Sexual Lives & Respectful Relationships

WWILD in QLD has continued to run our Rainbow Allsorts group for LGBTIQ+ people with intellectual disability. The group meet on a weekly basis on Wednesdays at 1pm. They are interested in connecting with new members. The flier attached has further information

Are you interested in podcasting?

Family Planning NSW is looking for people with intellectual disability or autism, and/or careers and parents, to be involved in their new podcast about supporting people through puberty

If you want to talk about these things on the podcast you can contact:

Kaidee Dick
[email protected]
02 8752 4387

Are you a young person with intellectual disability, or do you know someone interested in telling their story? Please get in touch with Monica on 03 5227 3020 or [email protected]

SL&RR believes that s*xual well-being is essential for everyone

S*x and intimacy are human needs. While s*xual behaviour may have changed throughout the pandemic, we can still be s*x positive and take care of ourselves and each other.

Staying at home may have presented an opportunity to explore your s*xuality and to realise that there is not one way to have s*x or one way that s*x looks. There are lots of great and different ways to have s*x as long as consent comes first. However you are having s*x (or not having s*x) throughout this period, you deserve to be empowered to make decisions about your body and to have access to reliable, supportive information about your s*xual and reproductive health.

For many of you, the lockdown period may have been a great time to connect with each other and increase communication about s*x and s*xuality. It may have been an opportunity to explore your s*xuality, your desires, and your needs. Your relationships may have felt under strain due to extended periods of close proximity, or you may be feeling pressure because of extended periods of distance. Whatever your experience, your rights to healthy, respectful relationships that are free from shame and stigma remain during a pandemic.
*xualWellbeingIsEssential

You have the right to safe and appropriate healthcare, at all times, including during a pandemic. This means that the health care services that you access are high quality and safe spaces; are culturally appropriate and use interpreters; are open to questions and communication that helps you make the right healthcare choices for your situation; provide accurate and evidence based information; respect your privacy; and respect your pronouns and relationships.

If you or someone you know has questions about accessing s*xual and reproductive health services, please call 1800 My Options on 1800 696 784.
You have the right to make your own choices regarding your s*xual and reproductive health. If you feel like someone is controlling these choices by using pressure or violence, please call 1800RESPECT 1800 737 732.

SL&RR acknowledges that s*xual well being is essential for everyone

S*x and intimacy are human needs. While s*xual behaviour may have changed throughout the pandemic, we can still be s*x positive and take care of ourselves and each other.

Staying at home may have presented an opportunity to explore your s*xuality and to realise that there is not one way to have s*x or one way that s*x looks. There are lots of great and different ways to have s*x as long as consent comes first. However you are having s*x (or not having s*x) throughout this period, you deserve to be empowered to make decisions about your body and to have access to reliable, supportive information about your s*xual and reproductive health.

For many of you, the lockdown period may have been a great time to connect with each other and increase communication about s*x and s*xuality. It may have been an opportunity to explore your s*xuality, your desires, and your needs. Your relationships may have felt under strain due to extended periods of close proximity, or you may be feeling pressure because of extended periods of distance. Whatever your experience, your rights to healthy, respectful relationships that are free from shame and stigma remain during a pandemic.
*xualWellbeingIsEssential

You have the right to safe and appropriate healthcare, at all times, including during a pandemic. This means that the health care services that you access are high quality and safe spaces; are culturally appropriate and use interpreters; are open to questions and communication that helps you make the right healthcare choices for your situation; provide accurate and evidence based information; respect your privacy; and respect your pronouns and relationships.

If you or someone you know has questions about accessing s*xual and reproductive health services, please call 1800 My Options on 1800 696 784.
You have the right to make your own choices regarding your s*xual and reproductive health. If you feel like someone is controlling these choices by using pressure or violence, please call 1800RESPECT 1800 737 732.

SL&RR acknowledges that s*xual health is essential

This week is S*xual and Reproductive Health Week. It acknowledges World Contraception Day (26 September) and International Safe Abortion Day (28 September). COVID-19 has disrupted or changed the way we access healthcare, but s*xual and reproductive health is still vitally important. Women’s health services across Victoria have come together for S*xual and Reproductive Health Week, to deliver information to you about contraception, abortion, s*xually transmissible infections testing, cervical screening, and s*x during COVID-19. You have the right to access s*xual and reproductive health care, regardless of your age, ability, ethnicity or cultural background, visa status, socioeconomic status, s*xuality, or gender identity. S*xual and reproductive health is essential.


You have the right to safe and appropriate healthcare, at all times, including during a pandemic. This means that the health care services that you access are high quality and safe spaces; are culturally appropriate and use interpreters; are open to questions and communication that helps you make the right healthcare choices for your situation; provide accurate and evidence based information; respect your privacy; and respect your pronouns and relationships.

If you or someone you know has questions about accessing s*xual and reproductive health services, please call 1800 My Options on 1800 696 784.
You have the right to make your own choices regarding your s*xual and reproductive health. If you feel like someone is controlling these choices by using pressure or violence, please call 1800RESPECT 1800 737 732

An article about our SL&RR virtual conference in May has been published in the recent edition of IDA magazine. Read the full article here:

SL&RR in the media - SL&RR SL&RR has recently published an article titled ‘S*xual Lives & Respectful Relationships: working virtually’ in the most recent issue of IDA magazine. Have you seen it? The article highlight our […]

Hear from Dr Amie O'Shea in ASID - Australasian Society for Intellectual Disability's latest edition of their podcast 'Research to Practice'

"What I want to see in the future is that we need to make sure that s*xuality and relationship rights are given the same about of attention and the same amount of value as other parts of people’s lives”

PODCAST: Identity, S*xuality and LGTBIQA+ people with intellectual disability - SL&RR Dr Amie O’Shea recently featured on ASID’s podcast about Research to Practice called ‘Identity, s*xuality and LGTBIQA+ people with intellectual disability’ She speaks about the completion of her PhD in […]

Women With Disabilities Australia (WWDA) have launched an easy reading version of their website 'Our Site'. Our site was created by women and girls with disability to help women and girls with disability know information about rights, choices, seeking help for violence and abuse, community, health, relationships, s*xual health, & much more. Linda & Patsie were involved in the development of this website! Well done and thank you WWDA!

Home Page | Easy Read Webpage | Our Site A website for women and girls with disability

Grace did her honours project with the SL&RR team in 2019. Read more about her experience here:

Deakin students working with SL&RR - SL&RR You may remember Grace McArther. Grace completed an honours project with Patsie and Amie in 2019. Some students opt to do honours projects which are usually a 1-2 hour extension …

Have you seen the Mean As library of stories about relationships from people with intellectual disability?

Mean As: Kiwi stories from people with disability - SL&RR In Aotearoa New Zealand, when people say “Mean As!” they usually mean something is pretty “awesome!” Our respectful relationships research sibling from across the ditch has launched their long-awaited Mean …

Yesterday was IDAHOBIT day - The international day against homophobia, biphobia, interphobia and transphobia. In SL&RR and at Deakin, we stand up against LGTBIQA+ discrimination. You can too!

You might sneak a peak of a few SL&RR people in this video: https://video.deakin.edu.au/media/t/0_9nhuhzur