Using a Whole-school Approach for Sexuality Education

In Victoria, sexuality education is part of the health and physical education curriculum (which is also commonly known as sex, or sexual health, education). The UN defined sexual health as ‘a state of physical, emotional, mental and social wellbeing related to sexuality, including the absence of disease, dysfunction or infirmity, a positive and respectful approach to sexuality and sexual relationships, the possibility of having pleasurable and safe sexual experiences, free from coercion, discrimination and violence, and respect for the sexual rights of all persons’ (World Health Organisation [WHO] 2002). It has been argued that sexual health promotion should be evidence based, needs driven, evaluated and ecological in perspective (Schaalma, Abraham et al., 2004).