Founded in 1984, Streetwize Comics produces free educational comics for young people covering a wide range of issues. The comics communicate important messages in an easy-to-read format that young people can relate to, particularly disadvantaged youth. The comics, as well as other material including posters and educators' notes, deal with topics such as health and safety, legal issues, racism, sexual harassment, domestic violence, homosexuality, housing, employment, gambling, drug and alcohol abuse and other current social issues. They are developed in consultation with young people from the target audiences and are based on the philosophy that effective communication must be built around the perceptions and needs of the audience. Funding comes from federal and state government departments and community organisations.

The Powerhouse Museum collection contains a selection of comics from Streetwize, but mainly those editions dealing with health and safety. They illustrate the way in which government and community organisations approach the dissemination of health information to targeted groups (in this case, disadvantaged youth) and at the same time provide a record of the range of health issues affecting young people in the late 1990s.

'Call me.../ Dance to the beat!' is a double-ended comic book about homosexuality and safe sex. It has a front cover and story at either end, one for young women and one for young men. It was funded by the AIDS Bureau and the NSW Health Department.

The comic book was produced in June 1993 by Streetwize Comics Ltd with funding from the AIDS Bureau and the NSW Health Department. The comic book was written by Prue Borthwick, edited by Prue Borthwick and Helen Burnie, and illustrated by Ross Carnsew.

Comic book, 'Call me.../ Dance to the beat!', paper, Streetwize Comics, Australia, 1993

Landscape-format double-fronted comic book with two stories featured back to back. One cover bears a colour illustration depicting a young man with the title 'Dance to the beat!'. The other side of the cover features a colour illustration of two teenaged girls walking through a school yard with the title Call me...'. The internal pages feature black and white illustrations discussing homosexuality.

Made: Streetwize Comics Ltd; Australia; 1993

2000/124/15

1993

154 mm

209 mm