Family Planning New Zealand
Kia ora! Ko Kristina toku ingoa! I am 26 and work as a health promoter at Family Planning.
Family Planning tries to help people in two ways. Firstly we have our clinics which help people with contraception, STI testing and treatment, cervical screening, pregnancy testing, abortion advice, PMS, menopause, HPV vaccinations, and advice for other sexual and reproductive health issues including what to do if you've had unprotected sex. Our clinic services are confidential and non-judgemental and for people of any age, gender, sexual orientation or nationality. If you are a New Zealand Resident and under 22, your visit to Family Planning is free.
The other way Family Planning helps people is through people like me, it’s health promoters. We go out into the community and try to give parents, teachers and community workers the words and skills to communicate with their young people about all areas of relationship and sexual health. We also talk directly to young people on how to take charge of their sexual wellbeing. While sexual health topics can be taboo we do out best to be culturally safe while still providing the best information possible. We know the more we talk about these tough topics the more likely young people are to wait to have sex and are less likely to have an unwanted pregnancy or get STI’s!
I had the amazing opportunity to get involved with the HEART movement in the middle of last year. It has been amazing to work alongside such a dedicated, passionate and kind group of people - who are changing Tāmaki for the better!
In my role at Family Planning I am able to deliver free trainings through the HEART collective on all things relationship or sexual health. All our trainings are provided for free. We have courses for parents, teachers or community workers on how to talk to young people about consent, healthy relationships, gender and sexuality, how to navigate sexuality with a young person with intellectual disabilities and more!
I love that there is such a passionate team behind everything the HEART movement does. It is incredible to see people working selflessly and tirelessly for their community. It is wonderful to see how HEART is able to help come alongside its community and help strengthen the amazing people and work that is already there.
My fun fact about myself would be that I am born in American Samoa - or that I love cats and always carry a container of cat treats on me so that if I ever see a stray I am able to leave a little bit of food for it!
A word of wisdom from me, like Winnie the Pooh would say, “You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.”