Teacher support crucial

Mandating consent education in the new national curriculum is a positive development and a victory for those who have campaigned for compulsory sex education and respectful relationships education in all Australian schools.

But what should delivering high-quality and nationally consistent consent education look like, particularly in faith-based and non-government schools?

Emily Campbell spoke to IEU principal member Silvana Rossetti about the importance of compulsory consent education in contemporary schooling.

The background contextAfter years of increasing public pressure, education ministers across Australia unanimously decided in early 2022 that consent education would be mandatory in the national curriculum from 2023.

It comes at a time when a broader societal shift towards greater awareness of and disdain for gendered violence, gender inequity and discrimination is occurring.

Although experts agree it is difficult to pinpoint the exact date consent education began in Australia, given that it varied across states and territories, the beginning of sex education arrived in the 1980s.

However, consent education was never mandatory for all schools to teach because the curriculum was open to interpretation, meaning non-government schools were given the discretion and flexibility to avoid broaching the subject.

Version 9.0 of the Australian curriculum includes a key change to “strengthen the explicit teaching of consent and respectful relationships in age-appropriate ways”.

As a woman principal at an all-boys’ Catholic secondary school, Rossetti acknowledges that schools have a role and responsibility in educating students, particularly boys, to become young men who treat women and other men with respect.

“Whilst the academic component of schools is essential and initially the main reason for the introduction of schools, the world we find ourselves living in today is very different from 200 years ago,” Rossetti said.

“To best prepare our young people to successfully navigate themselves in the world they live in, we need to teach them the social and critical thinking skills they will require.

“Teaching consent is about permission, kindness, empathy, reciprocity, generosity, and how to show respect for ourselves and others.

“Consent and respectful relationship education encourages children to be critical thinkers about disrespectful attitudes and behaviours.

“It also gives children and young people fundamental, internal decision-making skills and knowledge of the nuances of consent communication, so that they can take them into all relationships, when they are older, hopefully enabling them to be valuable members of society.”

Equipping students academically and socially

Last year Rossetti attended a panel discussion on consent education at the IEU NSW/ACT June Council, that she said was an important conversation in which to be involved.

“The panel discussion highlighted the importance of raising awareness of current and potential issues for our young people so that they can be well informed and equipped with the knowledge and skills to make decisions that are right for them and their context as well as being made aware of their rights,” she said.

“With our young people being exposed to so much information via technology, it is important more than ever that we are all educated in this area not only to know our legal obligations but also to ensure we have the skills to assess the reliability and validity of the information we are engaging with.

“As an educator, you always aim to work with your families to develop the students in your care both academically and socially, equipping them with the knowledge and skills they will require to be successful in life.

“It would be the hope that education in this area would educate thoughtful, compassionate, caring humans while improving general wellbeing and reducing widespread discrimination.”

Rossetti said Australians were fortunate to be afforded the freedom to send their children to a school that aligns with their values and beliefs.

“With this in mind, being respectful to all, high-quality consent and respectful education in schools should involve developing students’ skills, attitudes and understanding of gender inequality, respectful, equal and non-violent relationships in line with the ethos and values on which the school is founded.

“Learning about respectful relationships has been linked to students showing improved academic outcomes, more positive social behaviour, lower rates of mental health problems and less likely to engage in violent, risky and disruptive behaviour.”

Recognising teaching opportunities

Rossetti said when trying to develop a culture of respectful relationships, it is best to deliver the learning contextually and authentically through the existing curriculum whilst using opportunities that present themselves through events like assemblies and year meetings.

“This provides an opportunity to reinforce concepts and messaging about respect, equality and kindness using examples from the school community to highlight this,” Rossetti said.

“Through programs such as the Pastoral Care or Enrichment program, you can deliver Social and Emotional Learning programs to reinforce your message and provide clear examples of respectful behaviour and relationships.

“This time can also be used to explicitly teach positive behaviour and respect for others.

“During interactions with students, teachers can model restorative approaches and strategies that facilitate students to develop skills such as problem solving and empathy.

“Certain curriculums, such as the Personal Development, Health and Physical Education (PDHPE) curriculum, provide authentic opportunities to teach and reinforce consent education,” she said.

Professional development necessary

Employer support of teachers and support staff will be essential to successfully embedding consent education in classrooms.

“Employers should be supporting their teaching staff by providing them with the relevant professional learning and resources to be used in delivering this curriculum,” Rossetti said.

“Consent education needs a collaborative approach both in the home and in the classroom.

“It also needs to align with the values and beliefs of the school - this is the school that the parents have chosen to send their children to with the understanding that home and school values are aligned.

“With technology making it so easy to create your own websites, become an influencer, post the information (not always providing true information) it is more important than ever to work with our families to ensure young people are grounded in their faith and values, and equipped with the skills required to make good choices in life.

“We should never bury our heads in the sand but rather address issues as they arise so students can learn and ask questions in a safe and supportive environment,” she said.

IEUA Assistant Federal Secretary Brad Hayes said our union wholeheartedly supported the introduction of mandatory consent education in Australian schools and said teachers would need to be supported as the new program is delivered.

“The quality and consistency of consent education in the non-government sector and across states and territories has been difficult to fully assess in the past,” Hayes said.

“The government’s commitment to mandate national consent education this year in all Australian schools is an important part of a community-wide strategy to prevent sexual harassment and violence.

“Age-appropriate consent education is vital in providing safer classrooms, and ultimately safer workplaces and homes for women and girls.

“Contemporary curriculum materials, professional development and planning time for teachers will be essential to ensure teachers are well-supported and have adequate resources to deliver the new requirement successfully,” he said.

Various states and territories have published a comprehensive suite of consent education resources for students of all age groups to support the implementation of consent education in classrooms.

IEU members can learn more about consent education in the Australian curriculum and access the resources from states and territories listed below online at https://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/resources/curriculum-connections/portfolios/respect-matters/