Wednesday didn’t just mark Valentine’s Day, it was also National Condom Day as a part of WA Sexual Health Week.
Avon Youth and medical students from the Rural Clinical School teamed up on Wednesday afternoon to distribute information packs and chocolate to high school students, encouraging conversation about sexual health.
Youth worker Tricia Chrimes said the handing out the packs was not about encouraging teenagers to be sexually active but instead educating them and giving them support.
“We want the kids to know there are resources available to them and people who are happy to talk to them about these issues,” Ms Chrimes said.
“I have a 15-year-old and I know I’d want my kids to be educated on these issues.”
She said the issue of sexual health is important is an area of concern, not just in the Wheatbelt but in suburban areas as well.
Information supplied to the youth was not limited to sexual health, but also provided support services that deal with mental health.
Nyomi Uduman and Kimberly Willcocks from the Rural Clinical School helped distrubute the information packs in the hope that they would be an approachable presence.
“We’re young so we’d like to think the youth would feel comfortable coming up to us and having a chat,” Ms Uduman said.
“It’s a great message to share with the community so it made sense to get involved.
“Since we’re still new to town it’s also good to get ourselves out there.”
Sexual Health Week runs from Wednesday 14 to 21 February.