Note: SH&FPA does not provide clinical or educational services. For assistance with these matters, please contact your State or Territory Sexual Health and Family Planning Organisation (click logos on this page).
National Program
SH&FPA undertakes a variety of work at the national level including project work, advocacy, networking and capacity building. We operate within a human rights framework that recognises sexual rights as human rights.
We work collaboratively and in partnership with other national and international sexual health and family planning organisations, government, industry and the private sector where there are common objectives to improve sexual and reproductive health and rights.
Our national partners include:
- State and Territory Sexual Health and Family Planning Organisations
- Australasian Society for HIV Medicine (ASHM)
- Australasian Sexual Health Alliance (ASHA)
- The Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing
- Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID)
- Australian Council for International Development (ACFID)
SH&FPA’s main focus for 2012 is the ‘Growing a National Approach’ project, funded by the Department of Health and Ageing over the period June 2011 to June 2013. The project aims to:
“Expand and strengthen a national approach and improve overall access to activities and information about sexual and reproductive health, including family planning, for all Australians with a focus on high needs and at risk populations, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, people from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse backgrounds, people with a disability and people from rural and remote areas.”
The four key components of the project are:
- Development of national sectoral and national cross-sectoral networks
- Improving access and equity for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
- Strengthening and increasing workforce capacity, and
- Translating latest evidence
As part of this project, SH&FPA has established a number of Professional Working Groups (PWG’s) and Special Interest Groups (SIGs). It is anticipated that the number of groups will be expanded in the future in accordance with current and emerging issues.
Professional Working Groups (PWGs)
Medical Educators PWG
The MEPWG is led by Katrina Allen of Shine SA and Jenny Leung of SHFPACT. Steve Blackwell of FPWA is the CEO liaison. The groups recent activities have included expanding access to IUD insertion training, developing a contraceptive counselling card for GPs, and updating “Contraception: an Australian clinical practice handbook”. This year, they plan to explore e-learning as a professional development tool.
The MEPWH has also recently updated the SH&FPA Certificate in Sexual and Reproductive Health - National Curriculum.
Nurses PWG
Hilary Freeman of SHFPACT leads the NPWG, with Robyn Wardle of FPWNT as CEO liaison. The NPWG is currently concentrating on the scope of practise for sexual and reproductive health nurses. Recently, several members were integrally involved in developing the Australasian Sexual Health Nurses Association (ASHNA) national core competencies for SRH nurses. Out of these, the NPWG aims to develop a national course.
Education/Training and Health Promoters PWG
Cecelia Gore of FPQ leads the ETHPPWG, with Tim Bavinton of SHAFPACT as the CEO liaison The ETHPPWG has agreed to develop a number of FAQ sheets on sexuality and relationships education and will progress this work throughout 2012.
Special Interest Groups (SIGs)
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander SIG
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander SIG is being led by Kaisu Vartto of SHine. Internal membership of the group has been agreed and external members are currently being sought. SH&FPA staff have met with NACCHO and negotiations regarding an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander SRH symposium to be held later in 2012 are being progressed.
Youth SIG (YSIG) and Disability SIG (DSIG)
The Youth SIG (YSIG) is being led by Lynne Jordan of FPV and the Disability SIG (DSIG) is being led by Glenn Campbell of FPT. Draft Terms of Reference for these two groups are being discussed and nominations for internal and external membership will be sought in the very near future.
For further information on our national program, please contact us.
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