CALD Youth Comics

Talking to CALD young people about sexual health

Cartoons and comics are established as effective tools for health education – particularly with Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) youth – due to their engaging and accessible nature. They are particularly effective as a tool for starting conversations and delivering health information on subjects that people might find challenging to discuss openly, like sex, sexuality and relationships.

In 2024, CERSH developed four comics in collaboration with experienced youth workers and professional artists, incorporating local landmarks from regional Victoria to enhance cultural relevance, engagement, and local resonance. The comics depict situations where the young characters navigate sexual health challenges. They were designed with empty speech and thought bubbles, to be used as conversation starting tools to support youth workers in addressing topics of sex, sexuality, and relationships with CALD youth.

Community service providers in the Greater Shepparton region partnered in piloting the comics with local CALD youth. As part of the implementation process, a training session was delivered by CERSH health promotion staff to introduce the comics, explore ways to use them effectively in youth work settings, and provide facilitator guides, scripts, and fact sheets to support consistent and informed delivery of sexual health education. The comics were well received as a visual and interactive tool for engaging CALD youth in conversations about sexual health; especially when supported by a facilitator guide and clear key messages.

We hope these resources will help youth workers in regional Victoria to help initiate conversations around sexual health, safety and relationships.

For further support or any questions about how to use the resources, please contact cersh-admin@unimelb.edu.au.