The Young Deadly Free Project
The Current Young Deadly Free Project 2021-2025
The Young Deadly Free project has now been running since 2016 and has been through a number of iterations which reflect the feedback and needs of the communities which it aims to support.
Young Deadly Free is led by Professor James Ward and the team at the University of Queensland’s (UQ) Poche Centre for Indigenous Health. This iteration is funded by the Australian Commonwealth of Australia and has focused on urban and regional young people, building on the work already completed for regional and remote locations.
The Young Deadly Free project aims to increase STI testing and treatment rates among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people across Australia by working with stakeholders to develop engaging resources for young people, clinicians and others working with young people. Further details of the project’s activities can be found below.
The most recent suite of resources can be found here, with additional facts sheets and curricula materials currently in development.
The latest iteration of the Project is overseen by a consortium consisting of representatives from the UQ Poche Centre and an expert Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander advisory group consisting of state and regional Aboriginal Health Councils from across Australia:
As with earlier iterations of the project, this iteration of the project will be independently evaluated by the Sexual Health and Blood-borne Virus Applied Research & Evaluation Network (SiREN), based at Curtin University in Western Australia.
History of Young Deadly Free
Young Deadly Free started back in 2016. Professor James Ward (who was then at SAHMRI) had the vision to coordinate a multi-jurisdictional project in partnership with Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services and their affiliates. We acknowledge that the achievements of the project would not have been possible without the dedication of our partners in the ACCHO sector.
The Young Deadly Free Project comprises of a set of interrelated activities aiming to substantially increase knowledge, and testing and treatment rates of sexually transmissible infections (STIs) and blood borne viruses (BBVs) for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people across Australia.
Rural and Remote – The July 2016 to June 2019 iteration of the Young Deadly resources and activities, were developed by the South Australia Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI) in consultation with the project consortia and with input from participating communities. Project activities are delivered in partnership with Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services and their affiliates.
The Project was independently evaluated by SiREN, the Sexual Health and Blood-borne Virus Applied Research & Evaluation Network, based at Curtin University in Western Australia. More information about the evaluation can be found here.
Project Component’s
Project activities sought to significantly increase STI testing and treatment rates among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people across Australia and do so as quickly as possible – the aim being to rapidly bring down new infection rates.
Otherwise, healthy young people at risk of STIs and BBVs who do not generally access health services need to be made aware of the need to test for STIs and BBVs, and of where to get tested. Young people need to be linked to testing services and feel empowered to ask to be tested.
At the same time, clinicians seeing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people need to proactively offer STI and BBV tests as part of routine health checks – and ensure that no opportunities to engage with young people on the need for regular testing are missed.
- Peer education for young people — a culturally appropriate, peer-led education program on STIs and BBVs was developed, targeting young people aged 15 to 29 years living in remote and very remote Aboriginal communities. The Peer Education Program was trialled in 15 remote communities across Queensland, the Northern Territory, Western Australia, and South Australia.
- Resource development — culturally appropriate web-based and print resources on STIs and BBVs for young people and people of influence in the community — including Elders, parents, youth workers and mentors — were developed. The key messages of these resources focus on STI and BBV testing and treatment, and the need to address the stigma and shame that can be associated with discussing sex and sexuality. There is also a set of factsheets on sex and the law. These resources, all branded Young Deadly Free, are housed on this website under the resources tab.
- Support for clinicians — resources were developed to assist in the induction, training and professional development of clinicians and health workers who work in remote practice, including videos featuring experienced practitioners sharing insights and tips on engaging with young people on the need to test regularly for STIs and BBVs.
- Monitoring and reporting of STI and BBV testing and treatment rates — nominated services participating in the Project provided access to routine clinical and non-identifiable laboratory testing data. This data was used to evaluate the effectiveness of the project in increasing STI and BBV testing rates.
- Social media — Social media was integral to the campaign, with social media platforms used as information hubs for young people to learn about and discuss STIs and testing, chat about issues, participate in the campaign and share campaign infographics and animations. Utilising Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Twitter/X, regular posts included news of the campaign and its progress at local levels, using the most popular social media in each zone.
National Coordination
The Young Deadly Free project is led by Professor James Ward, Director of the University of Queensland Poche Centre for Indigenous Health (formerly Head of Infectious Diseases Research – Aboriginal Health, SAHMRI).
Rural and Remote – The July 2016 to June 2019 iteration of the Project was overseen by a consortium consisting of representatives from SAHMRI and the state and regional Aboriginal Health Councils representing Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services that provide services to remote and very remote communities located in Queensland, Northern Territory, Western Australia, and South Australia:
Participating Communities
Rural and Remote – Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services in remote and very remote areas of South Australia, Queensland, Northern Territory and Western Australia were invited to participate in the Project, including in health promotion, youth peer education, monitoring, and clinician support activities.
To participate in the Project, health services needed to:
- serve a community that has a high prevalence of STIs or BBVs and more than 150 Aboriginal young people between 15 and 29 years.
- serve an area of South Australia, Queensland, Northern Territory, or Western Australia classified as a ‘remote’ or ‘very remote’ area.
- be willing to utilise electronic medical records to extract STI and BBV testing
data, anddata and be willing to provide access to non-identifiable laboratory testing data.
Urban and Regional – Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services, Peak Bodies, government and non-government sexual health services and organisations, LGBTQIA+SB organisations/services, youth services and Indigenous organisations from across Australia were invited to participate in health promotion and media dissemination activities.
Remote Communities Across Australia – Where Are They?
Discrete Indigenous Communities by Usual Population – ABS, 2006 census data
Young Deadly Free is a project by the University of Queensland Poche Centre for Indigenous Health (formerly the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute). © UQ POCHE 2024