Young people in Australia are having sex earlier than previous generations, with 15 years old now the average age one first becomes sexually active. The majority of young people who are sexually active report positive experiences, however experimentation and risk- taking behaviours often seen in this stage of life, such as unprotected sex and multiple partners, can put young people at risk of negative outcomes.
Compared to the general population in Australia, young people are disproportionately affected by sexually transmissible infections (STIs), and in 2024, people aged between 15-29 accounted for the majority of chlamydia notifications.
Healthcare workers have a critical responsibility to engage young people on sexual health, but knowing where to begin isn’t always easy. To help, ASHM has recently launched an on-demand learning module, Sexual Health for Young People. Clinical nurse Helen Cootes served as an advisor on the module, and speaking to ASHM, says health practitioner confidence is essential for creating a safe and comfortable environment for young people.
“Being comfortable and confident to talk about a sensitive concept while having the knowledgebase to be responsive to questions and concerns, fosters open communication and builds good relationships between clinician and client,” she says.
For young people, creating a safe and accepting space is paramount, as many are unlikely to initiate conversations with clinicians regarding their sexual health and may not disclose their complete sexual history due to fear of judgement, or embarrassment.
Helen suggests clinicians create an open and non-judgemental environment by explicitly stating boundaries and confidentiality early in the appointment, asking open-ended questions and affirming any questions that are asked by the young person. She encourages clinicians to use inclusive and everyday language, adopt a trauma informed delivery approach, provide resources, and normalise the topic of sexual health.
“Acknowledge that sexual health is a normal, healthy part of life that includes pleasure, intimacy, and consent; not just potential pregnancy or infection risk,” she says.
“Also, focus on empowerment and frame conversations around mutual respect, bodily autonomy, and health rather than fear.”
Helen also advises clinicians to be aware of potential unconscious biases they may hold, which she says could include the assumption that young people lack health literacy, or the agency to discuss their own body.
“This undermines the young person’s autonomy, discourages open disclosure of sensitive issues, like sexual or mental health, and can make them feel invisible in their own healthcare journey,” she says.
Another bias clinicians may hold is the assumption that young people only live in the moment, which can lead healthcare providers to withhold important long-term discussions or complex choices, such as preventative treatments or care planning.
“This assumption deprives the young person of vital health education and limits their ability to build foundational health habits for adulthood,” says Helen.
She says providers might also assume that young people overstate or imagine minor ailments to get attention and thus dismiss these complaints as attention-seeking or anxiety, which can lead to misdiagnoses, delayed treatments for physical conditions, and a strong sense of medical distrust.
“Alternatively, we can be too reliant on young people being resilient and healthy, meaning clinicians may deprioritize screenings, preventative health discussions, or thorough investigations, thus missing early warning signs of chronic or reproductive health issues,” she says.
While creating a safe and non-judgmental space for young people is crucial to providing effective sexual health care, it’s important clinicians remain aware of their legal obligations.
“It’s important for you as a health care provider to know your duty of care, role and scope of practice. Also, utilise supportive policies and frameworks that will support your practice whilst supporting your client like the Australian Charter of Healthcare Rights,” says Helen.
“Navigate any mandatory reporting by maintaining approachability. Explain why the information must be shared, involve the young person in the process where possible, and collaborate on the best course of action.”
Through the Sexual Health Care for Young People learning module, clinicians working with young people will develop the knowledge, communication skills, legal understanding and more, needed to provide accessible youth-friendly sexual health care. Discover the OLM on-demand now.
