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The Education Unit

some fun looking people

We are an active team of Community Health Workers supporting communities and schools with a collective aim to promote the effective use of barriers and condoms; normalize regular sexual health check-ups; bust down myths about anything relating to sex and stigma; and most importantly raise the ongoing awareness of STI’s and the services offered by ASHS and other sexual health organisations.

  • We deliver PSSP (Peer Sexuality Support Programme) to high schools across Auckland
  • We provide free community self-testing for chlamydia and gonorrhoea across Auckland
  • We provide education sessions around STI’s, safer sex and other sexual health topics to priority organisations and communities that need support across Auckland
  • We network and collaborate with other sexual health services to support the wider region.

Make an education request

four images of education events

Meet our team

a staff memberSamora Kake (she/her)
Education Unit Coordinator

Samora is the Education Unit Coordinator and has been part of the team for ASHS since November 2021. She previously worked for the Youth Health Hub in West Auckland and has experience with rangatahi in high schools and other community settings. Samora is a proud advocate for our Rainbow communities and identifies as a proud Trans POC. Her Māori and Samoan roots have provided her with an indigenous netting of what it means to be takatāpui, whakawāhine and fa'afafine in Aotearoa today. In her spare time, you may catch her at a Vogue Ball alongside many involved in the Aotearoa Ballroom Scene. SamoraK@adhb.govt.nz.

A staff memberBex McFadgen (she/her)
Community Health Worker         

Bex has been working in health promotion since 2009 and has been a part of the team since 2018. She previously worked at Women’s Health Action facilitating the Body Image Leaders in Schools Program. Before that, she worked at Rape Prevention Education facilitating the BodySafe & Sex’N’Respect programs. Her focus is on unpacking privilege, positive body image, positive sexuality discourse, intersectional feminism, critical media literacy and dismantling rape culture. She is also the mum of three awesome children. Rebecca.McFadgen@adhb.govt.nz.

A staff memberSpar Wong (he/him)
Community Health Worker

Spar joined the Education Unit in May 2023. He previously worked in the HIV and sexual health sector in the community. He studied social work and had experience working in both community and hospital settings. During his practicum, he worked at Body Positive, a peer support organisation, and the Inpatient Allied Health team at Te Whatu Ora Waitematā. Spar is passionate about supporting ethnic and sexual minorities to access sexual health services and meet their sexual health needs through culturally appropriate and holistic sex-positive practices. SparW@adhb.govt.nz.

Programmes

Peer Sexuality Support Programme (PSSP)

text reads PSSP youth supporting youthPSSP is an almost 30-year school-based programme that is delivered in secondary schools throughout the Auckland region. PSSP aims to formalise already existing networks by training students to work in a support and leadership-based role for their school environment and with their peers.

The training involves a five-day experiential, overnight, residential hui (Term 1), in which students explore their own attitudes and values in relation to sexuality and sexual Health as well as those of others. They do this through workshop presentations on a range of topics where the students are provided with up-to-date and accurate information and access to resources which they can then use to assist others in their communities when they return to school.

The delivery of PSSP in school communities is youth-led and run. Therefore, PSSP Students within schools work alongside their school staff, school health services and the Education Unit to identify and design key health promotions or initiatives to meet their specific school community needs.

Community Self Testing

The Education Unit offer self-testing for chlamydia and gonorrhoea at community events and venues targeting our priority populations and communities (in conjunction with clinical support).

How does this work:

  • The team show up with a range of appropriate testing kits
  • You fill out a quick form writing down your best contact details
  • You are given the testing kit to take with you into the closest bathroom to self-swab/self-urinate in yourself
  • Once completed, you hand your samples back to us in a lab bag or pop your lab bag in a drop-box upon exiting
  • We take all testing samples back with us to be processed for the labs.

Results from samples sent to the laboratory can take up to 10 days to return. If any of your results come back as positive (meaning you have an infection), we will contact you as soon as possible. If you are not contacted, your test was negative.

Community testing can be delivered in conjunction with an education session or as a stand-alone event or pop-up. This delivery of testing increases access and normalises the importance of regular sexual health check-ups. A range of venues and events we offer testing to include tertiary education providers, trade training programmes, the ‘Big Gay Out’ annual Event and more. If you would like to find out more about community self-testing and what it involves, please contact us.