Families
Content with Resource audience Teacher .
Families
Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society
A centre for social research into sexuality, health and the social dimensions of human relationships based at La Trobe University, Melbourne.
Barriers and prompts to parent-child sexual communication
A research report from 2016 investigating what prompts parents to start the conversation about sexuality with their children. Many parents feel that their children are too young to talk about sexuality, and often don't know how to start the conversation. This article addresses barriers that parents experience in regards to talking about sexuality with their children.
Because it's my body!
Topics: protective behaviours, child abuse prevention, bodily autonomy, safety, art.
Fiction
Focusing on empowerment and prevention, this approachable book gives young children a way to reject unwanted, possibly harmful physical contact by adults and other kids.
Age: 4 to 7 years.
Challenging gender stereotypes in the early years: the power of parents
An overview of survey findings discussing key results within the context of international literature on early childhood, gender stereotypes, development, and parenting.
Family Planning NSW
Provides reproductive and sexual health services throughout NSW. Includes a section for teachers.
Family Planning Victoria (FPV)
Provides reproductive and sexual health services throughout Victoria. Includes a section on school programs.
Handbook for parents - consortium on the management of disorders of sex development
A handbook for parents with children who have intersex variations.
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.
Kids Helpline
Kids Helpline is Australia's only free, private and confidential, telephone and online counselling service specifically for young people aged between 5 and 25. The website also provides lots of valuable information for kids and parents.
Let's talk about sex
Non-fiction
Biological and psychological information about sex: from puberty and conception to birth control and STIs, including sections on the body, families and babies, and sexual health. New edition includes expanded information on internet, texting safety, contraception and LGBT.
Let's talk about the birds and the bees
Non-fiction
Cartoon illustrated book for parents to read to children about differences between male and female reproductive systems, private body parts, sexual intercourse, love, puberty, what touching is ok/not ok, families. Simple facts as a starting point for conversations.
Book review by Cath Hak 6min (external link)
Age: Parents and teachers of 4 to 11 year olds.
Let's talk about where babies come from
Non-fiction
Comics and cartoons outlining: similarities and differences between girls and boys, growing up, reproductive organs, how babies are made, what sex is, what is love, same sex attraction, conception, pregnancy, different types of birth, genetics (e.g. hair colour), different kinds of families, keeping safe (consensual touch), HIV (but not other STI/BBVs). A book that parents/teachers can read to younger children, or older children can read themselves.
Book review by Cath Hak 4min 36sec.
Age: 7 to 11 years.
My body belongs to me
Fiction
A straightforward story of a young girl that was sexually abused by a friend's uncle. The young girl tells her mum and dad who help her. Explains that it is not her fault. A rhyming book.
My body belongs to me from my head to my toes
Fiction
A story that covers safe touch, personal space, types of touch, how to say no to unwanted touch, and how to tell someone if abuse has happened. Includes a letter to parents/carers.
On the number of intersex people
This article reviews available data on the number of intersex people, and the complications involved in data collection.
Parent-adolescent sexual communication and adolecent safer sex behavior: a meta-analysis
An article describing the importance of parent-adolescent communication to reduce risky sexual behaviour in young people.
Parents and their support for school-based relationships and sexuality education - Western Australia Snapshot Report (2022)
This project and final report were commissioned by the Western Australian Department of Health to examine parents' and caregivers' attitudes towards school-based relationships and sexuality education. This report summaries the WA data from the broader National survey.
Perceptions and Experiences of First Sexual Intercourse in Australian Adolescent Females
This article aims to better understand the factors that influence the initiation of first intercourse among adolescent females and to explore the context in which this occurs.
Reachout.com
Information, support and resources to help young people improve their understanding of mental health issues, develop resilience, and increase their coping skills and help-seeking behaviour.
Relationships Australia
The Western Australian branch of Relationships Australia offers a wide range of programs and services to support positive and respectful relationships.