Youth Sexual Health

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2008:

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Student Support and Engagement Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry.

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and Student Equity and Disability Support: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/disability

This subject explores two main themes:

• The social construction of sexuality - how our understandings of sexuality are developed in socio-cultural contexts; and
• Sexual health - how it is defined and measured, what factors contribute to it, and practical issues to consider when interacting with adolescents and trying to have an impact on their sexual health and wellbeing.

Adolescent sexual health and sexuality are vast areas of study. This subject cannot do justice to every aspect of each theme. We have endeavoured to emphasise as much as possible the concept of diversity, including sexual, ethnic and cultural diversity and disability. Where possible we have included a brief historical background to some of the topics. By touching on a range of diverse issues this subject hopes to stimulate the student's interest in exploring in much more depth the areas which most interest them and bring them to an overall deeper understanding of adolescent sexual health in contemporary Australia.

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

Upon completion of this subject it is expected that students will be able to:

• develop a repertoire of strategies to engage young people and families using motivational interviewing techniques;
• assess the situational context to identify risk and resilience factors in a young person's life;
• observe behaviours and recognise how they link to emotional distress;
• develop approaches to ensuring confidentiality, appropriate referral, and risk management.

This subject is designed to enable students to:

• appreciate the breadth, depth and diversity of adolescent sexuality;
• understand some of the historical aspects of the study and social construction of sexuality;
• be up-to-date with current knowledge of the indicators of and influences on adolescent sexual health in Australia ;
• have gained some practical knowledge and skills to assist in working with adolescents who have sexual health concerns.