Commissioner for Children and Young People reveals what kids want from sex education

Young South Australians say sex education is seriously failing to make the grade. And now they’ve had a chance to declare what they want changed.

Sex education should continue through to years 11 and 12 and parents should lose theright to withdraw their children from the vital classes, the Commissioner for Children and Young People says.

The recommendations come after the state’s biggest ever survey of young people on the topic found they wanted to learn more about how to have happy relationships.

Survey participants said that was just as important as learning about the biology and the bad things that can happen.

This was especially so in the final years of school when young people became sexually active and started relationships just as sex education fizzled out.

In a report published on Sunday, commissioner Helen Connolly has made four recommendations:

SEX education should continue into years 11 and 12.

PARENTAL rights to withdraw children should be rescinded.

AN online information hub should be created.

SPECIAL community support should be provided to vulnerable children such as the disabled or in the juvenile justice system.

Commenting on the survey of 1225 people aged 12 to 22, Ms Connolloy said families were the primary source of information on sex but she wanted a serious conversation on the rights of children as well as parents.

“That is what kids said they wanted,” she said.

“They are not their parents and they don’t necessarily share their values.

“And they have rights to access information.”

SA Commissioner for Children and Young People Helen Connolly

Several international covenants backed the rights of children and there were international precedents.

The UK legislated in 2019 that curriculum streams on sex and health are compulsory and parents lose the right to withdraw their child from courses on sexual relationships after the student turns 15.

“School is not just about education, it’s about life,” Ms Connolly said.

“And it’s not just a preparation for life, it’s about life now.

“Young people are engaged in relationships now, be they sexual, intimate or platonic.

“And they’re asking for guidance and support.”

While more girls than boys took part in the survey, boys wanted answers.

“They’re asking what it means to be masculine, how do you ask girls out, how do you set boundaries, all those sorts of things,” she said.

The survey found current sex education was often inconsistent and unregulated and not provided at all year levels – with older year levels often only getting an occasional visiting speaker.

The report comes amid growing calls for respect in sexual relationships including a demonstration at Adelaide High and national petitions for young people to be taught about consent.

Adelaide High School students walk out of school to protest against sexual harassment. Picture: Tom Huntley

The Commissioner’s survey found students were under pressure to navigate relationships on and offline, but there was too much focus on strategies about protecting children from adults who might do them harm, and neglect about how to have safe interactions with each other.

In particular, LGBTQA+ children felt left out.

Ms Connolly said an online hub should be funded by government but run independently, with young people involved in the design.

Education Department executive director of curriculum Susan Cameron said sex education was “a pressing issue for schools and society”.

“We are actively engaged in modernising sex education to reflect the needs of young people,” she said.

“Both the Australian Curriculum and SA’s Keeping Safe: Child Protection Curriculum are currently under review.

“They will be updated in line with expert advice.

“(However) parental choice is enshrined and there are currently no plans to change that approach.”

Opposition Education spokesman Blair Boyer welcomed the discussion.

“I sincerely hope the Commissioner’s report is the impetus for the Liberal Government reinstating cuts it made to Shine which resulted in the closure of sexual health clinics,” he said.

Catholic Education SA assistant director Monica Conway said schools worked closely with parents on the content of the sex education curriculum.

The Catholic program, called Made In The Image of God: Human Sexuality Curriculum, extended from Reception to Year 12.

“The curriculum promotes contemporary teaching strategies and student agency,” Ms Conway said.

The content is taught in age-appropriate ways.”

Catholic Education SA is developing an online resource.

Association of Independent Schools SA chief executive Carolyn Grantskalns said it should not be solely the responsibility of schools.

“Parents have a key role too,” she said.

The survey was initiated from student discussions in youth parliament in 2019 and Ms Connolloy said the report is timely with the current growing public debate.

“There is a growing understanding in the political space on the need to address this,” she said.