National Condom Day 2024
It’s getting to that time of year again! National Condom Day is almost upon us, landing on Wednesday 14 February 2024. Sharing the date with Valentine's Day, National Condom Day, is an opportunity to celebrate safer sex and healthy relationships.
We believe everyone has the right to learn about sexual health so that we can have healthy relationships and safe, consensual, and pleasurable sex.
Grab your FREE rose and condom pack! – Details of participating locations are below.
National Condom Day aims to raise awareness of four key elements crucial for creating positive, safe, and delicious sexual experiences:
- Condom use – Make sure you’re always sweet for condoms and dental dams. They’re the most effective way of helping prevent Sexually Transmissible Infections (STIs). Condoms can also help prevent pregnancy.
- Consent – Consent comes first – even when you’re on a roll. Communicate with your partner/s and check in regularly.
- Pleasure – Everyone deserves that fuzzy feeling. Make pleasure a priority for you and your partner/s.
- STI testing – Regular STI testing goes hand in hand with being sexually active. Speak to your GP or sexual health clinic for a simple health check.
PARTICIPATING LOCATIONS
GRAB YOUR FREE ROSE AND CONDOM PACK FROM SHFPACT OR A PARTICIPATING LOCATION IN CANBERRA.
ROSES AVAILABLE FROM 8 FEB 2024 - 14 FEB 2024
CANBERRA CITY / BRADDON / REID
- Sexual Health & Family Planning ACT
Level,1 28 University Avenue, Canberra City - The Australian National University (ANU)
- Pressed Coffee Co — Hobart Place City
- Harvest Cafe — 40 Marcus Clarke Steet
- Canberra Institute of Technology Student Association (CITSA)
- Early Morning Centre
- Scouts
- Education Directorate
- ACT Legislative Assembly
- Anglicare Youth
- City Health Centre
- National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation
- ADFA
- Meridian (formerly AIDS Action Council)
NORTHSIDE
- Walk in Centre
- Canberra Institute of Technology Student Association (CITSA)
- Oscar's Bakery — 7 Telita Street, UC Lodge
- UC Refectory
- Ana's Hair — 51 Georgina Cres, Kaleen
- Belconnen Youth Centre
- Walk in Centre
- Gunghalin Health Centre
- Nutrition Warehouse Gunghalin
- Interchange
SOUTHSIDE
- Walk in Centre
- Interchange
- CITSA
- Canberra Sexual Health Centre
- Caffe Cherry Beans — Erindale Shopping Centre
- Erindale Takeaway
- Bridgestone Tyres — Tuggeranong
- Kingsleys Chicken — Tuggeranong
- Price attack — Tuggeranong
- Gizmos CAfe — 47 Bowes St, Phillip
STAYING SAFE & AVOIDING STI's
SHFPACT has a large range of health information brochures covering: STI’s, Safe Sex, Contraception, Pregnancy, Menopause, Women's Health, Men's Health and more.
CONSENT
Condoms are indeed awesome things that can help keep us safe, but they do need one super important thing before you rip open that little packet.
The great thing about consent is that it's pretty damn hot! In case you are unsure, sexual consent is when you and your sexual partner both agree to have sex. It’s imperative to be clear on this before things get too hot and that condom comes out!
Five things you should know about sexual consent
1. Sexual consent must be explicit
There’s only one way to know for sure if someone has given their consent: if they tell you. It’s no good just to assume that the other person is as into it as you are. It’s extremely important to check because any non-consensual sexual activity (even kissing and touching) is harmful and against the law.
2. You can always change your mind
You and your sexual partner can decide at any time that you don’t want to keep going, even if the sex stuff has begun. If this happens, both people should stop.
3. It's good to check in with each other
Take notice of your sexual partner’s body language. For example, if they seem tense or uncomfortable, pause and ask them how they’re feeling. But don’t rely on them to notice your body language – speak up and tell them how you’re feeling and if you want to stop or take a break.
4. It's okay to slow things down or stop
There’s really no rush to have sex if you’re not feeling it. If things are moving along too quickly for you, you could say something like ‘Can we slow down?’, ‘Can we take a break?’ or ‘Can we stop?’
5. Drink and drugs affect consent
If you’re really drunk or high, you can’t give consent. And if you’re sexual in any way with someone who's drunk or high and doesn’t know what’s going on and therefore can’t give informed consent, it’s equivalent to raping them.
Oh and remember if you’re both equally as enthusiastic about having sex, it also makes the sex much more pleasurable and enjoyable.
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