Wellbeing

Wellbeing

Our whole school focus for the remainder of the year will be upon mandated Department of Education learning – Gender Norms and Stereotypes, and Positive Gender Relationships.

This is part of the Resilience, Rights and Respectful Relationships program taught in all Victorian Government Schools.

Age-appropriate material asks students to consider the influence of gender norms on attitudes, opportunities and behaviour. They learn about gender equality, inclusion, human rights and the importance of relationships that respect people of all genders.

Through the program from Foundation to Year 6 (material is age appropriate), students develop an understanding that verbal, physical, emotional, financial and sexual forms of violence are harmful, and that these forms of violence can also be gendered.

They learn about safe and unsafe behaviour, consent and their rights to body autonomy.

They practice strategies they can use to assert their rights to bodily autonomy to be free from coercion or violence. 

They develop self-care, peer support, peer referral and help seeking skills that they can use in response to situations involving gender-based violence within family, peer, school, community or online relationships. 

As parents, we can find the thought of our children having these conversations quite confronting. The Resilience, Rights and Respectful relationships Program is based on current research and best practice. It is the safest way possible to teach our children about these topics that are impacting our society today.

If you, or your child, have questions or need any support in response to our teaching of these topics (or at any time), please reach out. My door is always open, and I am more than happy to help where I can.

Wishing you all the best in your wellbeing,

Mrs Steele