Promising Practice Programs
Professional and Community Training in Sexuality and Disability
| Agency | Sexuality Education Counselling and Consultancy Agency (secca) West Perth, WA |
| Website | http://www.secca.org.au |
| Contact | Suzanne Paust, Manager Ph: (08) 9420 7226, email: admin@secca.org.au |
| Duration | Ongoing |
| Program type | Community awareness/education Service provider training Training for community groups Advocacy program Therapeutic responses to victims |
| Geographical area | Local community, urban, regional centre |
| Target group | People with disabilities Service providers |
| Description |
secca conducts professional and community training workshops and seminars addressing aspects of
sexuality as it relates to people with disability. The training is designed to meet the needs of
parents, carers, support workers, service providers, health and human service workers, educators,
teachers, school support staff and students providing care for people with disabilities, whether
intellectual, physical, sensory, acquired, psychiatric or multiple. Training workshops are
conducted by social workers and psychologists with extensive experience and formal training in the
area of human relationships and sexuality.
Workshops and seminars cover areas such as: sexuality and disability; sexual health;
disability and ethical issues; relationship issues for people with disability; duty of care; and
informed consent. secca also provides specialist advice to both generic and disability specific agencies on policy development and best practice standards in the areas of human relationship and sexuality for people with disability. A booklet that addresses the issue of sexual abuse has been developed by secca, 'Sexuality and Your Rights'. |
| Promising practice examples | Takes account of contemporary research and practice developments in the field of sexual assault. Positions diversity as key to the development, understanding and delivery of good practice models. Contributes to improving systems' responses to sexual assault, or is directed at preventing sexual assault. Demonstrates a sensitivity towards the barriers faced by victim/survivors in disclosing and reporting sexual assault. Has a clearly defined conceptual framework. Includes processes of accountability and evaluation. Demonstrates a capacity for replication (i.e. other services/organisations could adapt/re-model the program for their use). Professional ethics, appropriate supervision, and a client centred approach is the basis of secca's education programmes. secca works with people who have disabilities, who are significantly over represented in statistics on sexual abuse. The programmes raise the awareness of community and professional workers in this regard. |
| Based on existing program | secca's training program is individually tailored based on Adult Learning Principles, a program aimed at people with disabilities, their families and significant carers and service providers. |
| Philosophical framework | secca's philosophy is based on the concept of social role valorization, also referred to as inclusion, which advocates that the process and outcome for planning for people with disability must be within the framework that provides opportunities for the individual to be included as a valued member of their culture/society; that the role they may have in employment, housing or relationships is one that is valued and acknowledged; and that people with disabilities are assured of the rights (and responsibilities depending on their ability) of every other member of their society. |
| Publications | Sexuality and Your Rights. Adapted by secca, Western Australia with permission from FPA Health. Available from secca free of charge. |
| Evaluation | Internal evaluation has been conducted using written evaluations following attendance and pre-test and post-test comparison of participants. |