Perth North Metro Medicare Local (PNML)

1. Perth North Metro Medicare Local (PNML) Youth Health

2. What is a Medicare Local? • Medicare Local’s work with schools and primary health providers (like GPs, physios and optometrists) to: • Educate you about your health choices • Provide free and low cost health programs • Make health services easier for you to access • Ensure health services are specific to the area you live in

3. A snapshot of the PNML area… Located along the picturesque North Metropolitan coastline of Australia’s sunniest capital city, PNML covers 830 square kilometres and over 480 000 people!

4. A snapshot of the PNML area… We cover the Cities of Wanneroo, Joondalup, and most of the City of Stirling…

5. Perth North Medicare Local (PNML) You may have seen us around before as the Osborne GP Network (OGPN)…we became a Medicare Local in 2011.

6. PNML Programs • PNML provides lots of free (or low cost) programs for you and your family - and can help you manage things like: • Healthy weight • Mental health and wellbeing • Diabetes • Arthritis

7. PNML Youth Programs • PNML also provides programs that are designed especially for young people • Art YO’ Art Therapy • headspace Perth • Baby Think it Over

8. BTIO lets the student experience what it would be like to be a teen parent.. • Coordinated by the PNML Youth Health Program Officers: • Christina Self • 9208 9501 • christinas@pnml.com.au • Natalie Robertson • 9208 9592 • natalier@pnml.com.au Baby Think it Over (BTIO) www.pnml.com.au

9. Baby Think it Over • Teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted infection (STI) prevention program. • Aims to ‘raise awareness’. • Offered to students in years 10, 11 and 12. • Offered to both male and female students. • Delivered in public, private and independent schools, within the PNML region. • Delivered in Childcare, Family and Community and Health Education classes predominantly, but not exclusively.

10. Baby Think it Over • Why do we need BTIO? • Research indicates: • 28% of all reported cases of Chlamydia in WA fall within the 15-19 year old age category, (The Epidemiology of Notifiable Sexually Transmitted Infections and Blood-Borne Viruses in Western Australia 2010, Department of Health). • Australia has one of the highest rates of teenage pregnancy amongst the OECD countries, (Medical Journal of Australia, 2003; 179(3): 158-161). • Australia has one of the highest estimated rates in teenage abortion amongst the OECD countries, (Medical Journal of Australia, 2003; 179(3): 158-161). • In Western Australia the proportion of teenage mothers which are 13-15 years old is increasing, (Western Australian Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages, 2011).

11. Baby Think it Over Pregnancy Vest Virtual Babies FAS/Drug Affected Babies

12. BTIO Program Overview • 3 Stage Approach: • Education – 1 hour fun and interactive • workshop • Interaction – 2 days/nights with the virtual • baby • Reinforcement – Talking Realities • presentation

13. 3 Stage Approach – Educational Workshop • Introduction • Current Epidemiology Australian Youth Sexual Health • Choices, Consequences & Options • Teenage Pregnancy • Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI’s) • Youth GP & Community Services Accessibility • Contraception • How to Use the Virtual Baby • Demonstration BTIO Program Overview

14. 3 Stage Approach – Interaction with the Virtual Baby • Real life simulation of what it would be like to be a teenage parent. • Baby is allocated for 2 days and 2 nights during the week. • Baby simulation is on during school, at home and during the night. • Students experiences what it would be like to juggle school work, recreation, family and the baby. • Student experiences the reactions of friends, family members and the wider community. BTIO Program Overview

15. 3 Stage Approach – Reinforcement with Talking Realities • Teenage mothers who have been trained as Peer Educators. • UnitingCare West national program. • Includes: • Lifestyle Comparisons • Cost of Living • Consequences of Having a Child • Sexual Health • Community Services • Relationships and Feelings • Honest and Open Q & A BTIO Program Overview

16. BTIO Program Overview • 3 Stage Approach – Format • Monday Initial Workshop/Presentation 1 hour Allocate 1st ½ of the class virtual babies • Wednesday Allocate 2nd ½ of the class virtual babies ½-1 hourAdvice giving session (optional) • Friday Debrief Session (optional) 0-1 hour Pick up virtual babies • Following Week Talking Realities Presentation 1 hour

17. Baby Think it Over • Program Evaluation • Pre Program Questionnaire • Post Program Questionnaire • Post Talking Realities Questionnaire • Measures changes in knowledge, attitudes and beliefs about teenage pregnancy, youth GP accessibility and confidence in caring for a baby.

18. Baby Think it Over • Program Statistics • Reporting year: • 2008/2009 – 141 participants • 2009/2010 – 349 participants • 2010/2011 – 355 participants • 2011/2012 – 552 participants • 2012/2013 – on track for ~700 – 800 participants

19. Baby Think it Over • Program Statistics • Reporting year 2011/2012 • 34.6% reported an increase in age of wanting their first child post program. • 50.2% reported feeling less confident in their ability to look after a baby now post program. • 88.0% reported that they are aware of how to access a GP post program, (compared with 79.0% pre program).

20. Baby Think it Over • Questions?