In 2023, education on consent will be made mandatory in all Australian schools, after state and federal ministers agreed to include it in the curriculum.
State schools in Cairns lead the way inviting local community-based organisation Vocational Partnerships Group Inc. (VPG) to deliver consent education within their curriculum for the past 12 months.
VPG Service Coordinator Sarah Marsh says the announcement is a positive step towards decreasing sexual and intimate partner violence.
“All children and young people deserve to understand consent and what constitutes a respectful relationship.
“Our program raises awareness of ethical behaviour and develops knowledge and skills around the prevention of sexual and intimate partner violence, building a culture of respect, responsibility and support.
“In the past twelve months we have delivered the program in ten primary and secondary schools in the Cairns region.
“Our facilitators are trained educators who deliver age-appropriate lessons about consent, gender stereotypes, power imbalances, bystander behaviour and coercion.
“Younger children are encouraged to start practising healthy relationship behaviours amongst their friendships, so they know how to behave and know what to expect in relationships later in life.
“We are incredibly excited about the announcement and encouraged to see the mandate includes crucial topics that we cover in our program.
“The number one comment we hear from teachers is – I wish we had this type of education when we were in school,” says Ms Marsh.
To maximise the program’s success, VPG works with local youth representatives.
“Empowering youth to engage and take an active role in advocacy is critical in creating lasting change in attitudes and behaviours.
“Youth leaders help identify emerging issues and solutions to promote important messages around respectful relationships in the local community.
“Young people who are passionate about respect in relationships and want to be a part of the movement are encouraged to get in touch,” said Ms Marsh.
The change to curriculum comes off the back of a petition from former Sydney school student Chanel Contos, after she invited female students to share their experiences of sexual assault on social media.
The callout attracted significant attention and saw Ms Contos launch the ‘Teach Us Consent’ campaign with her petition for better consent education in schools, attracting more than 44,000 signatures.
“This monumental change has only been made possible because of the tens of thousands of voices that have supported this movement over the last 12 months, the countless hours of volunteer support, and the foundation that was laid before by pioneering activists in this space,” Ms Contos wrote on her Instagram.
VPG is funded by the Queensland Government Department of Justice and Attorney-General to deliver the youth sexual violence prevention program in Cairns.
For more information on the program, please visit: www.respectmeorg.au
For further information or media interviews please contact:
Jenna Happy – VPG Communications Officer – mob: 0418 982 912
email: jenna@vpginc.com.au
ENDS …
