Pelvic pain foundation of australia ppep talk at blackfriars

Blackfriars is leading the nation in hosting talks on what is generally considered to be solely a “female issue”.

In 2021, Blackfriars was the first all-boys’ school in Australia to host a Periods, Pain, Endometriosis Program (PPEP Talk for Boys) for Year 10 students. Next week, Blackfriars will again host the team from the Pelvic Pain Foundation of Australia.

Director of Wellbeing Anthea Osborne said it was important Blackfriars students understood the issues faced by many women.

“We are deeply committed to the holistic education of boys and that means giving them an understanding and appreciation of the wider society in which they live,” Ms Osborne said. “We want our students – as sons, brothers, friends, colleagues and, perhaps one day, fathers – to better understand what women go through and be able to better support them.”

Speaking at last year’s talk, Libby Metz, Clinical Educator from the Pelvic Pain Foundation of Australia, said Blackfriars remained one of the “very, very few” all-boys schools to host the PPEP Talk for Boys.

_{Libby Metz with students Juan Carlos Kilapio and Alexandro Transini at the 2022 PPEP Talk for Boys.}

Ms Metz told the boys that as one in 12 males also suffered from pelvic pain, it was important they understood the issue and how to address it.

“This is not just a female issue. Be kind and helpful – that’s important,” Ms Metz said.

Feedback from Blackfriars students attending previous PPEP Talks for Boys found:

94% said it was informative;
94% felt the program taught them new things about the human body;
95% said the program taught them how to better support females with period pain.

Posting on the school’s Facebook page following the 2022 session, one Blackfriars mum said: “This is excellent! As an endo sufferer my boys are getting first-hand information, but this topic needs to be an open conversation and only then will understanding and compassion happen. I love we are breaking the taboo!”

Another posted: “This is amazing! You’re helping to nurture knowledgeable, considerate and compassionate partners, friends and fathers of the future with this information.”

Year 10 students will attend the PPEP Talk for Boys on Wednesday 14 June.