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In 1993 we began an HIV/AIDS education program to test the Ecological Model of Health promotion. Basically this model states that for health promotion to be truly effective it must involve action at personal, inter-personal, social, community and policy levels.

In the earliest stages of our research it became clear that, of all the at-risk populations in our Health Area, young people were receiving the least amount of education. In consequence the program focused on addressing their needs.

Our research showed that a very real risk factor was young people's belief that they were somehow immune to contracting HIV - simply by virtue of the fact that they were young. In consequence the poster below was developed as a key campaign resource.

The poster was displayed in a variety of sites including railway stations, libraries, schools and surf life saving associations. It was also endorsed by every major youth organisation in the Area including the Police, local football club, churches, local council and Education Department.

To support the printed resources the Project Officer, Rodney Watson developed and implemented an education program that showed youth workers how to teach young people about HIV/AIDS.

The program was also supplemented by our ongoing sponsorship of the local Safe Summer Safari. This was a youth health campaign that ran throughout the summer every year.

Ultimately the campaign received critical acclaim and the poster was sold to Area Health Services across Australia.

Much of the credit for the project's success must go to our skilled and enthusiastic Project Officer Rodney Watson, Research Assistant Amanda Elliot and and Senior Health Promotion Officer Catherine Spooner.