Respectful Relationships News
Everyone in our community deserves to be respected, valued and treated equally. We know that changes in attitudes and behaviours can be achieved when positive attitudes, behaviours and equality are embedded in our education settings.
Respectful Relationships is about embedding a culture of respect and equality across our entire community, from our classrooms to staffrooms, sporting fields, fetes and social events. This approach leads to positive impacts on student’s academic outcomes, their mental health, classroom behaviour, and relationships between teachers and students.
Together, we can lead the way in saying yes to respect and equality, and creating genuine and lasting change so that every child has the opportunity to achieve their full potential.
The EDSC Respectful Relationships Pledge:
"All members of our school community have a responsibility to stand up against family violence and the misuse of gender power and control. We foster relationships that are respectful, caring and fair."
If you or anyone you know is experiencing domestic violence the following services are available
If you or someone you know is in immediate danger call 000 and ask for the police.
For non-urgent help, please contact:
• 1800RESPECT: The national sexual assault, domestic and family violence counselling service. Phone and online services available 24/7.
• Doncare: (03) 9856 1500
• Eastern Domestic Violence Service (EDVOS): (03) 9259 4200
• Safe Steps Family Violence Response Centre: 1800 015 188
• Thorne Harbour Health support for the LGBTIQA+ community: (03) 9865 6700
• Migrant Information Centre support for people from diverse cultural backgrounds: (03) 9285 4888
• inTouch Multicultural Centre Against Family Violence at (03) 9413 6500
• Men's Referral Service: 1300 766 491
• Eastern Community Legal Centre: 1300 325 200
More resources/agencies can be found on our Wellbeing, Engagement and Positive Futures page of the East Doncaster Secondary College website
https://www.eastdonsc.vic.edu.au/wellbeing-engagement-positive-futures
Diversity and RRRR Calendar dates
March
1st – Zero Discrimination Day
8th – International Women’s Day
15th – 21st -Harmony Week
21st- International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
31st- Trans Day of Visibility
Domestic Violence Leave
Workers escaping family and domestic violence situations no longer have to choose between putting food on the table and their safety.
As of February 2023 paid Family and Domestic Violence leave will come into force for businesses with 15 or more employees. All employees can use 10 days paid leave to flee a violent relationship which, on average, costs $18,000.
Now that the new entitlement is in place, lives will be saved.
These are your rights under the new laws:
- Full time, part time and casual workers will have access to 10 days paid leave regardless of whether they work a 38-hour week or fewer hours
- Unlike annual leave and sick leave, you don’t need to wait for the leave to accumulate. The full 10 days are available as soon as you need it
- There are rules to make sure your information is kept private and if you use Family and Domestic Violence leave, it won’t show on your pay slip
- If you work full time or part time, you can take paid Family and Domestic Violence leave at your full pay rate for the hour you would’ve worked if you weren’t on leave. For casual employees, you’ll be paid at your full pay rate for the hours you were rostered to work in the period you took leave
Even if you never have to use the leave yourself, it may help to know these details that you can then pass on to another worker in need.
A note for if you work at a business with less than 15 employees: the leave will come into force on 1 August 2023.
LGBTQIA+ Resources/Events
Minus18
Minus18 has teamed up with their friends and supporters at Skittles to create an LGBTQIA+ checklist in honour of Mardi Gras season.
Make your way through the allyship steps (like engaging in education, displaying your pronouns, and more) and when you complete them all, claim your Minus18 Pride Pack.
Start your journey here:
https://www.skittles.com.au/pride
Manningham Council Events
Proud 2 Play LGBTIQ+ education sessions for clubs and leisure providers
These sessions are ideal for sports clubs, recreation centres or individuals who have never engaged in LGBTIQ+ inclusion, or recently started working with LGBTIQ+ communities. These workshops will allow you to gain a better understanding of the LGBTIQ+ community and how to better include them in sport and movement settings. Volunteers, players, coaches, committee members, staff and parents are all welcomed and encouraged to attend.
Session 1: Introduction to LGBTIQ+ inclusion in sport and movement settings (101)
Monday 6 March, 6:30pm
Mullum Mullum Stadium
More information and registration here
Session 2: Introduction to trans and gender diverse inclusion in sport and recreation settings
Monday 3rd April, 6:30pm
Mullum Mullum Stadium
More information and registration here
Yaluk Langa Community Day Saturday 18 March
The Yaluk Langa Community Day at Heide Gallery will celebrate the continuing creative culture and traditions of the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung people. Proudly funded by Manningham Council, Heide’s ongoing collaboration with Wurundjeri Corporation to realise the design, interpretation and land management of Yaluk Langa (River’s Edge), has resulted in an Indigenous garden project along the Birrarung/Yarra River.
Come along and explore the progress of the contemporary tree scarring and shield decoration, and learn from Wurundjeri Elders about the First Nations history of the land and the impact of the changing seasons along the Birrarung/Yarra River.
https://www.heide.com.au/events/yaluk-langa-community-day/
Good Vibrations All Abilities Disco
Saturday 18 March
The Rotary Club Of Doncaster present Good Vibrations All Abilities Disco! This year the theme is Super Heroes! Dust off your fancy costumes, get all your friends together and let's see you dancing the night away. Free entry and a prize for best costume.
Making it home: Uncovering solutions to older women’s housing
Thursday 16 March 6pm
Karralyka Centre
Join activist Jane Caro for a panel discussion and film screening of the documentary Under Cover.
Activists and leading researchers come together to explore why and what can be done to create better housing outcomes for women.
https://aukarralyka.sales.ticketsearch.com/sales/salesevent/95654
Celebrating World Harmony Day: Free to be
Thursday 30 March
Manningham Interfaith Network warmly invites you to celebrate World Harmony Day with our theme: Free to be. World Harmony Day is an opportunity to come together and celebrate living harmoniously in Manningham.
RSVP by Sunday 26 March.
Harmony Week
The Department of Home Affairs leads national celebrations for Harmony Week to recognise diversity and inclusion activities that take place during the entire week. Harmony Week is celebrated during the week (Monday to Sunday) that includes 21 March, which is the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.
Since 1999, more than 80,000 Harmony Week events have been held in childcare centres, schools, community groups, churches, businesses and federal, state and local government agencies across Australia.
What is Harmony Week?
It is a time to celebrate Australian multiculturalism, and the successful integration of migrants into our community.
Australia is one of the most successful multicultural countries in the world and we should celebrate this and work to maintain it.
Harmony Week is about inclusiveness, respect and belonging for all Australians, regardless of cultural or linguistic background, united by a set of core Australian values.
Why orange?
Orange is the colour chosen to represent Harmony Week. Traditionally, orange signifies social communication and meaningful conversations. It also relates to the freedom of ideas and encouragement of mutual respect. Australians can choose to wear something orange during Harmony Week to show their support for cultural diversity and an inclusive Australia.
Our cultural diversity
Australia is a vibrant and multicultural country — from the oldest continuous culture of our first Australians to the cultures of our newest arrivals from around the world.
Our cultural diversity is one of our greatest strengths and is at the heart of who we are. It makes Australia a great place to live.
An integrated multicultural Australia is an integral part of our national identity. All people who migrate to Australia bring with them some of their own cultural and religious traditions, as well as taking on many new traditions. Collectively, these traditions have enriched our nation.
Facts and figures
There are some fascinating statistics about Australia's diversity that can be good conversation-starters:
- nearly half (49 per cent) of Australians were born overseas or have at least one parent who was
- we identify with over 300 ancestries
- since 1945, more than 7.5 million people have migrated to Australia
- 85 per cent of Australians agree multiculturalism has been good for Australia
- apart from English, the most common languages spoken in Australia are Mandarin, Arabic, Cantonese, Vietnamese, Italian, Greek, Tagalog/Filipino, Hindi, Spanish and Punjabi
- more than 70 Indigenous languages are spoken in Australia.
These facts are taken from ABS 2016 Census Data. Check out the Australian Bureau of Statistics website.
RR Book of the Week
Educational and inspirational, this gift-worthy New York Times bestseller from the authors of Rad American Women A-Z, is a bold, illustrated collection of 40 biographical profiles showcasing extraordinary women from across the globe.
Rad Women Worldwide tells fresh, engaging, and amazing tales of perseverance and radical success by pairing well-researched and riveting biographies with powerful and expressive cut-paper portraits. The book features an array of diverse figures from 430 BCE to 2016, spanning 31 countries around the world, from Hatshepsut (the great female king who ruled Egypt peacefully for two decades) and Malala Yousafzi (the youngest person to win the Nobel Peace Prize) to Poly Styrene (legendary teenage punk and lead singer of X-Ray Spex) and Liv Arnesen and Ann Bancroft (polar explorers and the first women to cross Antarctica). An additional 250 names of international rad women are also included as a reference for readers to continue their own research.
This progressive and visually arresting book is a compelling addition to women's history and belongs on the shelf of every school, library, and home. Together, these stories show the immense range of what women have done and can do. May we all have the courage to be rad!
Rebecca James
Respectful Relationships Coordinator