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Legislative Council - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2012-09-20 Daily Xml
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SHINE SA

The Hon. J.M. GAZZOLA (15:09): My question is to the Minister for Communities and Social Inclusion. Minister, will you tell us about the work of SHine SA chief executive officer Kaisu Vartto?

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Communities and Social Inclusion, Minister for Social Housing, Minister for Disabilities, Minister for Youth, Minister for Volunteers) (15:09): I take great pleasure in responding to the question from the honourable member. SHine SA is the leading sexual health agency in South Australia, a role they have undertaken for more than 40 years. It works with government health, education and community agencies to improve the sexual health and wellbeing of South Australians. SHine SA has been strongly led by Ms Kaisu Vartto over the past 18 years. Tomorrow, I am attending the retirement celebrations of Kaisu.

Kaisu has steered the organisation through significant changes through her time, including the shift from Family Planning SA to Sexual Health Information Networking and Education (SHine SA). This marked an important change for the organisation in moving to a comprehensive focus on sexual health matters. During this time, SHine SA developed a program called Sexual Health and Relationship Education (SHARE) to be used in state schools. Throughout the negativity created by the likes of the Australian Family Association, and others, Kaisu remained steadfast in her view that the program would achieve safer and healthier outcomes for young people. Indeed, Kaisu has been proved to be right.

At the turn of the century, Australia had a considerably high rate of teenage pregnancy compared to the rest of the industrialised world yet, in 2009, thanks to programs such as SHARE, South Australia's teen pregnancy rate was recorded at a low 32.7 per 1,000, the lowest rate on record for our state. This, in part, I believe, can be attributed to the leadership of Kaisu and the work of her team at SHine SA.

The working environment has also changed during Kaisu's occupation of the offices, once at Unley, then at Kensington, to the modern working facilities enjoyed by staff and clients now in Woodville. SHine SA's services include counselling, education and a team of clinical professionals. Kaisu's approach as a leader of SHine SA is to respond to community needs and to work closely with community members, including young people, people with disabilities, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and LGBTIQ people. Her team's work includes running workshops and group education sessions, youth participation and peer education, and also health promotions.

SHine SA works with schools for children and young people with a disability to cover issues such as safe sex practices and prevention of sexual abuse. Across South Australia, a number of children and adults with disabilities have also accessed one-to-one education with SHine SA, addressing appropriate and inappropriate behaviours and protective behaviours. SHine SA also provides training for disability workers, developing their capacity to support the sexual health and relationship needs of their clients.

Kaisu is a national advocate for sexual health education and is committed to ensuring that young South Australians have access to sexual health education, resources and information. The Department for Health and Ageing recently developed the first South Australian Sexually Transmissible Infections Action Plan 2012-15, and Kaisu has made a notable contribution to this action plan. She is a wonderful advocate for women's health and has been a great champion for sexual health education, a passionate advocate for equitable access to health-care services and sexual health rights.

After 47 years in employment, she will continue, I am sure, to advocate on issues such as human rights and Aboriginal reconciliation in her retirement. I commend her tireless work and dedication to improving the lives of South Australians wanting a broad sexual health service.

The PRESIDENT: The Hon. Ms Vincent has a supplementary question.

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