Comprehensive Sexuality Education
Family Planning Australia is committed to providing age-appropriate, evidence-based comprehensive sexuality education for all people across the lifespan. Our vision is to be a global leader in the provision of evidence-based comprehensive sexuality education.
Comprehensive sexuality education is learning that begins during early childhood, and continues throughout life, concerning the physical, emotional, mental and social aspects of reproductive and sexual health and rights, inclusive of sexuality and relationships.1,2 Considered to be a lifelong learning process, comprehensive sexuality education extends beyond the school curriculum2 and should be accessible to all individuals regardless of age and their engagement with the education system.
Comprehensive sexuality education builds on and promotes an understanding of universal human rights, including the rights of women and girls, and the rights of all people to access health, education, and information equally and without discrimination.3 As a foundation for exercising reproductive rights, comprehensive sexuality education includes information about access to family planning services, the right to choose whether or not to have children, and the right to decide freely on the number, timing and spacing of these children.
Access to comprehensive sexuality education is enshrined within the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and is essential for the success of a number of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) including:
- SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being
- SDG 4 - Quality Education
- SDG 5 - Gender Equality
- SDG 10 - Reduced Inequalities
A Framework for Comprehensive Sexuality Education
Family Planning Australia has developed Comprehensive Sexuality Education: A Framework to outline our approach to CSE provision nationally and internationally. Click here, to view the Framework.
The Framework highlights the importance of evidence and best practice in tailoring education to suit the diverse needs of all people across the lifespan. Developing sexuality, wellbeing and relationship life skills is essential to the attainment of optimal reproductive and sexual health. The Framework utilises conclusive evidence that CSE develops skills and behaviours required for optimal reproductive and sexual health and wellbeing, and enables positive societal engagement.
The Framework has been developed with input from across the organisation. For more information about Family Planning Australia's commitment to CSE, please see the Comprehensive Sexuality Education Policy, or contact the CSE project team at: cse@fpnsw.org.au.
1 Family Planning Australia Alliance. Relationships and sexuality education in schools. Position statement. Sydney: Family Planning Australia Alliance, 2016.
2 United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization. Emerging evidence, lessons and practice in comprehensive sexuality education: A global review. France: UNESCO, 2015.
3 Australian Association for Adolescent Health Ltd (AAAH). Comprehensive sexuality education: Position paper. Sydney: AAAH, 2018.
