The appetite within the education and support sectors to capitalise on family violence, sexual assault and consent discussions through school based is growing.
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Launceston's Laurel House recently introduced an elective consent, sex and respect program to be implemented across local schools.
Laurel House acting chief executive Frances Pratt said after rolling out the workshops the group had been approached immediately by multiple schools.
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"Laurel House has recently had many local schools approach us directly to facilitate in-class programs as an addition to the current curriculum," she said.
"Members of school communities have been contacting us directly and we are keen to respond to the growing awareness of the need for expert-led education within schools."
Members of school communities have been contacting us directly and we are keen to respond to the growing awareness of the need for expert-led education within schools.
- Frances Pratt, Laurel House acting chief executive.
Ms Pratt said the interest was in part driven by the national conversation that has been spurred by discussions from Parliament House as well as in the wake of family and sexual violence being more actively reported across the country.
Ms Pratt said early education and intervention about family and sexual violence was invaluable in maintaining said discussion and capitalising on the platform that had been laid as a result.
"Embedding relevant and engaging education into the curriculum is critical for students. Consistency of approach is paramount," she said.
"In collaboration with expert organisations such as Laurel House, our education system is capable of providing vital youth-relevant, youth-useful and engaging learning."
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Australian Education Union state president David Genford agreed that the appetite for family and sexual violence education was there and had been increasing.
"There is an appetite to improve education at that level," he said.
He said in his experience as a teacher the conversation about consent in particular in schools was increasing and being considered at different levels and ages of schooling.
Mr Genford said it was important to be wary of how the education was taught, as well as the negative impact it could have.
We're dealing with a lot of kids with trauma from family violence at home and a lot of the time it's about how can they communicate with teachers.
- David Genford, AEU Tasmania president.
As a result, the education of teachers, Mr Genford said, was equally important.
He reiterated the importance of making any education of family and sexual violence research based and proven so it could be targeted and delivered in the most effective manner.
Introducing an kind of education into a curriculum program is not a simple process. The federal government education department sets a national curriculum off which states base their curriculum.
As present, a review of the national curriculum is being undertaken.
A federal education department spokesperson said this review "provides an opportunity for further reflection and curriculum revisions where needed". Public consultation is currently being sought for the review.
The spokesperson said education about family and sexual violence and consent was an "important" area.
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"Getting this area of the curriculum right has an important role to play in having a positive influence on the awareness, attitudes and behaviours of young Australians," they said.
Getting this area of the curriculum right has an important role to play in having a positive influence on the awareness, attitudes and behaviours of young Australians.
- Federal education department spokesperson.
"The department has developed a range of resources, to complement state and territory initiatives, and support the delivery of respectful relationships education within schools."
At a state level in Tasmania, a spokesperson for the education department said this area was also an area of priority.
"The department of education recognises the important role it can play within the wider community in assisting to help drive change in this area," they said.
The department of education recognises the important role it can play within the wider community in assisting to help drive change in this area.
- Tasmanian education department spokesperson.
Education curriculum in Tasmania is in the process actioning a plan regarding family violence implemented by the department of communities.
That plan includes education of students and teachers and is strongly based on defining and teaching what are "respectful relationships".
This plan is expected to be carried out into 2022.
A spokesperson for the department said achieving the goals of the plan was underway and that the education and communities departments were currently a "protective behaviours and personal safety education" suite of resources. These new resources are due to be launched across Tasmania in Term 3, 2021.
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