THAT sex ed podcast

It's the 2023 recap, with a cameo appearance from Justine dog Ollie (there was a thunderstorm approaching, listen to the end to hear his sign off!) In this episode we talk about the podcast, this year's season, the guests we've had on and our top 5 episodes for the year. We get into answering tricky questions, because that's what a lot of parents will be doing over the summer h...

In this episode, Justine and Jenny talk feelings. We all have them, and sometimes they can be a challenge. Even as parents and caregivers, we still have our feelings while trying to help support our children. We discuss why it's important to teach and talk about emotions, because as adults we need to be able to manage/self-regulate and express emotions appropriately, and we want to raise chil...

In this wide-ranging discussion, Jenny speaks with one of our fabulous educators. Rebecca is in her fifth year working for Sex Education Australia. She is secondary-trained as a teacher and hadn’t taught sex ed before joining our company. While working with SEA, Rebecca has dabbled with all the grades but generally works in Year 5 and above, and at the secondary level. She has also done a bit of t...

Justine and Jenny talk ‘nuts and bolts’ – safer sex, STIs and contraception. We know how important it is for young people to learn how to take charge of all aspects of their health -- including their sexual health if that becomes part of their lives -- as they're growing up. Having a conversation with your young person is not promoting anything other than the idea that you want them to be inf...

Justine chats with Kardie Whelan, a disability and community educator at Sexual Health Victoria. Kardie has worked as a sexuality educator for people with cognitive disability for the past 15 years, and in a variety of disability settings including special schools and TAFEs. Mentioned: About language – what to use and what not to use person first approach to language Assumptions people shouldn’t m...

In this episode, Justine and Jenny continue their chat about how to answer those tricky questions that we can get as parents and caregivers from our children. In the classroom, our team run an activity called Anonymous Question Box and in this episode we look at some more of those Year 5/6 (age 10-11 years old) questions. As soon as they go out into the world we need to arm them. If we’ve never di...

Justine and Jenny answer some of the tricky questions that their team has received in schools, to show parents and caregivers how to approach the questions that can come from children towards the end of primary school.  As soon as they go out into the world we need to arm them. If we’ve never discussed things with them, then they won’t come to us. They are going to hear things from other people -...

In this episode Justine talks with Holly-ann Martin, founder of Safe4Kids, which she established in 2011, to work towards child abuse prevention. In 2016, Holly-ann was inducted into the WA Women’s Hall of Fame, and some people may not know but she’s a very accomplished swing dancer. Holly-ann is working towards the reduction of child sexual abuse and so all her programs are built around the conce...

In this episode, Jenny and Justine reprise their chat about pornography (look up the previous episode which is for parents of younger, primary-aged children); but this time, focusing on how parents of secondary-aged children can approach the topic, answer questions, manage exposure incidents and inform themselves as part of preparing. ‘It’s not if but when’ is the catch-cry. Links to research ment...

In this episode, Jenny talks with global thought leader Kirra Pendergast, who is the founder and CEO of Safe on Social. Kirra has worked at the cutting edge of Information Technology and Information (Cyber) Security since 1991.   Safe on Social is now the largest, most trusted, and in-demand cyber safety education and training group of companies globally. Kirra splits her time between the Asia Pac...

Our last episode for 2022, so we look back at how the year has gone. Topics we cover: what parents can think about over the break - maybe have that convo you've been putting off focus and attention (and the importance of both) the idea of getting kids reading over the summer more on managing screens - why not consider a 'Summer Screen Contract' for your family? most recent screen re...

In this special episode, Justine interviews teacher and mentor Linda Stade about a topic that is super relevant to parents and children of all ages: friendships. Some of the topics covered are: parent engagement; how to skilfully help your child manage their friendships; are girls' friendships more complex and volatile than boys'?; girls and anxiety; the 'friendship cyclone' (a...

This is an episode for parents and caregivers who are: worried their kids might see porn / their kids HAVE seen porn and they don't know what to do. We'd also love to hear from anyone who has dealt with this tricky subject with success (email us thatsexedpodcast@gmail.com). In this episode, Justine and Jenny talk about how confronting it is when you learn your child has seen sexual mater...

This is probably an episode for parents/caregivers of teenagers, but some families will be having conversations about virginity with their upper primary school children.  In this episode, Justine and Jenny look at the outdated notion of 'virginity' and how we can better talk about this concept in a way that is less hetero-centric, more inclusive (what about people who have no interest in...

Justine and Jenny look at friendships. As Justine says in the episode: As a parent, as a human, we've got to really think about things because friendships can be awesome, amazing and make your heart sing... but they can also be devastating and 'leave little scars in our lives'. It's a complex world for sure, and not something we work out necessarily before the age of 18! Justin...

In this episode, Justine and Jenny talk about how to get into this potentially awkward topic with your teenager. Yes, it will likely be uncomfortable for all concerned -- even the most seasoned and open of us sex education people can find this difficult. Some of the things touched on: Why we put it off / asking them questions about their peer group / how to get started / the importance of cross-ge...

Justine and Jenny chat all things puberty. Do you need to have a chat with your young person about puberty? Are they asking lots of questions and you don't quite feel equipped or confident to answer them? We talk We our memories of puberty, we look at some anonymous questions from Year 5-6 students, acknowledge the importance of empathy and also the importance of parents being the 'go-to...

In this episode, Jenny speaks with Ingrid Laguna, renowned children's writer, and co-author of new book Kit and Arlo Find a Way: Teaching consent to 8-12 year olds . There'd be a lot of parents who would think 'What? Teaching consent to my 8 year old? What are you talking about!' But the thing is, in this book, all the scenarios are age-appropriate and relevant to the lives of...

In this episode -- recorded as Justine and Jenny's first, so please excuse that! -- the focus is why do parents and schools feel nervous when it comes to sex ed? What are we scared of as a society? Research shows that young people receiving information about their bodies, sex and relationships doesn't accelerate interest or change behaviour.  Research tells us instead that children who r...

In this episode, Justine and Jenny chat all things periods. Do you need to have a chat with your young person about menstruation? Are they asking lots of questions and you don't quite feel equipped or confident to answer them? We recommend a good book or two but also conversations are always the best way to show your child you are up for a chat about anything they may be wondering or worried...

Join Justine and Jenny as they talk about parenting, and specifically about how we can be so worried about 'getting things right' the first time we have a discussion with our child about something important (and tricky). Often, they’re conversations about puberty, sex or consent that feel so weighty because they're so important. Please visit our website sexeducationaustralia.com.au...

In this episode, Justine and Jenny talk consent. What it is, why it's important and how difficult it can be to talk about this topic with our young people. But it's essential that parents engage on this topic. Listen to get some tips and information. Please visit our website sexeducationaustralia.com.au where you can listen to our other episodes and also browse our pages for resources, i...

Today, Justine and Jenny chat about body safety. What it is, why it's important and how parents can start to have these essential conversations with their children. Please visit our website sexeducationaustralia.com.au where you can listen to our other episodes and also browse our pages for resources, information and support.   Thanks for listening!   Jenny + Justine Note: we may use gender b...

In this episode we talk about how young people (and their parents) will fare with the opening up after COVID. Almost two years have passed with us in and out of lockdown across the country, and many teenagers missing out on face-to-face socialisation. Will they be racing to play catch up or will they take their time to re-integrate? And what about primary-aged children? How have they been going mi...