Learning and Teaching
Sexual Consent Education
Sexual consent education is an important aspect of the Resilience, Rights and Respectful Relationships program at the College. It can be a very tricky topic for students and parents. The following information may help.
In Victoria, sexual consent is currently defined as a ‘free and voluntary agreement’. Consent must be freely agreed and positively communicated in words or actions or both.
However, in 2023 the law will change to an Affirmative Consent model, where a person must have taken steps by 'saying or doing something to find out if the other person consents'. Put simply, it must be a clear and enthusiastic go-ahead. A person cannot consent if they are intoxicated, unconscious, coerced, pressured or tricked. Consent can be withdrawn anytime.
Age of Consent Laws
A person cannot consent to sex if they are outside the age of consent laws, which say:
- People under 12 years old cannot consent to sex at all
- People 12 to 15 years old cannot consent to sex with someone 24 months older than them
- People 16 to 17 years old cannot consent to sex with someone who is in a position of care or authority over them
Consent Education Sessions
On Wednesday 26th we ran two sessions for our year 9 and 10 students:
1. The Year 9 students explored the nature of sexual consent and healthy relationships. The sessions were delivered by trained youth facilitators from the Elephant Education Organisation. Student participation and engagement in the interactive discussions and activities was high.
2. Students learnt that:
Consent is As Easy as F.R.I.E.S.
Freely Given: Consent should be given without pressure, force, or under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Reversible:You can change your mind about what you want to do at any time -- even if you are in the middle or have done it before.
Informed: You should know exactly what you are giving consent to. For example, if someone says they are going to use a condom and they don’t, they didn’t have your consent.
Enthusiastic:Someone should be excited to give consent. If someone is not sure, it is always better to wait. Pay attention to body language as well as what the person is saying and how they are saying it.
Specific: Saying yes to one thing does not mean you have said yes to other things.
Consent should be given at every step.
https://www.teensource.org/hookup/consent-fries-1
3. The Year 10 students listened and participated with respect and enthusiasm in the consent session run by the senior school in the theatre. We outlined the student responsibilities and rights this area and the age of consent.
Many of the students were surprised and disappointed by the Australian statistic in regard to sexual violence. It is a reminder to us all that conversations and education about sexual relationships need to be frank, informed, and ongoing.
Some facts:
- The sexual assault rate is higher for those aged between 15 to 19 years than any other group.
- 60% of sexual assaults in Australia are accounted for by Australians 19 years and younger.
- 17% of Australian women have experiences sexual assault in their lifetime and 97% of assaults are committed by Males. 13% of sexual assault victims are male and 87% are female.
- 25% of teenagers reported that they were drunk or high during their last sexual encounter.
The RRRR program aims to raise awareness of gender-based and other forms of violence in our community. We need to give our students the skills and the language to discuss and address these important issues. Together we are building a school community that values and respects everyone, regardless of their ethnicity, religion, sexuality, ability and gender.
References:
https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/domestic-violence/sexual-assault-in-australia/contents/summary
https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/people/crime-and-justice/personal-safety-australia/latest-release
https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/HealthyLiving/sexual-assault#bhc-content
Natalie Manser
Assistant Principal
mar@wantirnacollege.vic.gov.au