Dr YES heading for Goldfields, Great Southern high schools

November 12, 2007

High school students in the Goldfields, Esperance and Albany will have the opportunity to discuss sexual health and drug and alcohol issues when the Dr YES team of dedicated medical students visit the region next week.

Dr YES (Youth Education Sessions), sponsored by the AMA (WA) Foundation, is a health promotion program for adolescents with the twin aims of connecting young people with their family doctor and supporting them to make informed and healthy choices.

It is led by volunteer medical students who incorporate drama, role play and small group discussions in secondary school settings.

The topics discussed are those which figure highly in the day-to-day lives of young people and include teenage sexuality, the harmful effects of alcohol and other drugs and mental well being.

Dr YES enables young people to address their issues in a frank, informative and non-threatening environment. The program is endorsed by the WA Health Department, the WA Department of Education and Training and the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry at UWA and the University of Notre Dame.

"Dr YES volunteers are only a few years older than the high school students, which helps break down communication barriers and encourages students to ask questions and raise problems that may be impacting on their lives," said Dr YES Project Officer Jikol Friend.

"Most sessions go for an hour and the Dr YES members use humour, sketches and small group discussions to make students feel at ease.

"The program complements and expands on the students' high school curriculum and gives them the knowledge and confidence to access the health system."

More than 30,000 students throughout WA have taken part in the Dr YES program since it started 10 years ago and several other State are now seeking to adopt it.

The Dr YES team starts its five-day tour on Monday, November 19, with a visit to the Eastern Goldfields Education Support Centre. This will be followed by sessions at John Paul College and senior high schools in Kambalda, Esperance, Ravensthorpe, Jerramungup and Albany.

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