Coast Shelter has welcomed the news that education on consent will be made mandatory in all schools after state and federal ministers unanimously agreed to include it in the curriculum last week.
The program will be rolled out in all classrooms from Kindergarten to Year 10 and will include information on consent, gender stereotypes and power imbalances.
CEO of Coast Shelter, Michael Starr, said the change was necessary in ending the cycle of sexual and gender-based violence.
“For over 14 years, we’ve invested in primary prevention strategies such as the Love Bites program that tackles root causes of violence, abuse, and neglect,” Starr said.
“By providing young people with the foundations of consent, critical thinking and problem-solving, they are equipped to develop respectful relationships now, and into their adulthood.”
The Love Bites Central Coast program has been delivering respectful relationships programs in schools for over 14 years, covering topics such as harassment, homophobia and warning signs of abusive and controlling relationships.
An anonymous LoveBites participant said her experience in the program helped her realise she was in an abusive relationship.
“Over five years ago [Love Bites] came to my high school, I was in year 10 at the time,” she said.
“While participating in the program, I realised that I was a victim to abuse.
“Words cannot describe my gratitude. Because of this I could learn what an abusive relationship was and now I am happily in a relationship with my boyfriend.
“A relationship built on mutual trust and respect.”
The announcement comes after consent advocate Chanel Contos ran a social media poll, which found a significant number of people had been sexually assaulted at high school.
She then launched the Teach Us Consent campaign with a petition for better consent education in schools, attracting more than 44,000 signatures across Australia.
Local youth activist, Libby Payne, said the change will help young people learn tools on how to navigate safe relationships.
“By mandating consent education, we ensure no student misses out,”Payne said.
“It’s about creating a culture shift. We don’t want band-aid solutions anymore, we need to break the cycle, and create a culture shift.”
Education ministers are due to meet in April to finalise the new curriculum which is expected to be rolled out in schools from 2023.
Maisy Rae