The PHO funds general practice teams to provide high quality general practice based sexual and reproductive health services. A range of approaches are used to promote young people’s sexual health, and to prevent, detect and treat any sexual health issues within the primary care setting.
It is recognised that sexual and reproductive health cannot be viewed in isolation from a young person’s total needs. The opportunity to engage with primary care during youth can have positive outcomes beyond sexual health.
Rural Canterbury PHO General Practitioners are funded to offer free consultations about sexual health for young people aged 20 years and younger.
In the Wider Community
Rural Canterbury PHO works in collaboration with Rangiora and Kaiapoi High Schools to provide school based nursing clinics.
In Ashburton  the PHO works with the local community to provide a community based youth health clinic (HYPE).
If you are a young person living in the Ashburton District, HYPE is here for you!! The HYPE Youth Health Centre is a not-for-profit service which aims to promote and enhance the health of young people in Mid-Canterbury through a holistic focus on mental and emotional wellbeing, physical health, spiritual wellbeing and social wellbeing. We are a free and confidential one-stop-shop service for youth aged 12-24 years.
Hype offers health services including a brief intervention mental health worker, health information and resources (including free condoms and pregnancy tests), as well as referrals to Youth Support, Work and Income, Community Law, Youth Employment Broker, Drug and Alcohol Services, Public Health Nurse, Sexual Health Clinic, and Dental Clinics.
Hype also has information on nutrition, safe partying, legal advice, quitting smoking, sexuality and sexual health, dealing with stress, tertiary education providers, WINZ benefits, alcohol and drugs, mental health, housing, budget advice, and driving/road safety.
There is also a fortnightly support group for mothers under 21, and outreach education classes on sexual health, youth law, and more.