Sex education and sex therapy services
The content of this document is OFFICIAL.
Research question: What is the difference between the types of supports provided by a sex therapist compared to that provided through disability sex education services?
What disability specific sex education services are available in each state/territory? What type of services do they provide (e.g. workshops, individual counselling etc) and is there an associated cost?
Date: 25/08/2022
Requestor: Kathryn
Endorsed by: Katrin
Researcher: Aaro
Cleared by: Stephanie
Review date: August 2023
- Contents
- Sex education and sex therapy services
- Summary
- Sex therapy and sex education
- Sex education and sex therapy for people with disabilities
- Mainstream sex education and therapy supports
Summary
Sex therapy is therapy or counselling focussing on issues surrounding sexuality, sexual behaviours and concerns and topics related to sexual health. It can be for individuals, couples or groups. Sex therapy may have an education component where the therapist imparts information about sex and sexual health to the client. Sex therapy differs from sex education, which does not usually work through individuals’ specific problems. Accreditation as a sex therapist or sex educator from either of the two Australian accrediting organisations requires different skills and qualifications.
Sex therapy is not a protected term so while accredited sex therapists will usually have a psychology or mental health background, it is possible that some practitioners will market their services as sex therapy without specific qualifications.
Education in relationships and sexuality is a required feature of the Australian curriculum. All children from foundation level to year 2, should have some instruction in relationships and their body. All children from year 3 to year 10 should have some instruction in relationships and sexuality. However, the implementation of the national curriculum has been uneven, with some children receiving more instruction than others.
There are services which provide sex therapy or sex education to children and adults outside of a school setting. These services often incur a fee, with very few select services operating free of charge.
Sex therapy and sex education
There are two organisations that grant accreditation for sex therapists and sex educators in Australia.
Society of Australian Sexologists (SAS) offers accreditation for sexuality educators and psychosexual therapists. A psychosexual therapist is a psychologist, counsellor or mental health specialist who has had advanced training in applying their skills in the context of sexuality and sexual health. A sexuality educator may or may not be a trained teacher, but they will have speciality training in sexuality and sexual health and in the delivery of sensitive topics (SAS, n.d.).
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Australian Society of Sexuality Educators, Researchers and Therapists NSW (ASSERT NSW), offers accreditations for sex therapists, sex educators and sex researchers. According to ASSERT:
Sex therapy is a specialized form of professional counselling that focuses on addressing the sexual concerns, sexual functioning and sexual expression of human beings…
Your therapist will take a detailed history by asking questions in order to get an idea about your concerns and to help you get a better understanding of it. The therapist will develop strategies and goals to work with these issues and a treatment plan may be proposed.
Each therapy session is completely confidential.
There are many different therapeutic models used by sex therapists in Australia. Therapists usually show their mode of counselling on their website or you can discuss it by contacting them.
There are no rules as to which mode your therapist will use but what is important is that the therapy suits you and you can see that things are improving (ASSERT NSW, 2021a, What is Sex Therapy? – What happens in a sex therapy session?).
ASSERT NSW does not define sex education beyond saying that a sex educator should have extensive experience or training in sex education methodology (ASSERT NSW, 2021b).
Sex education can cover topics including: intimacy, rights, respect, consent, safety and hygiene, pregnancy and contraception, sexually transmitted infections, appropriate and inappropriate sexual behaviours, abuse, and online social behaviours including dating apps, accessing pornography and cyberbullying (Brown et al, 2020).
Queensland’s Department of Education defines sex education as:
talking about all the factors that affect children and young people’s sexual growth and development. Topics might include how their body is changing, respectful behaviour and language, privacy and sexual decisions—including when it’s the right time to have sex (Queensland Government, 2018, Sex Education).
While noting that it “means different things to different people”, Victoria’s Department of Education says:
good sexuality education focuses on love, safer sex, abstinence, respect for others and oneself, diversity, personal rights and responsibilities, relationships and friendships, effective communication, decision-making and risk behaviours (Victoria State Government, n.d., The goal of sexuality education).
It should also be noted that sex therapy is not a protected term in Australia (ASSERT NSW, 2021a) and I’ve found no evidence on restrictions for what can count as sex education. People may practice as sex therapists or educators without meeting any specific accreditation requirements.
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3.1 Sex education and sex therapy for people with disabilities
The World Health Organisation and the World Association for Sexual Health support the universal access to education and information about sex and sexual health as well as services which support mental and physical sexual health (WAS, Declaration of Sexual Rights; WHO, Sustainable Development Goals, 3.7).
People with disabilities do not necessarily require different sex education or sex therapy services from people without disability. However, some factors make the need for sex education or sex therapy more acute for people with disabilities. Australian adults with disability experience sexual violence and sexual harassment at a higher rate than adults without disability (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2022). Schairer et al (2014) argue that, for people with multiple sclerosis, sexual dysfunction has a stronger impact on mental health than severity of physical disability. Kahn et al (2021) note that adolescents with physical disabilities have less sexual education, are at increased risk for pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections and are more vulnerable to sexual violence and abuse.
While education about sex and relationships is part of the curriculum in all schools in Australia (refer to 4.2 Sex education in Australian schools), these sections of the curriculum may not be suited to all people with disabilities due to the content or method of delivery. Some concerns may arise for people with disability that require specific attention in extra curricula sex education or sex therapy sessions (Disability Support Guide, 2022). Brown et al (2020) note that sex education programmes for people with intellectual disabilities can include topics such as sexual rights for people with disability, stereotyping based on disability, and stigma surrounding sex and disability. Chianese et al (2020) found that sex education programs that are tailored for people with autism are better at increasing knowledge and improving parent-child communication.
4. Mainstream sex education and therapy supports
4.1 Accredited sex therapists
Both SAS and ASSERT NSW provide lists of sex therapists accredited with their organisations:
- SAS accredited sex therapists
- ASSERT NSW accredited sex therapists
There are likely to be Australian doctors, psychologists, therapists and counsellors who are qualified and experienced to advise patients on sexuality and sexual health who are not included on these lists.
For a list of sex therapists who provide disability specific supports or who are registered NDIS providers, refer to 5.2 Supports by state.
4.2 Sex education in Australian schools
Relationships and sexuality is a focus area within the Health and Physical Education learning area of the Australian curriculum. In foundation, year 1 and 2, students learn about:
- parts of the body and how the body changes as they grow
- people who are important to them
- strategies for relating to and interacting with others
- assertive behaviour and standing up for themselves.
From Year 3 to Year 10, students learn:
- people who are important to them
- strategies for relating to and interacting with others
- assertive behaviour and standing up for themselves
- establishing and managing changing relationships (offline and online)
- bullying, harassment, discrimination and violence (including discrimination based on race, gender and sexuality)
- strategies for dealing with relationships when there is an imbalance of power (including seeking help or leaving the relationship)
- puberty and how the body changes over time
- managing the physical, social and emotional changes that occur during puberty
- reproduction and sexual health
- practices that support reproductive and sexual health (contraception, negotiating consent, and prevention of sexually transmitted infections and blood-borne viruses)
- changing identities and the factors that influence them (including personal, cultural, gender and sexual identities)
- celebrating and respecting difference and diversity in individuals and communities (Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority, n.d.).
Currently, the national curriculum is open to interpretation and unevenly implemented across the states and territories. In February 2022, all state and territory governments committed to mandatory consent education up to year 10 starting from 2023 (Jacques et al., 2022; Ellias, 2022; Meixner, 2021).
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Disability specific sex education and therapy supports
Phone and online information resources about sex education for people with disabilities
There are many tools and resources available online and over the phone to support people with disabilities to learn about sexuality and sexual health topics or get support for sexuality and sexual health issues.
- 1800 My Options is a phone service for people in Victoria providing information on contraception, pregnancy and sexual health topics.
- The SECCA App is an app designed to provide accessible information about sexuality and sexual health including games and lesson plans.
- Relationship Wise resource bundle is a collection of easy read fact sheets on personal boundaries, sex, relationships and sexual health designed for people with disabilities.
- Relationships and Reproductive Health has links to easy read factsheets on personal hygiene, sexual health and relationships designed for people with learning disabilities.
- Our Site is a website for women with disabilities containing information on consent, relationships, contraception, pregnancy, sexuality and sexual health.
- QLife is a telephone and webchat LGBTIQ+ peer support and referral service.
Supports by state
The following is a list of some sex education or sex therapy services that are tailored for people with disability or delivered by NDIS registered providers.
Many of the services listed below offer telehealth or online services and so may be available to people across the country.
This list is likely not exhaustive. There may be other disability specific sex education or therapy services or other NDIS registered providers who offer similar services.
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5.2.1 Tasmania
| Organisation | NDIS Reg. Provider | Service | Fee | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Family Planning Tasmania | Yes | - Individual or group education sessions tailored for people with disabilities - Assessments and recommendations around supports and therapeutic interventions |
- Education sessions free of charge if delivered at Family Planning offices in Glenorchy or Launceston. Fee applies if held at other site - Other appointments free for under 21s, full-time students or concession card holders - Otherwise, appointments may be $30 - $167.30 |
Burnie, Launceston, Glenorchy and additional outreach centres |
| EPICentre | Yes | - Sex therapy - Workshops and seminars relating to relationships and sex |
- Therapy sessions are $150 per hour for individuals, $180 per hour for couples - Workshops and seminar costs vary |
Hobart, New Town |
| Relationships Australia Tasmania | No | - Relationship counselling including counselling program for people affected by the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation of People with Disability | Fees information not provided | Launceston, Hobart, Devonport |
5.2.2 Victoria
| Organisation | NDIS Reg. Provider | Service | Fee | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sexual Health Victoria | No | - Referral for sexual health services for people with cognitive disability - Single consultation sessions to parents, carers and professionals - Group education sessions for people with cognitive disability |
Most services free of charge, some services may incur a fee | Melbourne, Box Hill |
| First Steps Solutions | No | - Date Ability - small group program for people with disability covering self | $1500 for 6 2hr sessions | Melbourne, Frankston, Ashburton |
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| Organisation | NDIS Reg. Provider | Service | Fee | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shine SA | No | - Over the phone consultation and referral to mainstream and disability specific services - Counselling and ad hoc education sessions for people with disability - Clinical care for sexual health issues - Does not provide ongoing individual education sessions - One-off training session for parents, carers or support workers to deliver education |
- Phone line is free - Services are free for Medicare card holders 25 years and under - Counselling is $25 for concession card holders over 25 years and $50 for non-concession card holders over 25 years - Clinical sessions are free for all concession card holders and between $15 and |
Adelaide, Woodville |
South Australia
| Organisation | NDIS Reg. Provider | Service | Fee | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shine SA | No | - Over the phone consultation and referral to mainstream and disability specific services - Counselling and ad hoc education sessions for people with disability - Clinical care for sexual health issues - Does not provide ongoing individual education sessions - One-off training session for parents, carers or support workers to deliver education |
- Phone line is free - Services are free for Medicare card holders 25 years and under - Counselling is $25 for concession card holders over 25 years and $50 for non-concession card holders over 25 years - Clinical sessions are free for all concession card holders and between $15 and |
Adelaide, Woodville |
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| awareness, boundaries and consent, safe online dating, sexual wellbeing | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Women’s Health in the South East | No | - Sexual lives and respectful relationships program for people with intellectual disability | - Fees information not provided | St Kilda |
| Access Touch | No | - Sex therapy and sex education for neurodivergent adults - Hire of artificially intelligent life size dolls as teaching tools |
$170 - $230 | Melbourne |
| Pleasure Centred Sexology | No | - Sex therapy for people with disabilities | $180 for individual sessions and $215 for relationship session | Hawthorn |
| Check + Chat | No | - Individual sex education and coaching sessions for people with cognitive disability | Provider states, “Our rate falls under the NDIS Capacity Building rate, under line item 15_056_0128_1_3” | Melbourne |
| Relationships Australia Victoria | No | - Relationship counselling including counselling program for people affected by the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation of People with Disability | Fees information not provided | Locations around Victoria |
5.2.3 South Australia
| Organisation | NDIS Reg. Provider | Service | Fee | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shine SA | No | - Over the phone consultation and referral to mainstream and disability specific services - Counselling and ad hoc education sessions for people with disability - Clinical care for sexual health issues - Does not provide ongoing individual education sessions - One-off training session for parents, carers or support workers to deliver education |
- Phone line is free - Services are free for Medicare card holders 25 years and under - Counselling is $25 for concession card holders over 25 years and $50 for non-concession card holders over 25 years - Clinical sessions are free for all concession card holders and between $15 and |
Adelaide, Woodville |
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| Organisation | NDIS Reg. Provider | Service | Fee | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sexual Health Quarters | Yes | - Counselling - Sex education workshops for young people with disabilities delivered at schools - Tailored workshops for people with disabilities delivered in other settings |
- Services are free for people “at risk, are vulnerable or need immediate support” - First counselling session is free for under 21s and then $30 for additional sessions - $50 counselling sessions for over 21s |
Northbridge, Joondalup, Mandurah, Bunbury, Busselton, Albany |
| SECCA | Yes | - Counselling - Workshops for parents, carers and support workers on sexuality and sex aids for people with disability |
Fees information not provided | West Perth |
| First Step Solutions | No | Date Ability - small group program for people with disability covering self-awareness, boundaries and consent, safe online dating, sexual wellbeing | $1500 for 6 2hr sessions | Joondalup, Rockingham, |
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| Organisation | NDIS Reg. Provider | Service | Fee | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Family Planning NT | No | - Sexual health consults - Workshops for people with disability |
- Consults are free for Medicare card holders and $80-$200 for others - Workshops fee information unavailable |
Coconut Grove, Farrar |
5.2.5 Northern Territory
| Organisation | NDIS Reg. Provider | Service | Fee | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Relationships Australia Northern Territory | No | - Relationship counselling including counselling program for people affected by the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation of People with Disability | Fees information not provided | Darwin |
5.2.6 Queensland
| Organisation | NDIS Reg. Provider | Service | Fee | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| True Relationship and Reproductive Health | No | - Looking After Me Programme (LAMP) is an individual sex education programme for people with disabilities - Community workshops for people with disability - Counselling for anyone impacted by sexual violence - Sexual health consults |
- LAMP is $695 for 4 sessions, $990 for 6 sessions - Other fee information unavailable |
Brisbane, Cairns, Gold Coast, Ipswich, Rockhampton, Sunshine Coast, Toowoomba |
| First Step Solutions | No | - Date Ability - small group program for people with disability covering self awareness, boundaries and consent, safe online dating, sexual wellbeing | $1500 for 6 2hr sessions | Fortitude Valley, Ipswich, Logan, Gold Coast |
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| Organisation | NDIS Reg. Provider | Service | Fee | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open Minds | Yes | - Counselling and advice around sexuality and sexual health | $150-$200 | Bundaberg, Gold Coast, Gympie, Indooroopilly, Slacks Creek, Sunshine Coast, Townsville |
| Relationships Australia Queensland | No | - Relationship counselling including counselling program for people affected by the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation of People with Disability | Fees information not provided | Locations around Queensland |
5.2.7 New South Wales
| Organisation | NDIS Reg. Provider | Service | Fee | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Family Planning NSW | Yes | - Counselling and clinical consultation on sexuality and sexual health - “Sexuality and Disability services” - Community education sessions for people with disability |
Bulk billing for people 18 years and under, students and concession card holders $35 for consultation with nurse or social worker $143.25 for psychologist consultation for Medicare eligible people |
Newington, Dubbo, Fairfield, Newcastle, Penrith, Blacktown, Brewarrina, Campbelltown. Cobar, Liverpool, Maitland, Nyngan, Walgett |
| First Step Solutions | No | - Date Ability - small group program for people with disability covering self awareness, boundaries and consent, safe online dating, sexual wellbeing | $1500 for 6 2hr sessions | Campbell Town, Circular Quay, Parramatta |
| Birds and Bees | Yes | - Sexual counselling for people with disability - Sex education workshops for people with disability |
Fees information not provided | Alstonville |
| Clinical Psychology Solutions — Sandra Pertot | Yes | - Sex therapy - Relationship counselling |
Fees information not provided | Forster, Tarree |
| Care Rehab | Yes | - Sex therapy for people with disability | Fees information not provided | West Pennant Hills, Ryde |
| Northcott | Yes | - Assistance with sexual activity - Sexuality and relationship counselling - Individual social skills development |
Fees information not provided | Sydney |
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| Organisation | NDIS Reg. Provider | Service | Fee | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ACON | No | - Sexuality and sexual health workshops, counselling and peer support for LGBTQ+ people and people living with HIV | Most services are no cost. Some services may incur a fee. | Sydney, Lismore, Islington, Coffs Harbour |
| Open Minds | Yes | - Counselling and advice around sexuality and sexual health | $150-$200 | Grafton, Tweed, Lismore |
| Relationships and Private Stuff | No | - Coaching, education and counselling on sexuality and sexual health for people with disabilities | Fees information not provided | Marrickville |
| Relationships Australia NSW | No | - Relationship counselling including a counselling program for people affected by the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation of People with Disability Online and face-to-face workshops on healthy relationships for people with disability |
Fees information not provided | Locations across NSW |
5.2.8 Australian Capital Territory
| Organisation | NDIS Reg. Provider | Service | Fee | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sexual health and family planning ACT | Yes | - Individual education and skills building workshops for people with disabilities SoSAFE! Program for people with ASD and intellectual disability SoSafe! Goes to Work program for people with ASD and intellectual disability focussing on behaviours and relationships in the workplace Me & You programme for children 10 — 14 years with intellectual disability or ASD Family, friends and relationships course for people with ASD and intellectual disability Nice to meet Me course for people with ASD Consultation on how to tailor sex education programs for students with disability |
- SOSafe! Training is $495 Me & Youis $1750 (NDIS) or $1920 (non-NDIS) for 14 hour course Family, friends and relationships is $1600 (NDIS) or $1760 (non-NDIS) for 7 x 2 hour group sessions and 1 individual counselling session Nice to meet me course is $1600 (NDIS) or $1760 (non-NDIS) for 7 x 2 hour group sessions and 1 individual counselling session |
Canberra |
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References
Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority. (n.d.). Australian Curriculum: Health and Physical Education, Structure. https://australiancurriculum.edu.au/f-10-curriculum/health-and-physical-education/structure/
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. (2022). People with disability in Australia 2022, catalogue number DIS 72, AIHW, Australian Government.
Australian Society of Sex Educators, Researchers and Therapists New South Wales. (2021a). Why see a sex therapist?. https://www.assertnsw.org.au/why-see-a-sex-therapist/
Australian Society of Sex Educators, Researchers and Therapists New South Wales. (2021b). Professional Member – Sex Educator. https://www.assertnsw.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/ProfessionalMember-SexEducator.pdf
Brown, M., McCann, E., Truesdale, M., Linden, M., & Marsh, L. (2020). The design, content and delivery of relationship and sexuality education programmes for people with intellectual disabilities: A systematic review of the international evidence. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(20). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17207568
Chianese, A. A., Jackson, S. Z., & Souders, M. C. (2020). Psychosexual knowledge and education in autism spectrum disorder individuals. Journal of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, 33(10), 776–784. https://doi.org/10.1097/JXX.0000000000000508
Disability Support Guide. (2022). Sex education – an important part of learning about life. https://www.disabilitysupportguide.com.au/information/article/sex-education-an-important-part-of-learning-about-life
Elias, M. (2022, February 17). Consent education will be mandatory across Australian schools from next year. SBS News. https://www.sbs.com.au/news/the-feed/article/consent-education-will-be-mandatory-across-australian-schools-from-next-year/796phsvlm
Jacques, C., Woodley, G. N., Jaunzems, K., & Green, L. (2022). Mandatory consent education is a huge win for Australia – but consent is just one small part of navigating relationships. The Conversation. http://theconversation.com/mandatory-consent-education-is-a-huge-win-for-australia-but-consent-is-just-one-small-part-of-navigating-relationships-177456
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Research paper
OFFICIAL For Internal Use Only
- Kahn, N. F., Suchindran, C. M., & Halpern, C. T. (2021). Sexual partner accumulation from adolescence to early adulthood in populations with physical disabilities in the U.s. The Journal of Adolescent Health: Official Publication of the Society for Adolescent Medicine, 68(5), 991–998. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2020.08.020
- Meixner, S. (2021). Does Australia’s sex education curriculum need to include more on sex positivity, LGBTQI+ relationships and intimacy? ABC News.https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-01-27/sex-education-lgbt-sexuality-young-high-school-pleasure-respect/12960062
- Queensland Government. (2018). Sex Education.https://www.qld.gov.au/families/education/sex
- Schairer, L. C., Foley, F. W., Zemon, V., Tyry, T., Campagnolo, D., Marrie, R. A., Gromisch, E. S., & Schairer, D. (2014). The impact of sexual dysfunction on health-related quality of life in people with multiple sclerosis. Multiple Sclerosis (Houndmills, Basingstoke, England), 20(5), 610–616.https://doi.org/10.1177/1352458513503598
- Society of Australian Sexologists. (n.d). Directory.https://societyaustraliansexologists.org.au/directory
- Victoria State Government. (n.d). About sexuality education.https://www.education.vic.gov.au/school/teachers/teachingresources/discipline/physed/Pages/about.aspx
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