There are a number of behaviours relevant to young people that carry a risk of blood-borne virus transmission – such as sexual activity and tattooing/body art. The ‘7th National survey of secondary students and sexual health 2022’ found that only 38.3% of young people reported always using condoms.*
Body art (including tattooing, body modification and some traditional practices) – increasingly popular amongst young people – also carries a high risk of blood borne virus transmission if not carried out using the correct infection control procedures.
Reliable and age appropriate information should be easily available to young people to increase awareness and encourage safe behaviour around these activities. The following resources are free to access online (and may be free in hard copy), are relevant to different youth age groups and also for use by educators/service providers.
And remember, Hepatitis SA provides education sessions in South Australia about Young People, Body Art, the Law and Staying Safe. Just contact us for more information!
*(For a review of this survey – and more: see ‘The Conversation ‘Check your ‘fun parts’: what a new sexual health campaign for young Aussies gets right and wrong’)
Smarter body art
Hepatitis ACT, Canberra, 2024 (rev). 14p. booklets
Information about hep B and C transmission and how to stay safe if getting a tattoo; also legal requirements for tattooing (age of consent etc), and how to check whether tattooists are using safe practices.
Take Blaktion
Aboriginal Health and Medical Research Council of NSW & NSW Government, Sydney, 2024. Website.
Comprehensive information about sexual health by, and for, Aboriginal people. Includes ‘Ask Nurse Nettie’ (confidential online chat), videos, clinic locations, and quizzes.
Beforeplay
Aust Govt Dept of Health and Aged Care, Canberra, 2024. Website.
Comprehensive information about sexual health for young people. Covers: prevention, testing, local services and resources (videos, posters, fact sheets and FAQs – some available in translations).
Aunty May and the dodgy tattoo: further adventures of Iluka, Janalli, Miro and Bindi
Carbal Creations & Hepatitis Queenlsand, Brisbane, 2022. Link to 29p story book ; Link to 3:08 minute video
Follows the journey of 4 young people from Millmerran who learn that their Auntie May has recently contracted hep B: they explore how hep B is transmitted and share key prevention measures with their local community in a fun and creative way.
Beauty treatment businesses
NSW Health, Sydney, 2022. 2p factsheet
Beauticians carry out many beauty treatments that involve skin penetration (incl. electrolysis, microdermabrasion, cuticle cutting and cosmetic tattooing) that can carry a risk of infections.These factsheets are designed for businesses but the information is useful for clients. Available in Arabic, Chinese, English, Korean and Vietnamese.
Young, deadly, free teacher resources
Young Deadly Free (South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute), Adelaide, 2021. Videos, lesson plans, handouts, discussion guides.
Resources for teachers with little or no experience running Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE): aimed at Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, years 7–10, 2 sets of lesson units with videos, lesson plans, background information, discussion guides, anatomy stories etc.
Body art and hepatitis C
Hepatitis SA, Adelaide, 2021 (rev). 3 fold brochure.
Some questions to ask the tattoo artist or body piercer before getting work done along with some general info about risks. Available online as read only: contact Hepatitis SA for free hard copies ().
Note: may need to turn off ad blockers to view complete ISSUU resources.
If tats could talk
Hepatitis Australia, Canberra, 2020. Video 1:26 minutes
If you go to a professional tattoo or piercing studio in Australia, your chances of getting hepatitis B or hepatitis C are almost nil. However, backyard tattoos and overseas shops could put you at risk. Getting a tattoo or piercing done at home or at a party can seem fun and cheap, but it is near impossible to replicate the sterile environment of a professional tattoo shop.
For more resources on this topic: click here
TIP: for most recently published resources: click on black ‘sort’ button at top of catalogue list – scroll over ‘copyright date’ – select ‘newest to oldest’.
Last updated 1 September 2024
More from:
Enjoyed this article? Subscribe to be notified whenever we publish new stories.
Subscribe for Updates
