Student Wellbeing

Wellbeing Curriculum

This term, for our Wellbeing Curriculum, we have recently updated what will be covered this term. Recently, the Victorian Curriculum has rolled out new content regarding schools teaching consent education. 

At St Joseph's, we currently implement the Respectful Relationships Program. This program is designed to complement existing school-based programs around building healthy relationships, focusing on respect for one another and strengthening gender equality. It prepares students to face challenges by developing problem-solving skills and building resilience and confidence. Consent Education is embedded within the Respectful Relationships Program.

Why do we teach Respectful Relationships?

The 2016 Royal Commission into Family Violence identified the critical role that schools and early childhood education have in creating a culture of respect to change the story of family violence for future generations. Since that time, Respectful Relationships education has become a core component of the Victorian Curriculum from Foundation to Year 12 and is being taught in all government and Catholic schools and many independent schools.

How do we teach Respectful Relationships?

Respectful Relationships lessons occur fortnightly in the classrooms. To cater for our students, staff work together to discuss our students’ needs and our community context. We look at what children have learned already, and what they might need next to grow in this learning. We refer to the Victorian Curriculum and its key resource alongside our RE curriculum and Catholic faith context. Then we develop a sequence of lessons suitable for each year level. 

For Term 3, as we introduce our students to the content of Topic 8, teachers ensure that lessons delivered are age-and-stage appropriate, according to the curriculum outline, and we adapt the delivery of material as needed.

What will be taught in Term 3?

The content for Term 3 at St Joseph’s builds on what we have been learning about through this year in Respectful Relationships education. This Term we look at Positive Gender Relations as well as Help Seeking. (See topics listed below). Everybody has a part to play in supporting our children to be safe and to develop respect and resilience for themselves and in relationships with others. 

Year Level:F/1/2

• Discussing the difference between fair and friendly play and play that is ‘too rough’
• Discussing how we can share equipment and play spaces
• Discussing gender stereotypes such as boys and girls playing certain things
• Discussing how we are the boss of our own bodies and personal space bubbles
• Discussing how and where we can seek help

3/4

• Discussing the difference between fair and friendly play and play that is ‘too rough’.
• Creating a gender-friendly classroom such as being partners with both girls and boys, girls and boys playing together at playtime
• Discussing respectful interactions
• Discussing respect for our bodies and personal space
• Discussing how and where we can seek help

5/6

• Discussing what violence is and what is gender-based violence
• Discussing the rights and responsibilities of all people
• Discussing what respect feels like and looks like
• Discussing having a supportive community that respects males and females equally

• Discussing how and where we can seek help

   

We have sought advice from MACS (Melbourne Archdiocese of Catholic Schools) through the implementation of this topic.

If you have any questions, please let me know.

Kind regards,

Bec