SEXUAL HEALTH AND RESPECTFUL RELATIONSHIPS EDUCATION

Mrs GERAGHTY (Torrens) (15:19): My question is to the Minister for Health and Ageing. What impact is sexual health and respectful relationships education having on South Australia's young people, and where is it headed in the future?

The Hon. J.D. HILL (Kaurna—Minister for Health and Ageing, Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Minister for the Arts) (15:19): Thank you very much, Madam Speaker, and I thank the member for this really important question. I am very pleased to inform the house about sexual health and respectful relationships programs that run in our secondary schools across the state. Members might be interested to know that South Australia has the third lowest teen pregnancy rate in Australia after the ACT and Victoria. In 2002, the teenage pregnancy rate—that covers both births and abortions—

Ms Chapman interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, the member for Bragg!

The Hon. J.D. HILL: The teenage pregnancy rate in 2002 for both births and abortions was 47.7 per 1,000 teenagers. In 2009 the rate was 32.7 per 1,000, the lowest teenage pregnancy rate on record in this state. So, nine years ago it was 47.7 per 1,000; it has fallen to 32.7 per 1,000 teenagers in this state. The abortion rate for teens in 2002 was 24.5 per 1,000. This has dropped, I am very pleased to say, to 17.2 per 1,000 in 2009. In actual numbers: in 2002 there were 1,249 terminations to teenagers in South Australia; in 2009 there were 908.

Regardless of one's views about abortion, I think everybody would agree that the fewer abortions there are, the better it is for us as a society. I am pleased to say there has been a reduction in the rate of abortions for teenagers. I am advised that this decrease can, in part, be attributed to a Focus Schools program which now runs in our secondary schools for students in years 8, 9 and 10. In 2003 the program began with the share Project, with 15 pilot schools. Members might remember this program because it was made much of by members on the other side. Now, after years and years of its presence, we can see the results: lower pregnancy rates and lower abortion rates.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. J.D. HILL: Despite efforts to derail the program, not one of the pilot schools left the three-year trial. Around 10,000 parents gave their informed consent for their 13 to 15 year olds to participate, with about 95 to 98 per cent of parents endorsing the appropriateness of the program. So, despite the campaigns to undermine confidence, 95 to 98 per cent of people continued in it. Schoolteachers found the support valuable—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. J.D. Hill: Schoolteachers found the support valuable, as they could access comprehensive resources in relation to respectful relationships and sexual health, backed up with training and mentoring. A university partnership was also established to evaluate the program.

The evaluation reported positive feedback from teachers, students and families who recognised its impact. In 2006, SHine SA expanded the program with additional funds from the state government. I am pleased to report that 103 state secondary schools, in years 8, 9 and 10, are now involved, and more schools show interest. In addition, private schools are sending teachers for teacher training and implementing the program in their schools.

One of the strengths of the program is relating to teachers for their particular students' needs. There are an additional 17 Aboriginal and Anangu schools, and the SA Aboriginal Sports Training Academy, involved in the Aboriginal Focus Schools program from years 5 to 10; and also 18 communities involved in the peer education and health promotion program called Investing in Aboriginal Youth.

Teachers who work with children with disabilities are also requesting training so that they can better support the students around their rights, responsibilities and sexual health. I was very pleased to meet with the SHine SA team, now based at the Woodville GP Plus Centre, recently, and to hear firsthand how the staff value working with schools.

By the first term of 2012 we will have celebrated 10 years of comprehensive, respectful relationships and sexual health education for young South Australians—a program which was denigrated by those on the other side and which has had a remarkable positive impact on the birth rate amongst young people in South Australia.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Point of order.

Mr WILLIAMS: We are descending into debate.

The SPEAKER: Minister, have you concluded your answer? Thank you.