This blog was written by Billy the Peer and Vocational Support Officer at Positive Life NSW.
Moving to a new country for education is an exciting adventure, but it also comes with its own set of challenges.
One of these challenges is navigating the healthcare system. Your questions might be, “What should I do if I’m sick?”, “Who do I need to call?”, or “Which hospital should I go to?” can feel overwhelming.
In many cultures and countries, talking about sexual health is taboo. In NSW, there are special health clinics that focus on all the health ‘under the belt’ topics. This includes things like pain during urinating or an itchy genital rash.
These health clinics are called sexual health clinics. They are also free for everyone and you don’t need to give your real name.
Often, we only pay attention to our health when something goes wrong. This is very true for sexual health. Taking care of your sexual health before something goes wrong, means you are taking the best care of your health before something goes wrong. This is called ‘prevention’.
In NSW, your relationship with your doctor is your business only. This relationship is confidential, private and your doctor must treat you with respect.
Here in NSW, you’re in charge of your own health, so you can always ask your doctor about everything. It’s your health, and there’s no such thing as a bad question. This includes asking questions about having sex, pap smears, contraception, STD or STI testing, or any other sexual health concerns.
There are many different services you can use to help you do this. Nurse Nettie is a free, online website where all young people can ask health questions and get answers confidentially. ACON is here for all people who are GLBTQ. Positive Life NSW offers confidential support and advice for all people living with HIV, or people who have questions about HIV.
These services are here to make things easier and offer you the support you need. Your health is in your hands. So be brave, ask questions, and get the care you deserve.
