Respectful Relationships 

Respectful Relationships at Karoo Primary School

Respectful Relationships – Topic 8: Positive Gender Relations

This term, students across Karoo Primary School will be exploring Topic 8: Positive Gender Relations as part of the Victorian Department of Education’s Resilience, Rights and Respectful Relationships (RRRR) curriculum.

Through age-appropriate lessons and activities, students will develop their understanding of what it means to build and maintain positive, healthy and respectful relationships. They will explore fairness, inclusion, personal boundaries and the importance of treating others with kindness and respect. Students will also develop strategies for responding to challenging situations, supporting others and seeking help when needed.

Please see the Respectful Relationships noticeboard for more information about what each year level will be focusing on this term.

These important learning opportunities help us strengthen our whole-school commitment to creating a safe, inclusive and supportive environment where every student feels valued and respected. This learning also aligns with our Karoo Values of Kindness, Tenacity and Personal Excellence.

Respectful Relationship Myths

Myth: Respectful Relationships teaches radical gender theory

Fact: Respectful Relationships does not teach radical gender theory. It is a primary prevention initiative to reduce family violence.

Respectful Relationships promotes respect and gender equality and helps students learn how to build healthy relationships. It prepares students to face challenges by developing problem-solving skills and building resilience and confidence.

Schools involved in the Respectful Relationships initiative are building a culture of respect and gender equality, by looking at their practices and policies to drive meaningful change.

The Victorian Royal Commission into Family Violence recommended Respectful Relationships be introduced to all government schools (Recommendation 189). Evidence presented to the commission showed that family violence is the most pervasive form of violence perpetrated against women in Victoria.

Myth: The resources are seeking to make children gay, non-binary or trans

Fact: This is not true. Longstanding evidence is clear that children develop their understanding of gender from a young age, and that by the age of 4 they largely adhere to gender norms.

The point of primary prevention is that it prevents problems before they emerge. Respectful Relationships as primary prevention seeks to ensure that children and young people are not forming the attitudes that evidence shows are the core drivers of family violence.

This is developmentally appropriate, and this initiative is not seeking to make children gay, non-binary or trans.

Source: Respectful Relationships, https://www.vic.gov.au/respectful-relationships

RRRR information is available on the Arc platform. Please scan the QR code above.

Keep an eye on future newsletters to learn more about what your child’s year level is exploring through the RRRR curriculum.

If you have any questions or concerns please do not hesitate to reach out via the Compass protal.

Mrs. Karen Corrales