Teenagers ditch safe sex as HIV education clinic closes
AUSTRALIAN teenagers are putting themselves at considerable risk of contracting serious infections due to their lax safe sex practices.
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EXCLUSIVE
AUSTRALIAN teenagers are putting themselves at huge sexual risk, with new data showing only four in ten teens practice safe sex all the time.
The shocking statistic comes as Australia’s only youth-based sexual health service raising awareness about HIV is set to close its doors after the government axed funding last year.
According to official health data, only 43 per cent of teens in Years 10-12 say they always used a condom when they had sex in the previous year.
A further 39 per cent used condoms only ‘sometimes’ and 13 per cent ‘never’ used condoms according to the figures in Australia’s Heath 2016.
The statistics come as a number of sexually transmissible diseases (syphilis, HIV, chlamydia and gonorrhoea) are on the rise, in particular, notification rates for chlamydia have increased by over 80 per cent over the last 10 years.
CEO of youth sexual health service YEAH!, Alischa Ross, said her 12-year-old service would have to close its doors this year after the Turnbull government refused to continue funding.
YEAH! is Australia’s only youth-based sexual health service raising awareness about HIV and was set up by Ms Ross after both her mother and sister died from the infection.
Ms Ross said a $500,000 funding grant was last year awarded to Family Planning NSW instead of YEAH! meaning the service has no future funds to continue its work.
“Losing that funding meant the end for our organisation,” Ms Ross told News Corp Australia.
“I don’t understand why national funding would go to a state-based organisation. Youth services are such a tiny part of what family planning does and they have no track record of significant online engagement.”
Ms Ross said YEAH! operates across five states and has the largest online and face-to-face reach when it comes to sexual health.
“We reach more people on sexual health than any other organisation ever has,” she said.
But since funding was cut last July Ms Ross has been keeping things going on her savings alone and will have to shut her doors completely within weeks.
“We have struggled along for seven months but there is no alternative way to keep things going.”
A spokesman for Health Minister Greg Hunt said Family Planning NSW was chosen to be awarded government money above YEAH! because it was the best service for the job.
This is despite it being a state-based service and YEAH! already having a significant online presence.
“Family Planning NSW was selected based on merit, value for money, innovation and a proven track record in delivery effective BBV (Blood Borne Viruses) and STI prevention and education activities,” Mr Hunt’s spokesman said.
“Family Planning NSW will develop web-based and social media resources and information on STI, including resources on STI prevention, testing and treatment information and provide links to sexual health services.”
Opposition Health spokeswoman Catherine King said it was “extremely disappointing” YEAH! would have to close its doors.
“This is just another decision from a shortsighted and out-of-touch Government,” Ms King told News Corp.
“At a time when 75 per cent of sexually transmitted infections occur in young people, it simply doesn’t make sense to defund the only youth-based organisation promoting sexual health safety. It is extremely disappointing that this organisation is just another victim of Malcolm Turnbull’s health cuts.”
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