News

Sacred Sistas for Kerang on June 2

Mon, 18 May 2015 16:01:00

An innovative project for young women aimed using creative art to improve awareness about sexual and reproductive health will be held in Kerang next month.

The Sacred Sistas Project will be held at MDAS Kerang on June 2 and is an arts-based sexual and reproductive health program for young Koori women and girls.
MDAS Kerang Aboriginal Health Worker Melanie Lane said the Sacred Sistas workshops have been held in communities around the State.
“The Sacred Sistas concept gives girls and women a chance to come and yarn, share stories and do some fun craft-based activities,” Ms Lane said.
“It’s a chance to get women together, but also gives them an opportunity to seek advice and support in a fun and safe space,” she said.
“Sacred Sistas focusses on creative arts-based activities and we’ll be making a special bracelet in the workshop, sharing lunch and doing some clay painting.  The projects have an amazing ability to bring the girls and women together to do the activities, all while learning about women’s bodies and their magic.”
While creating art, they yarn about:

• Body awareness
• Respectful relationships
• Puberty and menarche
• Menstrual cycle
• Ovulation and fertility
• Pregnancy and conception
• Safe sex
• Contraception
• STIs
• STI screening
• Pap testing
• HPV vaccination

The Sacred Sistas Project began in 2012 with Arimaya Yates, a passionate and dedicated Koori midwife committed to improving the sexual and reproductive health experiences of young Aboriginal women in Australia.
Sacred Sistas also supports Aboriginal health workers and Koori Maternity Service workers in promoting sexual and reproductive health within the community, providing training that will allow workers to facilitate the program on an ongoing basis in their own communities.

Bookings can be made with Melanie Lane at MDAS Kerang 5450 3019