Sex and Relationships Education at SKiPPS.

Sex Education at St. Kilda Park Primary School for all year levels, will commence in Week 1 of Term 2. The Wellbeing Committee in conjunction with the Education and Policy Sub Committee of School Council members are very excited about supporting and informing the SKiPPS community about sex education – for all ages. 

The school has engaged the services of Vanessa Hamilton to deliver her program ‘Talking the Talk' to students in all year levels.  Vanessa has 24 years’ experience as a Sexual Health Nurse, 15 years as an Educator and has led literally tens of thousands of conversations about Sex and Sexuality for children. We are confident that Vanessa can help the SKiPPS communty with information & support to encourage essential conversations about all aspects of Human Sexuality.

More information about Vanessa and this program can be found at http://talkingthetalksexed.com.au/ 

This conversation and learning is very timely in the light of recent public debates and the Victorian Government's announcement this weekend that consent education along these lines will soon become mandatory in all government schools. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-03-21/consent-education-to-become-mandatory-in-victorian-state-schools/100019522 

‘Talking the Talk’  provides a contemporary approach to school based, comprehensive sexuality education and offers three types of school sessions: student, parent and teacher sexuality education. An outline of the student program includes: 

Foundation

• Safe and unsafe - talk about what it is like to feel ‘safe’ and ‘unsafe’, discuss early warning signs and the difference between secrets and  surprises
• Body boundaries - private zones (general without anatomical names), consent and respect, using the book: My body belongs to me
• Safety network - Identify trusted adults that they could go to if they are feeling unsafe

 Year 1 & 2

• We all grow up - students learn about body changes between babyhood and starting school
• I know my body - students learn about body parts including genitals
• Safe and unsafe - talk about what it is like to feel ‘safe’and ‘unsafe’, discuss their early warning signs and the difference between secrets and surprises
• Body boundaries - private zones, consent and respect
• Safety network - identify trusted adults that they could

Year 3 & 4

• Naming body parts including genitals
• We all Grow up
• Introduction to Puberty changes; emotional and physical
• Gender diversity introduced The amazing story of Conception, Pregnancy and Birth
• Respectful Relationships introduced
• Protective Safety (Body Safety)

Year 5 & 6 

• Naming body parts
• We all Grow up
• Gender diversity introduced
• Puberty changes ; emotional and physical
• Question Answer Box for next session
• Puberty Continued – What happens and what you need
• Conception, Pregnancy and Birth
• Respectful Relationships and Protective Safety
• Answer Question Box
• More information regarding ‘Talking the Talk’ can be found at here @talkingthetalksexed.com.au

The program delivers accurate, age appropriate information to students about their bodies and relationships. The student sessions are based on global research about the benefits of early, ongoing, age appropriate, comprehensive sexuality education. Our aim is to empower young people with essential information for safe and positive relationship experiences over their lifetime.

 Vanessa will run a staff professional development session early next term as well as a Parent Information night on Wednesday 28th April. You will have received a note via your child with a link to the trybooking code for  the parent session and we encourage you to sign up to find out more about this work. 

We are also asking you to provide consent and pay for the student classroom sessions via the Compass portal.