Updates to the Respectful Relationships program have been released this week, in what the Victorian Student Representative Council (VicSRC) is celebrating as a win for students across the state.
Respectful Relationships, originally launched in 2016, aims to embed a culture of respect and equality within our schools. Since its launch, VicSRC has been working with the Victorian government to ensure the program is as effective and responsive as possible to the evolving needs of Victorian students.
The updated Respectful Relationships curriculum was developed following consultation with a diverse range of primary and secondary school students.
VicSRC were among those consulted, with students from across the state and all school sectors represented.
VicSRC’s Policy and Advocacy Manager William Naughton-Gravette (he/him) is “very pleased” that “the Department of Education have taken so seriously the voices of students in developing these new resources”.
These new lessons in the updated curriculum provide additional focus on key areas that students explained were most needed. These key areas include:
The need for affirmative consent
The causes and impacts of gender norms, stereotypes, and gender-based violence
The impacts of pornography on respectful relationships
The impacts of hate speech and strategies to respond
The importance of Aboriginal histories and cultures, including building a culturally safe environment and understanding the impacts of systemic racism and colonialism
The intersectional experiences of students including LGBTIQA+ students and students from migrant and refugee backgrounds.
These updates support VicSRC’s objective of providing accessible, inclusive, and responsive education for all Victorian students, which reflects the reality of student’s needs today.
These updates support VicSRC’s objective of providing accessible, inclusive, and responsive education for all Victorian students, which reflects the reality of student’s needs today.
“Students made it clear that they were looking for more from their education when it comes to tackling social challenges – with a focus on affirmative consent, gender-based violence and misogyny, and discrimination and bigotry faced by LGBTIQA+ students and students from refugee and migrant backgrounds. These new resources give teachers the support they need in delivering that education” Naughton-Gravette continues.
Grace (she/her), a member of our 2024 Executive Committee and year 10 student says these updates “are great to see”.
"We've been told how important it is to have more inclusive education by many students across Victoria and that is going to be reflected with more LGBTQIA-friendly resources."
In releasing the new resources, the government said it was responding to the rise of “Andrew Tate-Types" reflecting concerns of students and teachers regarding the reported rise in misogyny and harassment seen in Victorian schools.
Grace believes that this in particular is important to combat. “Students want education to prepare us for the future, and more resources that combat gender-based violence and provide students with tools to combat online influences supporting hate speech and coercive control.”
“Students want education to prepare us for the future, and more resources that combat gender-based violence and provide students with tools to combat online influences supporting hate speech and coercive control.”
VicSRC has heard directly from students who have reflected on the negative impacts of these influences in the classroom. VicSRC is pleased that the government is responding to those concerns by releasing these new relevant resources.
While the new resources will provide teachers with essential guidance and support in delivering this content, Naughton-Gravette emphasised the need for ongoing support for teachers in making the program a success: “[s]tudents have emphasised that the effectiveness of this program rests on the ability of teachers to deliver the content confidently and in a way which suits their needs. It’s important we do all we can to support our teachers in making the most of these valuable new resources.”
“The VicSRC student community has been a part of co-designing and consulting to help develop these new resources” Grace continues. “It goes to show how important it is to involve students in developing our curriculum to make sure our experience at school is relevant and prepares for the future.”
VicSRC looks forward to these student-centred updates being implemented, as we continue to ensure our schools can be a safe space of learning for all students.
