Young Deadly and Free

Increasing awareness of STIs and BBVs in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities across Australia.

The Young Deadly Free Project is the most comprehensive sexually transmissibe infection (STI) and blood-borne virus (BBV) health promotion resource ever developed, specifically targeting remote and regional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities. 

Rates of STIs and BBVs in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities have been way too high for way too long – especially for young people in remote communities. It’s time to turn this around. This means making regular sexual health checks a normal part of life for sexually active young people – without stigma and without shame. We need to encourage people in remote communities to test for STIs and BBVs. This starts with educating people in remote communities about STIs and BBVs and getting whole communities involved in getting rates down.

Established in 2017, the YDF program created a significant number of resources that have endured and reached many communities nationally. The YDF promotional material is used widely in remote and regional health practice and is a key component of ongoing research studies aiming to develop multifaceted interventions to combat STI/BBV infections in remote Aboriginal communities. Expected outcomes of the project improved awareness of healthy relationships and safe sex behaviours, reduction in STIs and BBVs, and increased knowledge of and access to appropriate healthcare in remote and very remote communities.