Health and wellbeing promotion

SEXtember

Free sexual health information, events and resources - on campus and online, all September.

SEXtember

Sexual wellbeing is your right

SEXtember is our sexual health awareness campaign throughout September. It's designed to encourage healthy conversations about relationships and empower you to make informed decisions about your wellbeing.

This year's theme - It's your right - is shared with SHINE SA's Sexual Health Week. It was chosen through consultation with the Student Wellbeing Advisory Group (SWAG), the SEXtember focus group and the SEXtember student survey.

Explore our events, resources and services

Four core rights. Select one to jump to more information on this page.

Need help now?

Out-of-hours crisis support

Free and confidential for all  enrolled students. Weekends and public holidays: 24 hours

1800RESPECT1800 737 732, 24-hour support after sexual assault or family violence.

13YARN13 92 76, crisis support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.

What's on in September 2026

It's your right to have fun. You have the right to explore relationships, intimacy, pleasure and sexual wellbeing without shame, stigma or judgement.

Come along to our events for giveaways, food and reliable information.

Tuesday 1 September

SEXtember expo – Adelaide City Campus East

11:00am–2:00pm - Hub Central Level 4

13 stalls, free giveaways and people you can ask anything. SHINE SA, Pelvic Pain Foundation of Australia, Adelaide Sexual Health Centre and drag artist Glitzy Von Jagger will be there.

Wednesday 2 September

SEXtember expo – Mawson Lakes Campus

11:30am–1:30pm - F Building Undercroft

Stalls, giveaways and free safer sex packs, with a range of University and external services.

Wednesday 9 September

How to talk to young people about relationships and sexual health

6:30pm–7:30pm -  Webinar and Q&A presented by SHINE SA

Details and registration will be published soon. 

Thursday 10 September

Pleasure is a right - evening discussion

6:30pm–9:00pm - Ambra Spirits Distillery Bar and Restaurant

A relaxed evening of conversation and myth-busting about disability, dating and pleasure - for disabled and neurodivergent adults, their partners and support networks . Hosted by My Friend in Sex Ed. Free, 18+.

Tuesday 15 September

Queer sex education panel

5:30pm–6:30pm - Online

A panel including sexologist Naomi Hutchings, hosted by the University of Queensland. Open to you as well.

Thursday 17 September

Communi Tea - with a SEXtember twist

10:30am–11:30am - Walter Young Gardens (or Hub student kitchen if bad weather), Adelaide City Campus East

Free tea, snacks and good conversation. A relaxed chance for international students to talk about relationships and sexual health, or simply socialise with the Global Mates and International Student Support team.

Thursday 17 September

Lips and Sips

4:00pm–5:30pm - Ingkarni Wardli 7.15, Adelaide City Campus East

A paint and sip workshop that's fun, empowering and a little cheeky. Paint a vulva-inspired masterpiece and swap secrecy and stigma for curiosity, confidence and creativity. Run by Yes Please Collective. Non-alcoholic drinks and snacks provided.

Thursday 24 September

Romance book club

5:30pm–7:30pm - AUSA ClubHouse, Adelaide City Campus West

A night of activities and chats about how romance novels handle desire, consent and relationships. Hosted with the Books and Banter Book Club. Food and drinks provided.

Your questions answered all September 

Ask us anything anonymously

Drop a question in the box at any SEXtember event or send it online. We'll answer on our student channels with no names or follow-up.

Q&A Instagram videos

We'll answer the questions you sent in.

Sexual health resources

It's your right to feel safe. You have the right to respect, consent and safety in your relationships and sexual experiences. Here's what you can access.

Safer sex packs

Free condoms and lube at every campus.

Free HIV self-test kits

Grab a self-test kit from a CONNECT machine at City East, City West or Mawson Lakes campuses - or get one posted. Private results in 15 minutes.

STI testing

Access at Adelaide University Health Clinics and Adelaide Sexual Health Centre (ASHC). They'll talk you through which tests you need.

Respect at AU online module

Required learning for everyone at the University. A short module on consent, stepping in as a bystander, accessing support and building a culture of respect.

Sexual health explained

It's your right to be informed. You have the right to accurate, accessible information about sexual health and relationships to understand your options and make informed choices.

Here are clear answers to your questions with links to trusted organisations.


STIs are common and most are easy to treat. Many have no symptoms at all, so testing is the only way to know. Get tested when you have a new partner and every 6 to 12 months if you're sexually active.

There are more options than the pill and condoms, including long-acting ones you don't have to think about daily. A nurse or doctor can help you compare them. If you're pregnant and unsure, free non-judgemental advice is available.

Consent is a free, informed and ongoing yes. It can be taken back at any time. It can't be given by someone who's asleep or too intoxicated to choose. Sex without consent is sexual assault.

PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) is medication you take before sex to prevent HIV. It's available on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).

PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis) is medication you start within 72 hours of a possible HIV exposure. Both are effective and available in South Australia.

Wanting sex or not wanting it and everything in between is normal. Desire shifts with stress, sleep, medication and how safe you feel. Knowing what you like and being able to say it makes sex safer and better. 

Your sexuality and gender are yours to describe. Working it out can happen at any age. There's community and specialist health care to support you either way.

Sex shouldn't hurt you. Period pain that stops you living your life isn't something you have to put up with. Persistent pelvic pain is common and there's treatment for it.

The Sex Industry Network (SIN) offers free, confidential and non-judgemental health and legal information, plus peer support, for sex workers in South Australia.

 

Read, watch and listen

Guides, reading and watching for you, your friends or anyone you're supporting.

Where to get support

It's your right to access support. Confidential, inclusive support is available from a range of specialist University and external services when you need them.

Talk to someone

Student Wellbeing and Safety – free counselling and wellbeing support

Student Assist – your one-stop centre for all student services

AUSA Student Care - independent information, advocacy, support and referrals

Something happened to you

Respect at AU – promoting respectul behaviours, confidential reporting and support options

The Integrity Unit – report harmful behaviours like gender-based violence

Yarrow Place – specialist care after sexual assault

You can get confidential support without making a report.

For testing, contraception and free packs, see Sexual health resources. For pregnancy options, counselling and abortion care, contact the Pregnancy Advisory Centre. Specialist services for each topic are listed in Sexual health explained.

Tell us

Something missing from this page?

We update this page every year with your feedback. Ask us to add a resource or reach out for help.