About the program
The Graduate Program in Sexual Health provides flexible pathways for professionals to extend their expertise in this specialised area. The fundamental philosophy of the program is that sexual health is an essential part of overall health and well being. The program provides a broad perspective on sexual health, addressing prevention, acute care and rehabilitation from the biomedical and psychosocial perspectives.
The availability of quality Sexuality and Sexual Health education is an issue of major international importance, and the Graduate Program in Sexual Health is specifically developed to meet these needs at a global level. Certification and Accreditation of sex therapists, counsellors, educators and researchers is an issue that is high on the agenda of international professional bodies.
The course is structured to provide a core competency base in sexual health, with the opportunity to develop specialist skills in areas of particular interest. The course is appropriate for members of any of the health related-professions (medicine, nursing and allied health), as well as other professionals who discuss sexual-health issues with people (counsellors, family-planning workers, social workers, teachers and clergy). Depending on participants' backgrounds, the program can be taken as either coursework]or research postgraduate education.
The course has been developed, and will be presented by, a multidisciplinary team of sexual-health practitioners, each of whom has an extensive experience in education and outstanding record of international collaboration. The Sexual Health Chapter of the Royal Australian College of Physicians and the Australian Society for Sexuality Educators, Researchers and Therapists [ASSERT] have worked with the University of Sydney to develop the program, and will have an active role in course delivery.
The main delivery mode is distance based, on-line, using the Web CT learning platform. Because the course involves considerable electronic information delivery - access to a computer that has an internet connection will be a prerequisite for enrollment.
The program also offers short on-line continuing education courses including:
- Sexual Attitude Reassessment Seminars (SARS)
- CME courses on-line for Medical Practitioners
- Face to face training sessions on sexual health