Sexwise
Visit SiteSexwise
Sexual health programme for secondary school students
DESCRIPTION
THETA currently has an agreement with the Ministry of Health to deliver Sexwise:
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To rangatahi/youth across New Zealand in Year 9 - 13 schools and alternative education. A focus on North Island low decile (1-6) or similarly rated EQI schools and schools with a high percentage of Māori and Pacific Island students.
2024 marks the 35th year THETA’s programmes have been participated in by rangatahi/youth in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Check out the Sexwise website here.
- Theatre Component (one period)
A performance with songs, humour and drama. It focuses on four ‘typical’ high school teens and follows their developing relationships. Unresolved questions in the narrative are carried over to the workshop, during which your students discuss issues and behaviours and provide real advice to the fictitious characters.
This component is for the combined group of classes who will also receive the workshop that day. - Workshop Component (one period)
Interactive theatre based activities that promote questioning and discussion, enabling students to explore and reflect on behaviour that impacts on sexual health and wellbeing.
It is essential that all students participating in the programme attend this workshop.
To maximise participation each workshop is limited to 40 students.
CREATING SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENTS
THETA recognises that we will be your guests and that your school is ultimately responsible for your health education programme. We support schools to use Sexwise as part of an integrated approach that enhances delivery of the sexual health component of the The New Zealand Curriculum. Sexwise will encourage meaningful communication between students, their Family and Whānau, the school community, and local health providers.
Please note that Sexwise may trigger unresolved personal issues in some participants. It is an expectation that all settings who accept Sexwise also have robust policies and processes in place to support students to be able to disclose sexual violence safely and sensitively. The actors presenting Sexwise have received guidance around managing disclosures and will refer students on to support services within the school in the first instance. They are not trained counsellors.
Consultation with Family and Whānau
Should you request it during registration, a preview of Sexwise may be held for Family and Whānau, Boards of Trustees, Staff and the wider school community before students participate in the programme. A preview requires the school to actively promote attendance at an evening event, of usually ninety minutes to two hours duration.
THETA recommends that schools consult with parents / caregivers before and after Sexwise You may take photos of the performance for your school newsletter etc.
DEVELOPING PERSONAL SKILLS
Sexwise links to the Sexuality Education Key Area of Learning in the Health and Physical Education Curriculum and the values, key competencies and principles of The New Zealand Curriculum, which promotes the vision of helping young people to be confident, connected, actively involved lifelong learners.
The Sexwise performance and workshop aims to initiate student recognition of, and discussion about:
- Problem solving and strategies to deal with wellbeing related to sexual activity
- Social interactions: friendships; building relationships; sexual attraction, influences and pressures
- Risks and challenges; informed decision-making; safer sexual practices
- Issues of self-worth and empowerment, individuality and accepting responsibility
- Attitudes and stereotypes; tolerance and prejudice; diversity and sexual orientation
- Rights and responsibilities; ethical issues
- Health services and student support
Personal Health and Physical development
- Personal growth and development
- Safety management
- Personal identity
Relationships with other people
- Relationships
- Identity sensitivity and respect
- Interpersonal skills
Healthy communities and environments
- Societal attitudes and values
- Community resources
- Rights, responsibilities and laws
Teachers should use the programme as a learning focus to enhance the programmes they plan for their students.
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GOAL
To challenge and motivate rangatahi/youth to discuss, explore and reflect on behaviours that affect their health and that of others, with reference to current accurate information.
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EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES
To provide theatre in education that:
- Promotes healthy relationships.
- Identifies and discusses the risks, influences and pressures relating to sexual health including informed consent and unintended pregnancy.
- Examines and challenges attitudes that reinforce stereotypes, homophobia, and all types of discrimination.
- Acknowledges and affirms sexual and gender diversity.
- Encourages the practice of safer sex including practical information about sexual health services.
- Provides accurate information on STIs (sexually transmitted infections), their transmission, symptoms and prevention.;
The educational objectives of the programme are linked to the Achievement Objectives (levels 4-8) stated in the Health and Physical Education part of The New Zealand Curriculum document.
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DESCRIPTION
Two 50 minute sessions:
- Theatre presentation (50 minutes from students seated and ready)
- Workshop (50 minutes)
To enable the best outcome, it is preferable that students participate in both components of the programme during the same school day. In most circumstances, THETA recommends that students workshop in their normal peer group settings. However please consider the cultural safety of your students and we will timetable separate gender sessions if requested to do so.