Funded by Sexual Health Week 08 community grants, the Safe Choices - Healthy Relationships program addresses issues that impact on healthy sexual relationships, improve young people's access to sexual health information and services and increases general awareness of sexually transmitted infections.

Specifically targeted at young people, who are both non active and sexually active, this program has been designed to provide more information and create discussion around these areas to give participants the opportunity to make better informed decisions.

Youth Centre coordinator and program facilitator, Jody Quinnell told the Times the program focuses on building healthy positive relationships and the emotional side of any sexual contact.

"Current data and feedback from working with young people has indicated that there is still a lack of information in this area, they have little knowledge on issues that impact on the choices they make - and the consequences of their choices," she said.

"We hope to provide a safe environment, along with guest speakers from South East Sydney and Illawarra Area Health Service to provide information that will encourage young people to respect themselves, talk to their family and friends and make safer choices in their lives."

Jody said many recent studies have highlighted the way in which young people obtain information about sexual health with peers and magazines being the most common source of information.

She reported that current studies have indicated a need for more accessible information.

"The World Health Organisation states that there is no evidence at all that sex education of any kind leads to earlier or increased sexual activity," she said.

"In fact there is a body of research which tells us that such education means that young people are likely to delay sexual intercourse, and to be better prepared for it when the time comes."