1 00:00:04,071 --> 00:00:09,031 Speaker 1: Black cast Unite our voices. This episode is in partnership 2 00:00:09,031 --> 00:00:14,791 Speaker 1: with the Australian Government. Welcome to the Black Magic Woman 3 00:00:14,951 --> 00:00:23,671 Speaker 1: Podcast with Mandanara Baileys. Welcome back to another episode of 4 00:00:23,711 --> 00:00:27,071 Speaker 1: the Black Magic Woman Podcast. I'm in the studio and 5 00:00:27,151 --> 00:00:29,631 Speaker 1: I've got an amazing guest that well, basically we've been 6 00:00:29,631 --> 00:00:31,791 Speaker 1: waiting to do this episode for quite some time before 7 00:00:31,911 --> 00:00:36,431 Speaker 1: the Christmas break. So, Amanda Subisado, thank you so much 8 00:00:36,471 --> 00:00:40,191 Speaker 1: for joining me on the Black Magic wo podcast. Can 9 00:00:40,231 --> 00:00:43,911 Speaker 1: you introduce yourself to my guest. Tell us a little 10 00:00:43,951 --> 00:00:47,271 Speaker 1: bit about yourself. So your mob, where you grew up awesome. 11 00:00:47,391 --> 00:00:50,631 Speaker 2: I'm Amanda Supersada. I'm so excited to be here today. 12 00:00:50,951 --> 00:00:54,431 Speaker 2: I am joining you today from Wada, Nungar country, so 13 00:00:54,631 --> 00:00:57,831 Speaker 2: Perth where I grew up on these beautiful lands. I 14 00:00:57,911 --> 00:01:00,191 Speaker 2: am m' Dandi, which is part of the Nunga nation 15 00:01:00,311 --> 00:01:04,191 Speaker 2: in the southwest and Bard which is north of Broom 16 00:01:04,311 --> 00:01:07,711 Speaker 2: up to down here peninsula. So but yeah, been lucky 17 00:01:07,791 --> 00:01:10,871 Speaker 2: enough to grow up on watchak Buja. 18 00:01:10,911 --> 00:01:14,551 Speaker 1: So you're living over now on long our country and 19 00:01:14,631 --> 00:01:16,711 Speaker 1: we were yarning just before that. 20 00:01:16,791 --> 00:01:18,631 Speaker 3: You're actually studying a PhD. 21 00:01:18,871 --> 00:01:21,991 Speaker 2: Yeah, I'm studying my PhD through the University of Queensland, 22 00:01:22,111 --> 00:01:26,431 Speaker 2: so over on the lands where you're dialing in from today. Yeah, 23 00:01:26,591 --> 00:01:29,471 Speaker 2: most of my career has been in sexual health and 24 00:01:29,511 --> 00:01:33,671 Speaker 2: so working a lot with Aboriginal young people, predominantly all 25 00:01:33,711 --> 00:01:37,511 Speaker 2: through Western Australia, which has just been an amazing privilege. 26 00:01:37,511 --> 00:01:40,031 Speaker 2: Again having grown up here in the city, but being 27 00:01:40,071 --> 00:01:43,471 Speaker 2: able to travel regionally and connect with elders and country 28 00:01:43,831 --> 00:01:47,231 Speaker 2: and young people from all over Australia. And so my 29 00:01:47,231 --> 00:01:49,911 Speaker 2: PhD is actually not in sexual health though, it's looking 30 00:01:49,951 --> 00:01:54,311 Speaker 2: at processes to ensure that youth voices are heard and 31 00:01:54,351 --> 00:01:57,071 Speaker 2: that our young people are engaged with in ways that 32 00:01:57,111 --> 00:02:02,431 Speaker 2: are meaningful to them. When government researchers services are looking 33 00:02:02,471 --> 00:02:05,151 Speaker 2: for feedback and input of our community because we know 34 00:02:05,191 --> 00:02:09,311 Speaker 2: that often people are using terms like co design, which 35 00:02:09,351 --> 00:02:12,031 Speaker 2: is meant to be around really partnering with community and 36 00:02:12,071 --> 00:02:16,191 Speaker 2: meaningful ways, but that sometimes is still not happening, and 37 00:02:16,271 --> 00:02:19,791 Speaker 2: so it's really trying to build up our community to 38 00:02:19,831 --> 00:02:22,911 Speaker 2: have knowledge about what they should be expecting and demanding 39 00:02:23,111 --> 00:02:27,711 Speaker 2: in these spaces and building a youth model around how 40 00:02:27,711 --> 00:02:30,351 Speaker 2: to engage with us in more meaningful ways. 41 00:02:30,831 --> 00:02:34,911 Speaker 1: Very much needed and can't wait to see PhD. When 42 00:02:34,911 --> 00:02:36,951 Speaker 1: you get to the end or have to. 43 00:02:37,071 --> 00:02:39,031 Speaker 4: Stay it's the long, hard process. 44 00:02:40,071 --> 00:02:41,591 Speaker 3: Yeah, we'll have to stay in touch. 45 00:02:41,991 --> 00:02:47,231 Speaker 1: But going back to the sexual health, which is your background, 46 00:02:48,151 --> 00:02:50,471 Speaker 1: can you tell me a little bit about your experience. 47 00:02:50,791 --> 00:02:53,671 Speaker 3: When was the first time you actually heard about sexual health. 48 00:02:53,871 --> 00:02:54,471 Speaker 3: It's to me. 49 00:02:55,311 --> 00:02:59,431 Speaker 1: I actually still remember going to the Aboraginal Medical Center 50 00:02:59,631 --> 00:03:03,031 Speaker 1: in Hubert Street, wooll And Gabber and they said to 51 00:03:03,711 --> 00:03:07,991 Speaker 1: talk to the doctor next door at the youth space 52 00:03:08,551 --> 00:03:11,511 Speaker 1: and we got to speak to a doctor that just 53 00:03:11,991 --> 00:03:15,391 Speaker 1: spoke with young people about sexual health. And there was 54 00:03:15,431 --> 00:03:17,191 Speaker 1: a pool table there, there was a kitchen there, you 55 00:03:17,191 --> 00:03:18,871 Speaker 1: could have a feed, and it was kind of like 56 00:03:18,911 --> 00:03:21,431 Speaker 1: a drop in center for young people, but it was 57 00:03:21,551 --> 00:03:24,911 Speaker 1: all around sexual health. I didn't know at the time, 58 00:03:25,431 --> 00:03:27,351 Speaker 1: but now when I think back about it, and I 59 00:03:27,431 --> 00:03:31,471 Speaker 1: have not thought about using that service. I haven't thought 60 00:03:31,471 --> 00:03:34,671 Speaker 1: about that for at least twenty five years till today. 61 00:03:34,991 --> 00:03:37,351 Speaker 2: That's amazing and I'm glad that you had that experience 62 00:03:37,351 --> 00:03:40,671 Speaker 2: because I feel like for me growing up, yeah, I 63 00:03:40,671 --> 00:03:42,711 Speaker 2: didn't have many of those experiences. 64 00:03:42,991 --> 00:03:43,351 Speaker 4: I think. 65 00:03:44,391 --> 00:03:47,671 Speaker 2: Yeah, sexual health wasn't really something that was talked about 66 00:03:47,831 --> 00:03:51,231 Speaker 2: in my family necessarily, and we did have some education 67 00:03:51,351 --> 00:03:56,271 Speaker 2: in school, but it was pretty limited and probably too late. 68 00:03:56,591 --> 00:03:59,311 Speaker 2: I even remember in primary school getting called in for 69 00:03:59,391 --> 00:04:01,311 Speaker 2: like a meeting with all of the girls, and it 70 00:04:01,351 --> 00:04:05,551 Speaker 2: was because people were putting like fruit in the sanitary bins. 71 00:04:05,631 --> 00:04:08,591 Speaker 2: But no one had actually spoken to us about periods 72 00:04:08,671 --> 00:04:11,191 Speaker 2: or what the bins were for or anything like that. 73 00:04:11,391 --> 00:04:15,431 Speaker 2: So it was definitely something very lacking growing up. Yeah, 74 00:04:15,471 --> 00:04:18,751 Speaker 2: we didn't talk about it in my family necessarily. I 75 00:04:18,831 --> 00:04:21,271 Speaker 2: was given a book. My mum gave me a little 76 00:04:21,351 --> 00:04:23,471 Speaker 2: book that she'd bought from the shop that was just 77 00:04:23,551 --> 00:04:27,231 Speaker 2: left on my bed, strategically with no kind of conversation 78 00:04:27,511 --> 00:04:30,191 Speaker 2: around any of that information. Yeah, and I feel like 79 00:04:30,311 --> 00:04:34,711 Speaker 2: a lot of condoms STI prevention, that kind of knowledge 80 00:04:34,911 --> 00:04:39,231 Speaker 2: wasn't necessarily shared. I do recall actually having an Aboriginal 81 00:04:39,271 --> 00:04:41,551 Speaker 2: health team come into the school and having a kind 82 00:04:41,591 --> 00:04:44,551 Speaker 2: of incursion, or maybe it was an excursion, but we 83 00:04:44,591 --> 00:04:48,551 Speaker 2: did some stuff around condom use and STIs. But I 84 00:04:48,591 --> 00:04:50,511 Speaker 2: just I think it's really interesting because a lot of 85 00:04:50,551 --> 00:04:55,511 Speaker 2: the education focuses maybe on puberty and periods and then 86 00:04:55,551 --> 00:04:59,311 Speaker 2: condoms and STIs, but you know, sexual health is actually 87 00:04:59,351 --> 00:05:02,711 Speaker 2: really so much broader than that, and the reasons that 88 00:05:02,751 --> 00:05:06,031 Speaker 2: people make to see or don't make you healthier. Decisions 89 00:05:06,071 --> 00:05:09,471 Speaker 2: around their sexual health are very layered and complicated. 90 00:05:09,871 --> 00:05:14,471 Speaker 1: So what made you decide that this was the space 91 00:05:14,471 --> 00:05:15,751 Speaker 1: that you wanted to work in. 92 00:05:16,351 --> 00:05:18,871 Speaker 2: I think I don't think anybody sits around in high 93 00:05:18,871 --> 00:05:20,471 Speaker 2: school and goes I'm going to be a sexual health 94 00:05:20,591 --> 00:05:24,871 Speaker 2: educator when I leave. It was definitely not my frame 95 00:05:24,911 --> 00:05:27,071 Speaker 2: of mind with things, But I think I knew I 96 00:05:27,111 --> 00:05:29,751 Speaker 2: wanted to do some sort of education stuff. I thought 97 00:05:29,751 --> 00:05:31,631 Speaker 2: I might end up in education, and I think I 98 00:05:31,751 --> 00:05:34,471 Speaker 2: just became really passionate about this space because of the 99 00:05:34,511 --> 00:05:39,111 Speaker 2: experiences of my friends in high school. There were a 100 00:05:39,151 --> 00:05:41,391 Speaker 2: lot of us that were ending up in situations where 101 00:05:41,791 --> 00:05:45,471 Speaker 2: we maybe didn't feel very safe. We weren't making decisions 102 00:05:45,511 --> 00:05:48,631 Speaker 2: that were, you know, the healthiest for our bodies. And 103 00:05:49,111 --> 00:05:51,951 Speaker 2: the first, very very first time that I had sex, 104 00:05:52,391 --> 00:05:55,671 Speaker 2: I got an STI and at the time I thought 105 00:05:55,711 --> 00:05:58,551 Speaker 2: that I was pregnant and I was very lucky to 106 00:05:58,591 --> 00:06:01,551 Speaker 2: have a very good relationship with the school health nurse 107 00:06:02,231 --> 00:06:04,551 Speaker 2: and she was really supported and we spoke to my 108 00:06:04,671 --> 00:06:07,111 Speaker 2: mum and we got into we used to be called 109 00:06:07,231 --> 00:06:10,911 Speaker 2: Quarry Sexual Health Clinic in Fremantle. Its now Sexual Health 110 00:06:10,951 --> 00:06:12,351 Speaker 2: quarters they're called. 111 00:06:12,551 --> 00:06:14,271 Speaker 4: Here in Perth, and they were amazing. 112 00:06:14,511 --> 00:06:17,911 Speaker 2: Was the time where I was feeling obviously incredibly vulnerable 113 00:06:17,991 --> 00:06:21,231 Speaker 2: and shy and nervous and all of those things, and 114 00:06:21,311 --> 00:06:23,991 Speaker 2: mortified about having to speak to my mum about these 115 00:06:23,991 --> 00:06:26,631 Speaker 2: things after growing up in a house where it wasn't 116 00:06:26,671 --> 00:06:30,551 Speaker 2: spoken about. But yeah, the health service there was incredible, 117 00:06:30,591 --> 00:06:32,431 Speaker 2: And so I love that you just shared that story 118 00:06:32,471 --> 00:06:35,431 Speaker 2: about a similar kind of youth health service that you'd 119 00:06:35,471 --> 00:06:39,071 Speaker 2: accessed as well, because I find sexual health nurses and 120 00:06:39,151 --> 00:06:44,471 Speaker 2: doctors they're very quirky, very warm, They're super passionate about 121 00:06:44,471 --> 00:06:46,791 Speaker 2: the work that they do and are incredibly skilled in 122 00:06:46,791 --> 00:06:49,151 Speaker 2: this space. So I don't think I've ever had a 123 00:06:49,191 --> 00:06:53,911 Speaker 2: bad experience from health services and doctors and nurses who 124 00:06:53,911 --> 00:06:56,151 Speaker 2: specialize in sexual health and youth health. So it was 125 00:06:56,151 --> 00:07:00,311 Speaker 2: a really good experience, considering how confronting it was to 126 00:07:00,711 --> 00:07:03,351 Speaker 2: find that I had tested positive for an STI, and 127 00:07:03,391 --> 00:07:06,151 Speaker 2: I was It's just like, I don't want our young people, 128 00:07:06,311 --> 00:07:09,231 Speaker 2: or my friends or peers or other people to have 129 00:07:09,351 --> 00:07:11,751 Speaker 2: that same experience. It doesn't have to be that way, 130 00:07:11,911 --> 00:07:15,591 Speaker 2: and we should be having more you know, more education 131 00:07:15,831 --> 00:07:19,551 Speaker 2: and more knowledge out there and more accessible for all 132 00:07:19,591 --> 00:07:20,631 Speaker 2: of our mob. 133 00:07:20,671 --> 00:07:25,111 Speaker 1: Have you seen people become more comfortable talking about and 134 00:07:25,151 --> 00:07:26,671 Speaker 1: looking after their sexual health. 135 00:07:27,031 --> 00:07:29,431 Speaker 2: I think that's a big question. I think it's varied, 136 00:07:29,871 --> 00:07:32,271 Speaker 2: I think, but I do think it is becoming more normal. 137 00:07:32,351 --> 00:07:35,831 Speaker 2: We've got a lot more health promotion campaigns around. I 138 00:07:35,831 --> 00:07:38,271 Speaker 2: think we're living in a different time because people do 139 00:07:38,431 --> 00:07:41,871 Speaker 2: have more access to things in ways that they can 140 00:07:41,871 --> 00:07:44,391 Speaker 2: connect with, you know, in terms of getting that knowledge, 141 00:07:44,431 --> 00:07:47,111 Speaker 2: because there is a lot of good information actually from 142 00:07:47,231 --> 00:07:51,031 Speaker 2: amazing people on TikTok and Instagram and on social media 143 00:07:51,111 --> 00:07:54,151 Speaker 2: as well, whereas we didn't really have that, you know, 144 00:07:54,191 --> 00:07:57,031 Speaker 2: when I was growing up, I think, you know, the 145 00:07:57,111 --> 00:07:59,111 Speaker 2: Internet had only really just come out. 146 00:07:59,311 --> 00:08:00,591 Speaker 4: We had a computer in my room. 147 00:08:00,591 --> 00:08:03,271 Speaker 2: I probably got a lot of information from sites that 148 00:08:03,311 --> 00:08:07,271 Speaker 2: were not necessarily the best place to be getting information from. 149 00:08:07,751 --> 00:08:09,951 Speaker 2: And we had an encyclopedia set and even know if 150 00:08:10,111 --> 00:08:13,191 Speaker 2: young people know what encyclopedia is these days, but I 151 00:08:13,271 --> 00:08:16,151 Speaker 2: got some information from places like that, Whereas now I 152 00:08:16,151 --> 00:08:19,631 Speaker 2: think we've so much more accessible and look, I had 153 00:08:19,671 --> 00:08:22,591 Speaker 2: the privilege of working on an amazing project you Young 154 00:08:22,631 --> 00:08:25,711 Speaker 2: Deadly Free as well a while ago in my career, 155 00:08:25,751 --> 00:08:28,191 Speaker 2: and what I've found was I think there's this real 156 00:08:28,231 --> 00:08:33,271 Speaker 2: stereotype still that for mob sexual health is a taboo subject. 157 00:08:33,951 --> 00:08:36,831 Speaker 2: And my experience, you know, working many, many years in 158 00:08:36,831 --> 00:08:39,511 Speaker 2: the space is that I wouldn't say it's a taboo subject. 159 00:08:39,591 --> 00:08:42,751 Speaker 2: I would say it's a sensitive topic for many people 160 00:08:42,791 --> 00:08:45,551 Speaker 2: in communities. But that when you know, when we get 161 00:08:45,551 --> 00:08:49,031 Speaker 2: in spaces and we feel comfortable, like there's no conversation 162 00:08:49,231 --> 00:08:51,311 Speaker 2: that's off the table, you know what I mean. 163 00:08:51,911 --> 00:08:54,991 Speaker 4: And I found a lot of the people that we interviewed. 164 00:08:54,471 --> 00:08:57,151 Speaker 2: For different projects that I've worked on were you know, 165 00:08:57,191 --> 00:08:59,951 Speaker 2: they were actually they were having conversations with their young people, 166 00:08:59,991 --> 00:09:02,951 Speaker 2: and sometimes they were having conversations, you know, women and 167 00:09:03,031 --> 00:09:05,871 Speaker 2: men were having those conversations, which again is another real 168 00:09:06,431 --> 00:09:09,791 Speaker 2: you know stereotype in our communities and again sometimes stricter 169 00:09:09,991 --> 00:09:11,631 Speaker 2: in certain communities than others. 170 00:09:11,671 --> 00:09:13,391 Speaker 4: But people were doing what. 171 00:09:13,431 --> 00:09:15,551 Speaker 2: They had to do to make sure that their young 172 00:09:15,591 --> 00:09:18,791 Speaker 2: people were informed. I spect to plenty of parents that 173 00:09:18,831 --> 00:09:22,351 Speaker 2: were leaving you know, condoms underneath the sink and stuff 174 00:09:22,351 --> 00:09:24,511 Speaker 2: in the bathrooms for the young fellows if they were 175 00:09:24,551 --> 00:09:28,231 Speaker 2: single mums, like all sorts of different stories around how 176 00:09:28,231 --> 00:09:31,751 Speaker 2: we were navigating this in our communities. So yeah, I 177 00:09:31,791 --> 00:09:34,071 Speaker 2: think the short answer is. Yeah, I think there is 178 00:09:34,471 --> 00:09:37,791 Speaker 2: less shame and I think we're slowly you know, normalizing it, 179 00:09:38,111 --> 00:09:40,431 Speaker 2: but it's something that we need to continue pushing the 180 00:09:40,471 --> 00:09:43,951 Speaker 2: boundaries on, respectfully, pushing the boundaries on so that we 181 00:09:43,951 --> 00:09:46,991 Speaker 2: can prevent those high rates of STIs in our communities. 182 00:09:53,351 --> 00:09:57,111 Speaker 1: So safe sex behaviors include a range of things, so 183 00:09:57,191 --> 00:10:01,071 Speaker 1: preventative strategies including the use of condoms and as you mentioned, 184 00:10:01,111 --> 00:10:06,551 Speaker 1: like STI, so regular STI testing for treatment SIS. 185 00:10:06,551 --> 00:10:07,151 Speaker 3: What do you think of. 186 00:10:07,191 --> 00:10:11,151 Speaker 1: The biggest barriers like for people for our mob when 187 00:10:11,191 --> 00:10:13,991 Speaker 1: it comes to STI testing. 188 00:10:14,591 --> 00:10:18,071 Speaker 2: I think, unfortunately, you know, despite a lot of great 189 00:10:18,071 --> 00:10:23,111 Speaker 2: health promotion campaigns, people still have this perception that they 190 00:10:23,111 --> 00:10:27,271 Speaker 2: don't have any symptoms, so they're not sick, and so 191 00:10:27,831 --> 00:10:30,591 Speaker 2: they don't think that they should be going for regular 192 00:10:30,631 --> 00:10:33,871 Speaker 2: testing necessarily. And again, I think there's movement in that 193 00:10:33,951 --> 00:10:36,551 Speaker 2: space and people are becoming more aware, but I think 194 00:10:36,551 --> 00:10:39,151 Speaker 2: there's still plenty of pockets of people that believe that, 195 00:10:39,631 --> 00:10:42,031 Speaker 2: and so it's really important that people are aware that 196 00:10:42,231 --> 00:10:45,991 Speaker 2: STIs are asymptomatic, meaning you don't get any signs or 197 00:10:46,031 --> 00:10:48,631 Speaker 2: anything happening in your body to let you know that 198 00:10:48,991 --> 00:10:51,311 Speaker 2: something might be wrong, and so That's why it's so 199 00:10:51,351 --> 00:10:54,311 Speaker 2: important to get tested regularly and every time that you've 200 00:10:54,631 --> 00:10:57,111 Speaker 2: had unsafe sex as well or sex without a condom. 201 00:10:57,311 --> 00:10:58,911 Speaker 2: I think one of the things that we talk about 202 00:10:58,911 --> 00:11:02,191 Speaker 2: often as being a barrier is this concept of shame. 203 00:11:03,071 --> 00:11:06,671 Speaker 2: I just think aime is such a both complex and 204 00:11:06,711 --> 00:11:08,791 Speaker 2: such a simple sort of thing to talk about, right 205 00:11:09,431 --> 00:11:12,751 Speaker 2: because shame is something that anybody can feel from any 206 00:11:12,831 --> 00:11:15,031 Speaker 2: race and any background as well. It's something that we 207 00:11:15,071 --> 00:11:17,231 Speaker 2: talk about a lot in our communities as being a 208 00:11:17,271 --> 00:11:21,191 Speaker 2: barrier for lots of things, including healthcare. But it's something 209 00:11:21,231 --> 00:11:24,511 Speaker 2: that I'm really passionate about us talking about more because 210 00:11:24,551 --> 00:11:27,551 Speaker 2: I feel like often the stories that we're telling ourselves 211 00:11:27,551 --> 00:11:29,751 Speaker 2: and each other around shame is that it stops us 212 00:11:29,751 --> 00:11:32,311 Speaker 2: from doing things, and of course it's a real emotion, 213 00:11:32,511 --> 00:11:35,351 Speaker 2: and of course it can be something that prevents us 214 00:11:35,391 --> 00:11:39,431 Speaker 2: from doing things. However, we overcome shame all the time. 215 00:11:40,111 --> 00:11:42,551 Speaker 2: You know. We're living in these systems that we're not 216 00:11:42,631 --> 00:11:46,071 Speaker 2: designed for us, you know, and we get up every 217 00:11:46,151 --> 00:11:49,951 Speaker 2: day and get out there and push through that shame 218 00:11:50,231 --> 00:11:54,031 Speaker 2: to achieve amazing things all the time, and we don't 219 00:11:54,071 --> 00:11:56,311 Speaker 2: talk about that side of it enough. I feel as 220 00:11:56,311 --> 00:11:59,271 Speaker 2: a community, I feel like we need to start flipping 221 00:11:59,271 --> 00:12:02,791 Speaker 2: that script a bit, you know, and talking more about 222 00:12:03,271 --> 00:12:06,831 Speaker 2: or thinking more about what we do to overcome shame 223 00:12:07,191 --> 00:12:10,951 Speaker 2: in our everyday lives and really thinking about how can 224 00:12:10,991 --> 00:12:14,311 Speaker 2: we take those skills in overcoming shame and apply them 225 00:12:14,311 --> 00:12:17,471 Speaker 2: for things like going for an STI test or speaking 226 00:12:17,471 --> 00:12:20,711 Speaker 2: to a partner about STI testing, or asking for a 227 00:12:20,751 --> 00:12:23,551 Speaker 2: test at the clinic or you know, whatever it is. Yeah, 228 00:12:23,551 --> 00:12:25,551 Speaker 2: I get that it's really hard. You know, it was 229 00:12:25,711 --> 00:12:27,871 Speaker 2: not easy for me when I was younger kind of 230 00:12:27,911 --> 00:12:31,831 Speaker 2: having those conversations. But yeah, I just think we're strong 231 00:12:31,871 --> 00:12:35,271 Speaker 2: and amazing. We've got all this amazing you know, ancestral wisdom. 232 00:12:35,871 --> 00:12:38,911 Speaker 2: You know, we were so warm and relational in the 233 00:12:38,911 --> 00:12:40,631 Speaker 2: way that we are with each other and the way 234 00:12:40,631 --> 00:12:43,231 Speaker 2: that we connect, And yeah, I just think we need 235 00:12:43,271 --> 00:12:45,271 Speaker 2: to be having those conversations more. So. 236 00:12:45,431 --> 00:12:47,751 Speaker 4: I guess i'd really encourage. 237 00:12:47,311 --> 00:12:49,951 Speaker 2: Listeners to actually think about that, like, what is it 238 00:12:49,991 --> 00:12:53,991 Speaker 2: that I do to push through shame, to push through 239 00:12:54,111 --> 00:12:58,551 Speaker 2: embarrassment that I have normally? And how can I, you know, 240 00:12:58,871 --> 00:13:02,671 Speaker 2: build up those strategies more and use that in all 241 00:13:02,671 --> 00:13:04,071 Speaker 2: the situations in mine. 242 00:13:04,191 --> 00:13:07,391 Speaker 1: I love this information and it's even important for us 243 00:13:07,431 --> 00:13:11,031 Speaker 1: to start breaking down some of the STI sys. So 244 00:13:11,031 --> 00:13:13,631 Speaker 1: it's going to asks you in terms of, like, can 245 00:13:13,671 --> 00:13:20,191 Speaker 1: we actually yearn about some specific STIs In particular, they're syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, 246 00:13:20,231 --> 00:13:21,191 Speaker 1: and they're on the rise. 247 00:13:21,431 --> 00:13:25,831 Speaker 2: So chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis are sexually transmitted infections, and 248 00:13:25,871 --> 00:13:28,351 Speaker 2: so what that means is that they are passed on 249 00:13:28,711 --> 00:13:31,951 Speaker 2: through sex, and so there needs to be touching of 250 00:13:32,311 --> 00:13:36,991 Speaker 2: genitals or mouth touching genitals for it to be transmitted. 251 00:13:37,431 --> 00:13:39,471 Speaker 2: So I think the best way to avoid getting an 252 00:13:39,511 --> 00:13:45,191 Speaker 2: STI is from using protection, so using condoms, and also 253 00:13:45,391 --> 00:13:48,591 Speaker 2: getting tested regularly, because if everybody in our community is 254 00:13:48,591 --> 00:13:52,991 Speaker 2: getting tested regularly and getting treated for any infections that 255 00:13:53,031 --> 00:13:57,031 Speaker 2: they've got, then the amount of infection that's in our 256 00:13:57,031 --> 00:14:00,871 Speaker 2: communities is a lot lower, and that will, you know, 257 00:14:01,271 --> 00:14:05,191 Speaker 2: reduce our chances of passing those infections onto each other. 258 00:14:05,711 --> 00:14:09,831 Speaker 1: What does STI testing normally involve. I've never done it 259 00:14:09,831 --> 00:14:12,511 Speaker 1: before and I don't remember what I did when I 260 00:14:12,631 --> 00:14:14,631 Speaker 1: was sixteen. Is it confidential? 261 00:14:14,991 --> 00:14:15,231 Speaker 4: Yes? 262 00:14:15,631 --> 00:14:20,391 Speaker 2: STI testing is absolutely confidential, and health professionals are bound 263 00:14:20,471 --> 00:14:22,991 Speaker 2: by that, whether that's at an aboriginal medical service or 264 00:14:23,031 --> 00:14:26,111 Speaker 2: a GP or a sexual health clinic. Yeah, it's really 265 00:14:26,151 --> 00:14:29,911 Speaker 2: just making an appointment to see your health professional. And 266 00:14:30,031 --> 00:14:34,431 Speaker 2: the testing is so they take swabs for a woman, 267 00:14:34,591 --> 00:14:37,031 Speaker 2: for a lot of men, it's just a we in 268 00:14:37,071 --> 00:14:40,111 Speaker 2: the jar, and then they might take bloods as well, 269 00:14:40,111 --> 00:14:42,111 Speaker 2: and they should be taking bloods at the moment because 270 00:14:42,151 --> 00:14:46,111 Speaker 2: bloods is how you test for syphilis and HIV as well, 271 00:14:46,271 --> 00:14:50,311 Speaker 2: So really important to get a full STI screen. But yeah, 272 00:14:50,351 --> 00:14:54,111 Speaker 2: your health professionals will ask a number of questions. Some 273 00:14:54,151 --> 00:14:57,151 Speaker 2: of those questions might feel a little bit shame, but 274 00:14:57,231 --> 00:15:01,271 Speaker 2: it's really important that you answer those questions honestly. And 275 00:15:01,311 --> 00:15:04,311 Speaker 2: that's not the health professional being nasy about what you've 276 00:15:04,351 --> 00:15:06,271 Speaker 2: been up to in your business. They need to ask 277 00:15:06,311 --> 00:15:09,191 Speaker 2: those questions to make sure that they're taking the right 278 00:15:09,231 --> 00:15:11,791 Speaker 2: tests and that you get the right treatment if you 279 00:15:11,871 --> 00:15:12,911 Speaker 2: were to test positive. 280 00:15:13,151 --> 00:15:15,351 Speaker 1: So says, do you think that people actually know that 281 00:15:15,431 --> 00:15:19,271 Speaker 1: syphilis is easily treated if detected early? And what does 282 00:15:19,351 --> 00:15:21,871 Speaker 1: the treatment involve when it comes to syphilis, which you 283 00:15:21,911 --> 00:15:22,911 Speaker 1: said is on the rise. 284 00:15:23,431 --> 00:15:27,351 Speaker 2: Yes, syphilis is a penicillin treatment, so it's a needle 285 00:15:27,431 --> 00:15:30,591 Speaker 2: chlmidia and gonorrhea. There pills that you usually take. Sometimes 286 00:15:30,591 --> 00:15:32,471 Speaker 2: you might have a needle for gonorrhea as well, so 287 00:15:32,551 --> 00:15:36,311 Speaker 2: it's quite easy. No, not everybody likes getting needles necessarily, 288 00:15:36,351 --> 00:15:38,591 Speaker 2: but it is quite easy to get that treatment and 289 00:15:38,671 --> 00:15:42,311 Speaker 2: it's particularly important. Syphilis is one that is really really 290 00:15:42,351 --> 00:15:47,671 Speaker 2: concerning for our communities because if it's untreated, and we 291 00:15:47,751 --> 00:15:52,271 Speaker 2: have lots of syphilis infections in our communities, it can 292 00:15:52,311 --> 00:15:56,991 Speaker 2: be passed on to pregnant women and that's really scary 293 00:15:57,191 --> 00:16:01,591 Speaker 2: for anybody, for us though, because it can severely impact 294 00:16:01,631 --> 00:16:04,671 Speaker 2: the baby as it's developing in side the mum's tummy 295 00:16:05,151 --> 00:16:09,231 Speaker 2: and so you know, babies can be born with bone problems, 296 00:16:10,711 --> 00:16:15,071 Speaker 2: lung problems, eye problems, all sorts of different problems, and yeah, 297 00:16:15,071 --> 00:16:18,831 Speaker 2: it can actually also result in death of the fetus 298 00:16:18,831 --> 00:16:21,951 Speaker 2: as well, and so it's a very very serious infection 299 00:16:22,071 --> 00:16:24,311 Speaker 2: and it's a shame that those numbers have continued to rise. 300 00:16:24,311 --> 00:16:26,471 Speaker 2: And that's again why it's really important that we're doing 301 00:16:26,511 --> 00:16:30,671 Speaker 2: shows like this and that people keep having those conversations. Again, 302 00:16:31,111 --> 00:16:34,391 Speaker 2: it is something that is often asymptomatic. People don't know 303 00:16:34,471 --> 00:16:36,871 Speaker 2: that they've got it, or the symptoms can be quite 304 00:16:37,671 --> 00:16:40,671 Speaker 2: odd and they go away as well, So somebody might 305 00:16:40,711 --> 00:16:43,351 Speaker 2: notice something, but then the symptoms go away without treatment. 306 00:16:43,391 --> 00:16:45,711 Speaker 2: That doesn't mean you don't have the infection still though, 307 00:16:46,071 --> 00:16:49,151 Speaker 2: so again really really important if you've had unsafe sex 308 00:16:49,191 --> 00:16:53,391 Speaker 2: to get tested. And for pregnant women particularly and their partners, 309 00:16:53,551 --> 00:16:57,031 Speaker 2: it's really really important that they're getting tested really regularly 310 00:16:57,151 --> 00:17:00,911 Speaker 2: during their pregnancy because if you do catch it and 311 00:17:00,951 --> 00:17:02,711 Speaker 2: you do as in, if you do test it, you 312 00:17:02,791 --> 00:17:05,991 Speaker 2: do test for and you are positive, if you get 313 00:17:05,991 --> 00:17:09,551 Speaker 2: that treatment early as soon as possible, it's much much 314 00:17:09,671 --> 00:17:12,191 Speaker 2: less likely that it's going to impact the baby and 315 00:17:12,271 --> 00:17:13,271 Speaker 2: the baby's development. 316 00:17:14,191 --> 00:17:17,191 Speaker 1: I keep on just thinking about, you know, a lot 317 00:17:17,191 --> 00:17:21,351 Speaker 1: of the young people in my community, you know, and 318 00:17:21,391 --> 00:17:24,711 Speaker 1: I could just imagine because I was, you know, sixteen 319 00:17:24,751 --> 00:17:28,151 Speaker 1: once upon a time as well, trying to have these 320 00:17:28,191 --> 00:17:33,951 Speaker 1: conversations with the person you are seeing or young maybe dating, 321 00:17:34,111 --> 00:17:36,951 Speaker 1: you might be in a serious relationship, but like, how 322 00:17:36,951 --> 00:17:39,911 Speaker 1: do people feel comfortable, you know, to be able to 323 00:17:39,911 --> 00:17:42,911 Speaker 1: have these conversations. It could be with someone that they've 324 00:17:43,031 --> 00:17:47,351 Speaker 1: just met or they're in a relationship with, but just 325 00:17:47,391 --> 00:17:48,551 Speaker 1: talking about, you. 326 00:17:48,471 --> 00:17:49,471 Speaker 3: Know, using protection. 327 00:17:49,871 --> 00:17:52,111 Speaker 1: I know, for a lot of our young people, these 328 00:17:52,151 --> 00:17:57,111 Speaker 1: conversations are not happening. And that's the problem, is it, 329 00:17:57,511 --> 00:18:02,551 Speaker 1: especially young women, you know, encouraging them to feel confident 330 00:18:02,831 --> 00:18:05,991 Speaker 1: to take ownership of their body. 331 00:18:06,271 --> 00:18:06,631 Speaker 4: Yeah. 332 00:18:06,991 --> 00:18:11,871 Speaker 2: I think again it's such a complex thing, right because 333 00:18:12,271 --> 00:18:15,671 Speaker 2: being able to negotiate, condom use, and to have boundaries 334 00:18:15,791 --> 00:18:20,151 Speaker 2: is it really sits within this bigger framework of healthy relationships, 335 00:18:20,191 --> 00:18:24,351 Speaker 2: you know, and how we are communicating generally in our 336 00:18:24,391 --> 00:18:27,831 Speaker 2: relationships with each other, and how comfortable and safe and 337 00:18:27,871 --> 00:18:31,991 Speaker 2: confident we are talking about our needs at any age. 338 00:18:32,071 --> 00:18:33,951 Speaker 2: I think there's plenty of people that kind of still 339 00:18:33,991 --> 00:18:38,191 Speaker 2: struggle with negotiating that or communicating those things. And again, 340 00:18:38,231 --> 00:18:40,831 Speaker 2: I think that's why it's really important that people are 341 00:18:40,871 --> 00:18:44,711 Speaker 2: accessing that information and that our mob have got you know, older, 342 00:18:45,191 --> 00:18:46,831 Speaker 2: you know, stronger. 343 00:18:46,391 --> 00:18:48,111 Speaker 4: Women and men around them that are. 344 00:18:48,031 --> 00:18:51,471 Speaker 2: Really supporting them and role modeling you know, these healthy 345 00:18:51,471 --> 00:18:53,711 Speaker 2: behaviors too in the way that they're communicating in their 346 00:18:53,751 --> 00:18:57,111 Speaker 2: relationships and the way that you know, our generations communicating 347 00:18:57,111 --> 00:19:00,191 Speaker 2: with younger people as well, and being really open about 348 00:19:00,231 --> 00:19:02,871 Speaker 2: these conversations. I think it's you know, it's something that 349 00:19:02,911 --> 00:19:05,351 Speaker 2: I obviously struggle with as a young person myself, so 350 00:19:05,711 --> 00:19:07,911 Speaker 2: you know, I totally relate to any young people that 351 00:19:08,031 --> 00:19:11,551 Speaker 2: might be listening around how difficult that is. I wish 352 00:19:11,591 --> 00:19:13,391 Speaker 2: I could go back in time and give myself the 353 00:19:13,431 --> 00:19:18,591 Speaker 2: confidence that I've got now, because you know, if things 354 00:19:18,711 --> 00:19:21,431 Speaker 2: come up for me these days, it's for me. It's 355 00:19:21,511 --> 00:19:24,671 Speaker 2: personally a really good marker of whether this person is 356 00:19:24,671 --> 00:19:26,631 Speaker 2: going to be a safe person and respect me and 357 00:19:26,671 --> 00:19:30,231 Speaker 2: respect my boundaries. For me to very early on bring 358 00:19:30,351 --> 00:19:34,431 Speaker 2: up those conversations around have you been tested recently, haven't you? 359 00:19:34,431 --> 00:19:37,111 Speaker 2: You know, I've got to use condoms and see what 360 00:19:37,231 --> 00:19:40,351 Speaker 2: their response is, you know, And if their response is that, 361 00:19:41,111 --> 00:19:42,951 Speaker 2: you know, is to get all shame about it, or 362 00:19:42,951 --> 00:19:45,111 Speaker 2: to feel really uncomfortable with that, or to not be 363 00:19:45,151 --> 00:19:48,391 Speaker 2: able to meet my maturity with that, then I've got 364 00:19:48,431 --> 00:19:50,231 Speaker 2: no problem, no problem. 365 00:19:49,911 --> 00:19:53,831 Speaker 4: Just being like, yeah, no deal, you know, shop shut Yeah, 366 00:19:53,831 --> 00:19:55,151 Speaker 4: exactly exactly. 367 00:19:55,351 --> 00:19:58,831 Speaker 2: I just really encourage people to spend as much time 368 00:19:58,871 --> 00:20:02,231 Speaker 2: around you know, stronger, strong black women and men that 369 00:20:02,271 --> 00:20:05,151 Speaker 2: are in their lives and and find those mentors and 370 00:20:05,191 --> 00:20:08,471 Speaker 2: support people to you know, have these conversations in an 371 00:20:08,511 --> 00:20:12,271 Speaker 2: ongoing way, and I think, yeah, talking about sexual health 372 00:20:12,311 --> 00:20:16,031 Speaker 2: isn't just talking about STRs. It's really focusing on healthy 373 00:20:16,071 --> 00:20:19,191 Speaker 2: relationships and the types of relationships that we want. What 374 00:20:19,231 --> 00:20:22,751 Speaker 2: respect looks like for you and your body, what respect 375 00:20:22,831 --> 00:20:25,351 Speaker 2: looks like for you and your relationship as well, and 376 00:20:25,831 --> 00:20:29,231 Speaker 2: where people's boundaries are, and again just really trying to 377 00:20:29,671 --> 00:20:33,351 Speaker 2: normalize those conversations as much as possible. Yeah, I wish 378 00:20:33,391 --> 00:20:34,791 Speaker 2: there was an easy answer. 379 00:20:34,671 --> 00:20:34,871 Speaker 4: You know. 380 00:20:35,751 --> 00:20:39,031 Speaker 1: No, it's all really good information and I'm sure people 381 00:20:39,271 --> 00:20:42,111 Speaker 1: are getting so much out of this yarn. For people 382 00:20:42,111 --> 00:20:44,591 Speaker 1: that want to know more, there is a website so 383 00:20:44,711 --> 00:20:48,231 Speaker 1: health dot gov, dot AU, forward slash STI, forward Slash 384 00:20:48,351 --> 00:20:54,231 Speaker 1: first dash Nations. It's got videos, add information and organizations 385 00:20:54,231 --> 00:20:56,791 Speaker 1: that can help as well as going there. Do you 386 00:20:56,831 --> 00:21:00,151 Speaker 1: suggest having a yarn to health workers and I think 387 00:21:00,151 --> 00:21:03,431 Speaker 1: you to that earlier. Utilize those people in our medical 388 00:21:04,151 --> 00:21:06,351 Speaker 1: in those spaces, that's what they're there for. 389 00:21:06,591 --> 00:21:09,911 Speaker 2: Yeah, absolutely, And like I said, they're trained in it. 390 00:21:09,991 --> 00:21:10,231 Speaker 4: You know. 391 00:21:10,391 --> 00:21:12,711 Speaker 2: For me as a sexual health I didn't do clinical work, 392 00:21:12,751 --> 00:21:15,671 Speaker 2: but as a sexual health educator, like we deal with 393 00:21:15,711 --> 00:21:17,871 Speaker 2: people day in day out, the clinicians deal with people 394 00:21:17,951 --> 00:21:20,191 Speaker 2: day in, day out. There is nothing they have not 395 00:21:20,311 --> 00:21:23,911 Speaker 2: heard or seen. There are no stupid questions, you know, 396 00:21:24,111 --> 00:21:26,271 Speaker 2: this is what people are trained to deal with. It's 397 00:21:26,271 --> 00:21:29,191 Speaker 2: what they've got experience dealing with. Yeah, and that's that's 398 00:21:29,191 --> 00:21:31,871 Speaker 2: what the service is there for. And I think, you know, 399 00:21:31,911 --> 00:21:35,431 Speaker 2: the government sites are incredibly important because that's where you're 400 00:21:35,431 --> 00:21:38,951 Speaker 2: going to get the most up to day correct information. 401 00:21:39,311 --> 00:21:41,511 Speaker 2: You know, As I said, there are some amazing content 402 00:21:41,551 --> 00:21:44,151 Speaker 2: creators on places like TikTok and that, but you want 403 00:21:44,151 --> 00:21:45,751 Speaker 2: to make sure that you're double checking any of that 404 00:21:45,791 --> 00:21:50,151 Speaker 2: information with these government sites, because yeah, they're the ones 405 00:21:50,191 --> 00:21:52,151 Speaker 2: that are keeping up to date with all of the 406 00:21:52,591 --> 00:21:56,391 Speaker 2: treatments and the places to go and all the correct information. 407 00:21:57,191 --> 00:21:59,991 Speaker 1: If you could leave a message for my listeners, what 408 00:22:00,071 --> 00:22:02,431 Speaker 1: would that be to wrap this yarn up? 409 00:22:02,671 --> 00:22:03,511 Speaker 4: I think there's a couple. 410 00:22:04,791 --> 00:22:06,871 Speaker 2: The first one is what we would what we've been 411 00:22:06,951 --> 00:22:09,951 Speaker 2: talking about, which is talking to each other, talking to 412 00:22:10,111 --> 00:22:12,991 Speaker 2: your sister girls, your brother boys, your family, you know, 413 00:22:13,191 --> 00:22:16,111 Speaker 2: your friends about these issues, you know, so that we're 414 00:22:16,151 --> 00:22:19,951 Speaker 2: normalizing those conversations and leaning on each other for that 415 00:22:20,031 --> 00:22:24,671 Speaker 2: support and advice. Making sure that you're accessing good information 416 00:22:24,831 --> 00:22:28,271 Speaker 2: from good sources around this stuff as well, because not 417 00:22:28,991 --> 00:22:31,991 Speaker 2: everybody in our family does have the correct information as well, 418 00:22:32,031 --> 00:22:34,991 Speaker 2: so make sure you're double checking those sources. And thirdly, 419 00:22:35,311 --> 00:22:39,191 Speaker 2: get tested. Get tested regularly. Every time you have a 420 00:22:39,231 --> 00:22:41,791 Speaker 2: new partner, make sure that you're getting tested. If you've 421 00:22:41,791 --> 00:22:46,711 Speaker 2: had unsafe sex. Yeah, it's not symptomatic, as we've said, 422 00:22:46,751 --> 00:22:48,431 Speaker 2: so make sure that you get tested regularly. 423 00:22:48,831 --> 00:22:53,311 Speaker 1: I am yeah, looking forward to having more conversations with 424 00:22:53,391 --> 00:22:57,911 Speaker 1: my kids and yeah, this episode has definitely inspired me 425 00:22:57,911 --> 00:23:02,631 Speaker 1: and my sister to take action and do it now. 426 00:23:02,751 --> 00:23:04,431 Speaker 1: Like the fifteen year old, it's going to be in 427 00:23:04,431 --> 00:23:09,231 Speaker 1: grade ten. It's about time that we have these conversations. 428 00:23:09,231 --> 00:23:10,871 Speaker 1: But I would have left it to my husband, but 429 00:23:10,911 --> 00:23:12,671 Speaker 1: now I'm thinking as a role for me to play 430 00:23:12,671 --> 00:23:15,591 Speaker 1: as his mum, and I believe it's this year and 431 00:23:15,631 --> 00:23:17,751 Speaker 1: that we're having today that I'm going to play and 432 00:23:18,711 --> 00:23:20,911 Speaker 1: use that as a conversation stater. So my sister, thank 433 00:23:20,911 --> 00:23:24,871 Speaker 1: you so so much for giving up your time. It's 434 00:23:24,911 --> 00:23:29,191 Speaker 1: been an absolute pleasure to sit here and listen to 435 00:23:29,231 --> 00:23:30,591 Speaker 1: you and learn. 436 00:23:30,751 --> 00:23:34,671 Speaker 3: As well for myself about STIs. 437 00:23:34,711 --> 00:23:37,311 Speaker 1: And you know, I can only think about the support 438 00:23:37,351 --> 00:23:41,431 Speaker 1: that we had growing up as teenagers, and it's not 439 00:23:41,471 --> 00:23:42,631 Speaker 1: there for my kids today. 440 00:23:42,671 --> 00:23:43,711 Speaker 3: I know that for a fact. 441 00:23:43,751 --> 00:23:46,791 Speaker 1: So I'm now going to be looking around in my 442 00:23:46,871 --> 00:23:50,311 Speaker 1: local community to make sure that at our abage or 443 00:23:50,351 --> 00:23:53,551 Speaker 1: medical health service at Marichidal on the Sunday Coast on 444 00:23:53,631 --> 00:23:56,351 Speaker 1: Kaby Kabby Country, I'm actually going to inquire and see 445 00:23:56,351 --> 00:24:00,391 Speaker 1: if they have any sexual health educators or even some 446 00:24:00,471 --> 00:24:03,071 Speaker 1: youth workers that support young people when it comes to 447 00:24:03,071 --> 00:24:08,231 Speaker 1: having these conversations. So thank you very much and can't 448 00:24:08,231 --> 00:24:11,831 Speaker 1: wait to see when you've done your PhD and I'll 449 00:24:11,871 --> 00:24:13,631 Speaker 1: be able to share that and learn from you again. 450 00:24:13,711 --> 00:24:15,791 Speaker 3: So thank you, my sister. It's been an absolute pleasure. 451 00:24:16,151 --> 00:24:18,991 Speaker 2: Thank you so much. Yeah, I really enjoyed the conversation today. 452 00:24:19,871 --> 00:24:23,271 Speaker 1: If you'd like any more on today's guest, please visit 453 00:24:23,311 --> 00:24:28,151 Speaker 1: our show notes in the episode description. A big shout 454 00:24:28,191 --> 00:24:31,071 Speaker 1: out to all you Deadly Mob and allies who continue 455 00:24:31,111 --> 00:24:33,591 Speaker 1: to listen, watch, and support our podcast. 456 00:24:33,791 --> 00:24:35,511 Speaker 3: Your feedback means the world. 457 00:24:35,911 --> 00:24:39,191 Speaker 1: You can rate and review the podcast on Apple and Spotify, 458 00:24:39,431 --> 00:24:42,271 Speaker 1: or even head to our socials and YouTube channel and 459 00:24:42,351 --> 00:24:43,151 Speaker 1: drop us a line. 460 00:24:43,271 --> 00:24:44,431 Speaker 3: We'd love to hear from you. 461 00:24:45,151 --> 00:24:53,071 Speaker 1: The Black Magic Woman podcast is produced by Clint Curtis.