Consent Matters for People With Disabilities

Sexual Health Victoria, Women’s Health Loddon Mallee and Women’s Health in the South East (WHISE) are pleased to invite practitioners working in the disability support sector to attend a specialised capacity-building workshop focused on supporting young people with cognitive disabilities to understand and practice affirmative consent.

This interactive session has been developed to increase participants’ knowledge, skills and confidence in delivering relationships and sexuality education and supporting healthy, respectful relationships. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of Victoria’s affirmative consent legislation, the primary prevention of sexual violence, and practical strategies for discussing consent with young people with cognitive disabilities.

Participants will learn about:

• Ethical and legal aspects of sexual consent
• Victoria’s affirmative consent legislation
• Effective teaching strategies for affirmative consent
• Healthy and respectful relationships
• Sex-positive approaches to education and support
• Trauma-informed responses to disclosures
• Sexual health and wellbeing services for young people with cognitive disabilities
• The workshop will also provide opportunities to explore evidence-informed approaches to relationships and sexuality education, including:
• Creating safe spaces for discussions about sex and relationships
• Modelling and practising seeking and giving affirmative consent
• Adapting education approaches for young people with cognitive disabilities

Included online learning:

As part of registration, participants will receive access to a comprehensive suite of online learning modules developed by Sexual Health Victoria. These modules will strengthen understanding of affirmative consent legislation and provide practical guidance for discussing consent with young people with cognitive disabilities.

Event details:

Date: Tuesday 13 October
Time: 9:30am – 4:30pm
Location: Health Science 2 Building, Rooms 327/328 and 329/330, Level 3, La Trobe University Bendigo Campus, Sharon Street, Flora Hill

Refreshments:

Morning tea and lunch will be provided. We will do our best to accommodate common dietary requirements. Participants with specific dietary needs are welcome to bring their own food.

Accessibility:

We are committed to making this event as accessible as possible. Please let us know your accessibility requirements when registering, and we will endeavour to accommodate them.

Register today:

Places are limited. We encourage disability support workers, educators, practitioners, team leaders and other professionals supporting young people with cognitive disabilities to register early.

Register HERE

For more information about this session, the Consent Matters program, or Sexual Health Victoria, please contact Health Promotion Lead Joanna Anagnostou: janagnostou@shvic.org.au

For more information about Women’s Health Loddon Mallee, please contact Health Promotion Manager, Dr Karen Anderson: kanderson@whlm.org.au

Please share this opportunity with your staff, networks and partner organisations.