From the Counselling Team

Respectful Relationships
College Counselling Team

Respectful Relationships

The term “consent” is often associated with sex, but it’s much broader than that. It relates to permission and how to show respect for ourselves and for other people. Consent should therefore be addressed in an age-appropriate, holistic way across all years of schooling.

At St Pius X we regularly engage in conversations with our students around the topic of consent and respectful relationships. Learning about respectful relationships is embedded within the PD/H/PE and RE curriculum yet also discussed within school life in general.

We firmly understand that developing positive and respectful relationships is an important part of a student’s emotional and social development. The relationships in a student’s life, including those with friends, family and peers, can influence their physical health, promote self-esteem and assist them in developing a sense of belonging. Teaching students about positive and respectful relationships encourages them to reflect on their current relationships and supports them as they form new ones.

The most influential people in a young person’s life are the adults around them, therefore parental support is vital to them being able to understand what a respectful relationship looks like, and how to create one. The single most important thing you can do as a parent is to be a positive role model, by having respectful relationships with the friends and family that you yourself care about. Having conversations about sex, relationships and communication from a young age makes it possible for your child to feel comfortable talking with you about their feelings and relationships in their adolescence.

Some ideas to reflect on:

What does a respectful relationship look like?

Communication. It is never assumed that our partner knows what we are feeling or thinking, or that we know what is in their head. The only effective way to know and to be understood is to talk often, talk calmly, and talk openly.
Consent. Anything that happens in regard to the relationship happens with the active agreement of both people involved. This includes things like sex, discussing private matters with others, and major decisions that affect the other partner.
Recognising. The effects of our actions. We think about the effects of our actions and choices on our partner. Will it cause someone to be hurt, or create conflict?
Respect. We are always respectful of each other’s feelings and choices. If we’re not sure how someone feels, we ask, we don’t assume.

Important topics for your teenager to talk about within a relationship:

Talk about what you expect a relationship to be like.
Talk about what is or isn’t ok for each of you.
Talk about what the relationship should involve.
Talk about the importance of consent.
Check in whenever feelings change or something new comes up that you haven’t talked about.

Some resources;

Ms Joe McCarthy - College Counsellor

College Counselling Team

The College Counselling Team look forward to providing confidential emotional and social support and guidance for your son and family throughout this year. For reference our College Counselling Team contact details are shown below.

Mr Rick Russo

Counsellor (Full time Monday to Friday) working with students across all year groups.

Email: rrusso@stpiusx.nsw.edu.au

Direct Phone: 9414 4359

School Mobile (in case of emergency): 0418 438 325

Ms Joe McCarthy

Psychologist (2 days per week: Tuesday and Thursday) working with students across all year groups.

Email: jmccarthy@stpiusx.nsw.edu.au

Direct Phone: 9414 4322

Mrs Judy Gill

Psychologist (2 days per week: Wednesday and Friday) working with students across all year groups.

Email: jgill@stpiusx.nsw.edu.au

Direct Phone: 9414 4315

Throughout 2021 the Counselling Team, together with the Learning Support Team, look forward to providing CONFIDENTIAL support to assist your son to build his SELF CONFIDENCE / SELF ESTEEM AND RESILIENCE within a caring, supportive Catholic school community. Please do not hesitate to make contact with any of the above team should the need arise.

Mr Rick Russo - College Counsellor/Chaplaincy Services