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2018
Readily available and aggressively marketed online, exposure to hardcore pornography is now mainstream. Porn has become a default sex educator for many young people, with serious implications for their capacity to negotiate free and full consent, for mutual respect, sexual health, and gender equality.
Our 2018 event, It’s time we talked – pornography, young people and sexuality today, is facilitated by Maree Crabbe, coordinator of the community education project Reality & Risk: Pornography, young people and sexuality.
When: 18 April 2018, 4pm-5.30pm
Where: Swan Hill Town Hall, 53-57 McCallum Street, Swan Hill
Cost: Free
Past events
Explicit sexual imagery is now easily accessed, created and shared. For young people, it is almost impossible to avoid and is a key source of information on sex and relationships.
Leading Australian community educator in this field Maree Crabbe says, “Young people need help from adults who care about them to understand that porn does not represent a realistic view of sexual desire, activity or relationships”.
This event aims to build capacity of parents, educators, youth workers, health professionals and local communities to understand just how prevalent the use of pornography is and to equip them with tools and strategies to address its influence on young people.
“Adults who understand how prevalent porn is, the kinds of messages it conveys, and the way it’s impacting on young people can help reduce these risks and assist young people to navigate healthy social and sexual development in this new reality,” Ms Crabbe said.
Paul Aikman, Principal at Donald High School, said, “This is a great opportunity for our parents and community members to hear from and talk with Maree Crabbe on the issues of pornography, young people and sexuality”.
Ms Crabbe has spent several years coordinating a violence prevention project that focuses on the links between pornography, unhealthy relationships and family violence. She highlights a recent content analysis of the most popular pornography that found 88% of scenes included acts of physical aggression and, in 94% of cases, these aggressive acts were directed at female performers.
The forum is hosted by the Youth Affairs Council Victoria’s rural agency, YACVic Rural, along with the Donald Youth Community Action Network, Donald High School, North Central LLEN, Road Safe Driver Training, East Wimmera Health Service, Catholic Care Sandhurst and Southern Mallee PCP.
When: Wednesday 12 October 2016, 7 – 8.30pm
Where: The Big Shed, Donald Primary School, Walker Street, Donald
Who: The forum is aimed at parents, educators, youth workers, health providers and community members
This is a free community event. No bookings required. Doors open at 6.30pm. Full details here.