and the law.
For more information about us go to fpv.org.au.  

#16: Minus 18 - Champions for LGTBIQ Youth

In this episode, we interview Miller Soding from Minus 18. Minus 18 is an Australian youth driven network for LGTBIQ young people. They run events, workshops and provide advocacy resources. Minus 18 is an agency that young people might know about through school. In this discussion, Miller answers questions about the type of work Minus 18 do and why it is so important. She also talks about some logistics of events that parents and carers might want to know about if they have a young person attending an event. Enjoy!
For more information about Minus 18 go to their website. They provide information for young people, created by young people that explains the whole rainbow, including past and future events. Have a look at their social media platforms here: Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and twitter.
For more information about Family Planning Victoria go to fpv.org.au
 

#15: Consent

In this episode, we speak with FPV educator Kit about consent. When do young people start to learn about consent? What should adults say about it? What does consent mean in a sexual relationship? What does the law say about consent? What does FPV say about consent in classes? Enjoy!
Family Planning Victoria are based in Victoria and the age of consent laws we reference in this episode are Victorian laws. Please be aware that laws vary from state to state and internationally.
Some resources we use in class to talk about consent include:
Consent for Kids. Consent is like a cup of tea. 
Vic legal aid consent and the law
Laci Green Consent 101.
For more information about Family Planning Victoria go to fpv.org.au

#14: The Clitoris. Vanessa Hamilton

In this episode, we speak with Vanessa Hamilton from Talking the Talk. She discusses the clitoris: a body part that is often left out of the anatomy discussion. We talk about what it is, what young people need to know about it, what to say and when. Enjoy!
FPV advocates for a pleasure positive approach to Relationships and Sexuality Education. We include information about the clitoris as part of anatomy classes in primary school so students have foundational information about bodies when learning about healthy sexual relationships in secondary school.  
More about Vanessa Hamilton at Talking The Talk.
For more information on the clitoris Science Direct has really complete info. Australian Urologist Helen O'Connnell helped put the clitoris back into anatomy texts. Scarleteen has some information and some medical type drawings which explain where the clitoris sits within the body. This French animation mentioned is-  Le clitoris - Animated Documentary (2016) by Lori Malépart-Traversy. Sophia Wallace is the artist who created the Clitoracy Project.
More information about Family Planning Victoria@ fpv.org.au.
Contact us directly at doingit@fpv.org.au.