Sexual and reproductive health education in Australia: a qualitative study of health professionals’ views

Young people tend to have low levels of sexual health literacy. The aims of this work were to explore health professionals’ perspectives of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) education in Australia and what they considered should be the core components of SRH curriculum, particularly for Year 11 and 12 students. In September and October, 2021, health professionals (n = 12) with expertise in SRH, in Victoria, Australia participated in semi-structured interviews. Data underwent descriptive qualitative analyses. Five themes and four sub-themes were identified. School-based SRH education was considered an important opportunity to provide young people with awareness and knowledge of SRH. In young people, awareness and knowledge of SRH were linked with higher levels of motivation and empowerment to protect SRH. Participants’ opinions of key areas that should be covered in SRH education aligned with the national Australia Curriculum, with additional teaching about the health care services available to young people considered important. Concern was expressed that formal SRH education often ceases at the end of Year 10. Participants advocated for collaboration between education and health care, including trained external providers of school-based SRH education and school-based health care to increase young peoples’ access to SRH information and care.