Respectful Relationships - Consent

Issues of consent, sexual assault, and gender inequality are critically important. Our school in partnership with parents, has an important role to play in addressing this significant social issue.

We stand against gendered violence. The testimonies provided by current and former school students across the country reinforce the need to support students to build and manage safe and respectful relationships.

Our participation as a lead school for Respectful Relationships supports recent government announcements that from Term 2, the teaching of consent in an age-appropriate way will be mandatory for all government schools.

Respectful Relationships is a whole school approach that supports our school to embed a culture of respect and gender equality across our entire school community.

We also teach respectful relationships education as part of the Victorian Curriculum. This focuses on building students’ social and emotional skills by supporting them to recognise and regulate emotions, develop empathy for others and build and manage safe and respectful relationships (including understanding consent).

This term our students will focus on the topic areas of personal strengths, positive coping and problem solving, as part of the Respectful Relationships curriculum.

Age appropriate teaching and learning about consent focuses on asking permission to use classmate’s toys, or to give a hug, good and bad touching, who you can speak to. Older students directly discuss gender-based violence, including scenarios and statistics around sexual harassment and assault. These concepts are explored more deeply in term 3.

Further to this, Grade 5 and 6 will be participating in the annual sexuality education program, facilitated by Family Life.

Education Week is in week 6 – with a statewide focus on Building Connections – some of the learning showcased at BBPS will be linked to our work with Respectful Relationships so that we can further build the connection between home and school and our shared beliefs and commitment. Grade 5 and 6 families will have the opportunity to participate in an additional session focused on gender identity – stay tuned for more.

Our school takes sexual assault allegations very seriously. We respond to any disclosures in an appropriate and supportive manner. Any allegations are followed up and acted upon quickly. We report allegations of sexual assault to Victoria Police, and Child Protection and the Department of Education and Training as required.

We will provide support to any students who are victim-survivors of sexual assault.

Students can access help through

Kids Helpline
Headspace.

If you have any questions or concerns, or wish to discuss something that has happened, please contact Bev or Kim.

As a parent or carer, if you or someone you know is impacted by sexual assault and needs support, please contact 1800 RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit www.1800RESPECT.org.au.

You can also access help through

Brighton Beach Primary School

Term 2 Week 1 · 22 Apr 2021

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