Back in October 2008, I worked with a small project team to put together a funding application to the Ministry of Justice Sexual Assault Primary Prevention Contestable Funding Round. Primay prevention means "before it happens". I confess that I knew very little about this particular topic but found an amazing group of people with whom it was all too familiar: Police, medical practitioners, counsellors, student health coordinators, sexual health educators...
Several things quickly became apparent: since Tauranga HELP had closed, there was no agency in the community that had sexual assault prevention education as its primary function; there were issues about reporting; uncertainty around access to support for victims; and there were alarming stories in the media about young women (school age) who were sexually active, usually in conjunction with excessive alcohol consumption, in ways that were harmful and downright dangerous.
The successful proposal we put together was for a campaign targeting Y11- 13 (5th - 7th form) over two-years with particular focus on the periods of elevated risk: school ball season, school leaving, and summer holidays. We convened a youth focus group comprising students nominated by the student health coordinators from most of the local secondary schools. The students were hugely instrumental in the design and content of the campaign. For instance, they told us that without alcohol there wouldn't be casual sex at their age; they said terms like 'sexual assault', 'sexual violence' and 'sexual abuse' didn't resonate for them: sexual assault/violence is when you are dragged kicking and screaming into the bushes and raped; sexual abuse is what adults do to children. So when pressed to describe what does happen for them they called it 'unwanted sexual contact'. And so the campaign was born: "Say NO to USC".
Activities so far include: 'Dealing with Disclosure' workshops for schools and community agencies; txt-to-win limo contest for students to win a limo for their school ball - all entrants were text-bombed with personal safety messages on the night of their ball; Student Information Cards designed by the students and that are proving to be very popular; the associated alcohol-related campaign "James and Ella go to the Ball" (featured in a previous blog); and a display at the Y11 Anti Drink:Drive Expo attended by 2,000 year 11 students from six secondary schools and from the alternative education providers.
Coming up, we are displaying our resources at two student health days; and "Keeping Ourselves and Our Daughters Safe" event organised by ZONTA in association with the White Ribbon Day in November. We are distributing printed fluoro pens and brochures to every school leaver in the district, and over the summer will be giving away thousands of brightly coloured temporary tattoos on the beaches.
At the 'Dealing with Disclosure' workshops we were asked: what is the average length of time between a sexual assault occurring and a disclosure? not days, not weeks, not months...10 or more years! Our campaign is bringing the topic out into the open, and encouraging young people to keep themselves safe, and get help if something happens.
For more information on the campaign check out our website: http://www.teentools.co.nz/ If you or someone you know needs help - for free, independent and confidential advice call Tauranga Moana Victim Support (07) 577 4356 or txt 027 4 VICTIM
Several things quickly became apparent: since Tauranga HELP had closed, there was no agency in the community that had sexual assault prevention education as its primary function; there were issues about reporting; uncertainty around access to support for victims; and there were alarming stories in the media about young women (school age) who were sexually active, usually in conjunction with excessive alcohol consumption, in ways that were harmful and downright dangerous.
The successful proposal we put together was for a campaign targeting Y11- 13 (5th - 7th form) over two-years with particular focus on the periods of elevated risk: school ball season, school leaving, and summer holidays. We convened a youth focus group comprising students nominated by the student health coordinators from most of the local secondary schools. The students were hugely instrumental in the design and content of the campaign. For instance, they told us that without alcohol there wouldn't be casual sex at their age; they said terms like 'sexual assault', 'sexual violence' and 'sexual abuse' didn't resonate for them: sexual assault/violence is when you are dragged kicking and screaming into the bushes and raped; sexual abuse is what adults do to children. So when pressed to describe what does happen for them they called it 'unwanted sexual contact'. And so the campaign was born: "Say NO to USC".
Activities so far include: 'Dealing with Disclosure' workshops for schools and community agencies; txt-to-win limo contest for students to win a limo for their school ball - all entrants were text-bombed with personal safety messages on the night of their ball; Student Information Cards designed by the students and that are proving to be very popular; the associated alcohol-related campaign "James and Ella go to the Ball" (featured in a previous blog); and a display at the Y11 Anti Drink:Drive Expo attended by 2,000 year 11 students from six secondary schools and from the alternative education providers.
Coming up, we are displaying our resources at two student health days; and "Keeping Ourselves and Our Daughters Safe" event organised by ZONTA in association with the White Ribbon Day in November. We are distributing printed fluoro pens and brochures to every school leaver in the district, and over the summer will be giving away thousands of brightly coloured temporary tattoos on the beaches.
At the 'Dealing with Disclosure' workshops we were asked: what is the average length of time between a sexual assault occurring and a disclosure? not days, not weeks, not months...10 or more years! Our campaign is bringing the topic out into the open, and encouraging young people to keep themselves safe, and get help if something happens.
For more information on the campaign check out our website: http://www.teentools.co.nz/ If you or someone you know needs help - for free, independent and confidential advice call Tauranga Moana Victim Support (07) 577 4356 or txt 027 4 VICTIM
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