The growing amount of sexually explicit material on internet, media and social media sites has prompted the Otago Secondary Principals’ Association to bring in an expert from Australia to talk to the region’s parents about the impact it is having on young people.
Maree Crabbe, an expert on on the effects of cyber bullying, sexting and pornography, will present an evening workshop titled "It’s time we talked: Pornography, young people and sexuality today", on March 7, at the Otago Boys’ High School Auditorium.
OSPA secretary Gordon Wilson said the aim was to help parents understand the impact of pornography on young people, and what they could do to address it.
"This workshop is for all parents in Otago, and it’s free thanks to the generous support of the Otago Community Trust."
Spaces would be limited, so interested parents should contact their school to make bookings.
Ms Crabbe has worked with young people - and on issues affecting young people - in the community sector for more than 20 years.
She has developed and delivered programmes focusing on sexual violence prevention, sexual diversity and prevention of sexually transmissible infections.
She co-ordinates the community education project Reality and Risk: Pornography, Young People and Sexuality, and is co-producer and co-director of the documentary film Love and Sex in an Age of Pornography.
She is also author of In The Picture - a school resource which assists secondary schools to address the influence of explicit sexual imagery.
Mr Wilson said Otago secondary schools wanted to inform their communities and assist parents in addressing issues pupils were faced with through the internet, media and social media sites.
"Having had Maree present to principals, teachers and counsellors last year, members of the Otago Secondary Principals’ Association felt strongly that her information and messages would be very valuable for all our parents."
