Training Support Unit - HETI - Policy to Practice: Sexual Health & Cultural Safety

About the Webinar

Overview:

The Jumbunna webinar sessions are a series of dedicated professional development webinars presented by the Training Support Unit (TSU) for multidisciplinary staff working in the Aboriginal Maternal Infant Health Service (AMIHS), Building Strong Foundations (BSF) teams, and interested healthcare colleagues supporting and partnering with Aboriginal families in NSW.

Presentation details

This webinar will focus on sexual health and culturally safe care, with particular attention to the latest updates to the NSW Health Syphilis Screening Policy.

Featuring leading NSW Health experts, the session will provide authoritative insights into recent policy changes and their implications for clinical practice and community health. Through a cultural lens, we’ll explore how these updates impact Aboriginal families and communities, and why culturally responsive approaches are essential for effective sexual health care.

Participants will gain practical knowledge and strategies through presentations, a panel discussion, and an interactive Q&A with experienced practitioners.

Topics include:

Syphilis and other STIs: policy updates, current trends, and health promotion activities
Sexual health screening updates: what’s new and what you need to know
Culturally responsive care: practical approaches to support Aboriginal families

Whether you are a health professional, educator, or community advocate, this webinar offers valuable perspectives to strengthen your practice and improve sexual health outcomes.

Learning Objectives:

At the end of this webinar, participants will be able to:

Apply recent updates to the NSW Health Syphilis Screening Policy to care within AMIHS and BSF services
Adopt culturally responsive strategies to support Aboriginal families in sexual health screening and STI prevention, with a focus on strengthening maternal and infant health outcomes.

Enquiries:

E: Suzanne.kelpsa@health.nsw.gov.au

M: 0467 965 600

Register Today!

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Presenters

Cherie Bennett

Cherie Bennett is an experienced nurse, educator, and policy lead with over a decade of contribution to the HIV, sexual health, and viral hepatitis sector. Her diverse portfolio spans clinical practice, research, policy, and workforce development across government, non-government, and academic settings.

In her current roles, Cherie leads nursing policy and advocacy initiatives at the Australasian Society for HIV, Viral Hepatitis and Sexual Health Medicine (ASHM), provides specialist clinical care at Sydney Sexual Health Centre, and manages the Cooper HIV/AIDS Research Training (CHART) Program at the Kirby Institute, UNSW. Through CHART, she has supported capacity building and professional exchange across the Asia-Pacific region, strengthening the HIV workforce globally.

Cherie is also a sessional academic at the University of Wollongong and is deeply committed to developing the next generation of nurses. Her work continues to champion nurse-led models of care, equitable access, and person-centred approaches that underpin effective HIV prevention and treatment.

Naomi Hoffman

Naomi Hoffman (Nay) is a proud Kamilaroi woman living on Dharawal land. Nay is currently working as a Clinical Nurse Consultant at Illawarra Shoalhaven Sexual Health Service and is awaiting her endorsement as a Nurse Practitioner. Nay has worked in Sexual Health Services in both SWSLHD and ISLHD over the past 1years and loves having a yarn with folks about all things especially sexual health and HIV. Nay is very passionate about reducing barriers to STI testing, treatment and HIV care. In her free time, Nay loves cooking a feed and spending time with her fella and poochies.

Jess Wilms

Jess (she/her) is the Aboriginal sexual health education officer for Western Sydney LHD. Jess is a proud Wiradjuri woman, who Chairs the state-wide Aboriginal sexual health action group for NSW Health. Leading a state-wide approach to providing culturally appropriate sexual health projects and resources for NSW, including the work of Take Blaktion. She is also on the inaugural Deadly Sex Forum planning committee bring mob from across the state together to learn and celebrate sexual health education in our communities.

Jess has been fortunate enough to be a part of numerous research projects around various sexual health topics including dating apps, and strengths-based peer research with Aboriginal young people and digital capabilities in sexual health promotion.

Jess works alongside community creating safe inclusive environments. She’s passionate about safe and equitable healthcare for all and tackling stigma and discrimination faced by Aboriginal and LGBTIQA+ communities.

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