Respectful Relationships

Respectful Relationships in focus

During term 2 and 3 The staff at Wantirna College undertook professional learning with the Outer Eastern Region Respectful Relationships team. 

In response to the findings of the  Royal Commission into Family Violence, the Resilience Rights and Respectful Relationships program was developed.

Wantirna College is committed to supporting this program and ensuring our students can be the driver of social change. One that can eliminate the deeply rooted and persistent power imbalances that cause gender based violence. 

What is Respectful Relationships?

Respectful Relationships is about tackling family violence through education. 

Rosie Batty, CEO of the Luke Batty Foundation “the school community is an essential part of social reform by modelling a culture of respect through the whole school, not just by teaching respect in the classroom”.

Just like other major social and health issues such as smoking and road toll, evidence shows that family violence can be prevented by working across the whole population (in this case, all schools) to address the attitudes, beliefs and knowledge that support violence.

The Victorian Government is investing $21.8 million to deliver Respectful Relationships and as part of this initiative Victorian schools will be supported to review their practices and policies, and model respectful relationships and gender equality across the whole school community. 

A good education is about more than simply getting good marks. It is about becoming a member of society and succeeding in life – knowing how to build respectful relationships is key to achieving this. When young people build positive relationships with their teachers and peers they feel safer and happier at school, are more resilience and have positive social attitudes. Positive relationships increase a young person’s sense of social connectedness and belonging to school and family, and result in better health and academic outcomes. 

Further information about Respectful Relationships is available on the Department of Education and Training website: www.education.vic.gov.au/respectfulrelationships

Teachers will also be supported to deliver the initiative with age-appropriate teaching and learning materials. These evidence-based materials are designed to enable teachers to develop student’s social and emotional capabilities, build positive, healthy and respectful relationships, make responsible decisions and create positive gender relations. The initiative will also provide resources to best support young people who are affected by family violence.