School is officially back. While many parents may breathe a sigh of relief to see the end of the summer holidays, some parents are bracing for the possibility that their kids will be targets of abusive behaviour and disrespect.
Before the school bells rang for term one, police had already issued a plea for parents to speak to their children about the penalties of creating AI generated images or deep fake porn.
Whether it’s AI generated deep fake porn, ranking classmates as ‘wifeys’, ‘cuties,’ and ‘unrapeable,’ or women teachers facing sexist abuse from their pupils – our schools are at the coalface when it comes to the real-life impacts of gender-based violence.
It is confronting, especially for parents, but the good news is that it’s preventable.
Respectful relationships education is based on decades of research that disrespect, rigid gender stereotypes and sexism are at the root of what causes violence. By embedding Respectful relationships education into Australian schools, we can significantly increase the chances of a violence-free future for our children.
On any given day, teachers are responding to disclosures of violence and supporting students who are victims – including those experiencing family violence at home. Respectful relationships education strengthens a school’s understanding of how and why violence occurs, how it can be identified and ultimately how it can be prevented.
While age-appropriate lessons about healthy relationships, gender and respect are a part of the model – it is also about making changes to school polices, structures and environments.
This might include all students having equal access to sports facilities and ovals, leadership positions being held by women and men, or that volunteers at a canteen or barbeque fundraiser are not exclusively held by either by the mums or dads.
It means looking at schools as not just spaces for education, but as communities that can influence attitudes, behaviours and, ultimately, the likelihood of gender-based violence occuring.
In order for teachers to be strong role models for students, they need to be supported with professional development and training so that they understand the part they play in changing school culture for the better.
A crucial part of respectful relationships education is the focus on boys and young men. We know that many are feeling pressures, whether that's about maintaining a certain body image, having as many sexual partners as possible, or being targeted with harmful online content.
We know that men who strongly uphold rigid ideas of a man’s role, such as needing to act tough, be dominant and hide feelings– are 17 times more likely to self-report hitting a partner and 35 times more likely to self-report sexually harassing women or girls in public.
Schools can help boys and young men to build an understanding of what healthy and equal relationships look like, feel free to be the person they want to be and grow up in a safe and equal community. This is the responsibility of everyone - principals, teachers and parents who can model respectful behaviour through their leadership and guidance.
Currently in Australia, only Victoria is appropriately funded to support schools to implement this evidence-based model, with other states and territories at different stages of implementing and committing to the approach.
If respectful relationships education was expanded Australia-wide we could reach over four million primary and secondary students, 300,000 teachers and 9,600 schools.
We can see the positive impacts in Victorian schools that have implemented respectful relationships education, with research showing reductions in sexual bullying, improvement in classroom behaviour, increased knowledge about gender and abuse and schools developing more equal cultures. Reports have have shown 85% of girls and 78% of boys found the lessons on gender-based violence helpful.
From a student’s first day at school to their last, every single Australian student should have the opportunity to attend a school that embeds respectful relationship education. And we need all state and terriority governments to continue to back this.
Violence against women and girls is preventable.
Education is the most powerful lever we have to create a safer and happier future for all children – let’s use it.
First published in The Daily Telegraph and The Courier Mail on Friday February 14, 2025.
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1800RESPECT is the national domestic, family, and sexual violence counselling, information and support service. If you or someone you know is experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, domestic, family or sexual violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732, chat online via www.1800RESPECT.org.au, or text 0458 737 732. Men’s Referral Service: 1300 766 491.
Our Watch is Australia’s leader in the primary prevention of violence against women. The organisation was created to drive nation-wide change in the practices, norms, and structures that lead to violence against women and children. Read more about Our Watch here.