November 2005

New form of contraception available for Schoolies' Week

Students attending this year’s Schoolies' celebrations can now employ
a new technique called 'verbal contraception' developed by Dr Janet
Hall, the noted sex therapist and clinical psychologist.

Speaking at the national launch in Melbourne of the Contraception
Workbook in the highly acclaimed 'Sexual Health for Life' program, Dr
Hall said: “Verbal contraception is essentially about teaching our
teenagers to say 'no'. It is vital that we equip them with strategies
and reasons for delaying having sex; and so step one is delay or
abstain for as long as possible.”

She added that when teenagers do have sex, then it is critical that
they use contraception to prevent unwanted pregnancies and protection
to reduce the risk of STI or STD infection.

Former Melbourne star endorses 'verbal contraception'

Co-founder of Reach and 2003 Victorian of the Year, former Melbourne
footballer Jim Stynes has thrown his weight behind the ongoing battle
to reduce the alarming rates of pregnancy and abortion among
Australian teenagers.

Stynes said: "It is so important for teenagers to have access to
contraception and comprehensive sex education, like this. Dr Janet
Hall has added a great balance to this unit, and teenagers would
certainly benefit from learning about 'verbal contraception'".

The Contraception Workbook was formally launched by co-author Dr
Janet Hall, the noted sex therapist and clinical psychologist in
October, 2005. The Contraception Workbook is the third in the 'Sexual
Health for Life' program and follows the successful March 2005
release to Australian homes and schools of workbooks dealing with
sexually transmitted infections and drug and alcohol awareness.

Ian McAllister, co-author of the Contraception unit and managing
director of the program’s publisher, Australian Training Initiatives,
said: “The fact that over 1,000 Australian schools are using the
program already, supports our belief that the time is absolutely
right for this coordinated interactive resource for teachers,
students and parents”. McAllister added that the program was now
being distributed internationally to markets as diverse as the UK,
China, South Africa and India and that his organisation had been
overwhelmed by the international interest in the program.

About Sexual Health for Life® www.sexedco.com
Sexual Health for Life® consists of a series
of five individual workbooks covering sexually transmitted
infections, drug and alcohol abuse, contraception, puberty and the
biology of sex. Presented in an accessible, interactive format, the
program has been widely endorsed by medical and educational experts
as vital information for teenagers through to young adults.

Media Contact: Jeff Olson, Director, Hillgrove Media International
Pty Ltd,
tel. (03) 9533 1052 mobile 0417 106 664 email jolson@hillgrove.com

posted by Dr Jan   # 9:06 PM