Wellbeing

Respectful Relationships at Brighton Beach Primary School

At Brighton Beach Primary School, we are committed to creating a safe, inclusive and respectful learning environment where every student feels valued, supported and empowered.

Respectful Relationships Education is a whole-school approach to preventing gender-based violence through education. It aims to build a culture of equality and respect by helping children develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes needed to form positive relationships throughout their lives. By teaching these concepts from an early age, schools play an important role in creating future generations free from gender-based violence.

The Victorian Government has mandated Respectful Relationships education in every government school from Prep to Year 12. The curriculum is delivered through a whole-school approach and is based on extensive research into best practice in primary prevention and social and emotional learning.

Brighton Beach Primary School is proud to be a lead school in the Respectful Relationships initiative, and our students have been engaging with this curriculum for many years. Respectful Relationships, alongside The Resilience Project, forms the foundation of our Tier 1 wellbeing program, supporting students to develop empathy, resilience, emotional literacy and positive relationships.

Respectful Relationships in Term 3

This term, students are exploring Topics 7 and 8 of the Victorian Resilience, Rights and Respectful Relationships (RRRR) curriculum: Gender and Identity and Positive Gender Relationships. While the learning experiences are tailored to each year level, all students are developing an understanding of respect, inclusion, equality and personal safety in age-appropriate ways.

Prep – Year 2

Students explore their own identity by recognising their strengths, interests and the qualities that make them unique. They begin to identify and challenge gender stereotypes, learning that interests, toys, jobs and activities are for everyone. Students also learn about personal safety, safe and unsafe behaviours, body autonomy and the importance of asking for help from trusted adults when they need it.

These early lessons foster empathy, respect for diversity and an understanding that everyone deserves to feel safe, included and valued.

Years 3 – 4

Students continue building their understanding of identity, fairness and inclusion by exploring how stereotypes can influence the way people think and behave. Through discussion and collaborative learning, they examine how respecting differences strengthens friendships and creates more inclusive communities.

Students also learn about respectful relationships, positive communication and personal boundaries. These lessons encourage children to value diversity, demonstrate empathy and recognise that everyone has the right to be treated with dignity and respect.

Families can support this learning by celebrating differences, encouraging respectful conversations and modelling inclusive behaviour at home.

Years 5 – 6

Older students explore these concepts in greater depth, developing critical thinking skills and applying them to real-world situations.

In Topic 7, students examine gender norms, equality of opportunity and the influence of media and social expectations. They are encouraged to question stereotypes, recognise bias and understand the importance of fairness and equal opportunities for all.

In Topic 8, students learn about respectful relationships, consent, personal boundaries and the appropriate use of power within relationships. They discuss strategies for being active bystanders, supporting others safely and seeking help from trusted adults and support services when needed.

These lessons equip students with practical skills to build respectful relationships, communicate effectively and contribute positively to their school, community and online environments.

Working Together

Respectful Relationships education is most effective when schools and families work together. We encourage parents and carers to continue conversations at home about kindness, respect, inclusion and equality. Talking openly with children about these topics helps reinforce the learning taking place at school and supports them to develop into confident, respectful and compassionate young people.

Further information about the Victorian Respectful Relationships curriculum can be found on the Victorian Government website.

SchoolTV

Check out SchoolTV for some great resources. https://brightonbeachps.vic.schooltv.me

This newsletter, we share resources focussed around supporting understanding of concepts explored through our Respectful Relationships curriculum. In Term 3, students engage with age appropriate content linked to the topics 7 (gender identity) and 8 (positive gender relations). Please speak to your class teacher about the concepts explored within each year level.

This edition of School TV features resources about the following topics:

• Raising Boys
• Raising Girls
• Respectful Relationships
• Gender Diversity
• Respectful Language
• Shaping Healthy Masculinity
• Domestic and Family Violence

This will be our final upload from School TV after enjoying a year’s subscription, supported by the fundraising of our wonderful Parent Association for 2025. We hope you have found the resources shared useful for you and your family.