Relationships are how we connect with others. They are an important part of every person's life.
There are many different types of relationships that people might have in their life. These can be:
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family
people that you are related to you. This might be your mum, dad, brother, sister or cousins. All families are different.
- friends
people who you are emotionally close to and who you can talk to and share experiences with. Friendships can take a lot of work and should be equal and positive.
- school or work relationships
people you might be friendly with at work or school but might not be as close as a friend. Sometimes relationships at school and work can turn into friendships.
- intimate relationships (romantic partners)
an intimate relationship is a special relationship. It is a relationship you have if you really like someone and they feel the same way.
Intimate relationships can be between people who are dating, 'hooking-up' or are married.
You might like people of the opposite sex, the same sex, or both sexes. This is okay. No one should feel ashamed of their feelings or the type of relationship they want to have. Whoever you choose to have an intimate relationship with is up to you.
The Relationship 101 booklet by FP NSW is a guideline for adolescents that covers the different types of relationships and how to navigate around common issues that arise from relationships. It encourages adolescents to foster healthy relationship values based on consent and educates them on diverse gender identities and sexual orientation.
