FREE 'DOMs FOR NSW YOUNG PEOPLE

Family Planning NSW is launching the Freedom Condom project, which will distribute free condoms, water-based lubricant and sexual health information to under-30s across the state.

Thanks to funding from NSW Health, Family Planning NSW will distribute tens of thousands of condoms to young people who want access to free sexual health resources and information.

Family Planning NSW Health Promotion Manager Ee-Lin Chang said the project is a great way to increase people's access to condoms and essential sexual health information.

"Condoms are the easiest way to practice safe sex. They can stop the spread of sexually transmissible infections and prevent unwanted pregnancy at the same time," Ms Chang said.

"The Freedom Condom project is a completely confidential, free and non-judgemental way for young people to access condoms and talk to someone if they have any questions about their reproductive and sexual health."

To sign up for the Freedom Condom project, young people can go to their local Family Planning NSW clinic or another youth service that displays the Freedom Condom logo.

After signing up, they will be provided with a Freedom Condom loyalty card and shown a demonstration of condom use on a banana penis model. They will also be taken through fundamental sexual health topics including consent, common sexually transmissible infections and emergency contraception.

After signing up, the young person can pick up 12 condoms and 4 sachets of water-based lubricant at any of 140 Freedom Condom providers across the state.

Registered providers include a range of local youth centres, accommodation services and youth health organisations who are trained by Family Planning NSW to provide information, referrals and resources to young people.

The Family Planning NSW Freedom Condom project is a renewal of the organisation's 'Condom Credit Card', which was established in 2008. Under this program, more than 17,000 free condoms were disseminated per year to people under 25 in NSW.

Ms Chang says the Freedom Condom project will be expanding its reach even further by providing free condoms to young people under the age of 30.

"Sexually transmissible infections are still a public health problem in 2022. Gonorrhoea notifications have increased by more than 200 per cent since 2010, and chlamydia has increased by 40 per cent in the same period," Ms Chang said.

"It's important that we increase access to condoms and ensure young people feel empowered to take charge of their sexual health.".

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