Hundreds of Adelaide students march in CBD against sexual violence in schools, demanding better consent education

Adelaide students from public and private schools have marched against sexual violence at school, demanding better education on sexual consent.

More than 400 high school students from across Adelaide have marched through the city demanding better sexual consent education.

The Adelaide Youth March Against Sexual Violence involved students from public, independent and Catholic schools and was part of a national march calling for national sex education reform.

From Adelaide, to Perth, Sydney and Brisbane, students, such as 14-year-old Bella from Unley High School, want national sex education updated to address the risks and effects of pornography, image-based abuse and gender-based violence.

Speakers (L-R) Jenny, 17, and Bella, 14 before the rally against sexual violence in schools and for better sexual consent education at Victoria Square. Picture: Kelly Barnes

SA secondary students at Victoria Square, holding a rally against sexual violence in schools and for better sex education on sexual consent. Picture: Kelly Barnes

Bella told the gathering at Victoria Square it was not okay at age 14 to be continually harassed by male peers to provide sexualised images of herself.

“I am a child,” she said. “I’m sick of explaining how when someone says no, it does not mean to convince or coerce them into a yes.”

Adelaide High School student Jenny, 17, said she had been told she’d “be put on a spit” in the classroom and has been repeatedly shouted at – “when are we gonna have sex”, with teachers and other students turning a blind eye.

Speaking at the march was former federal Labor MP and author of the book Sex, Lies and Question Time, Kate Ellis, who described the students gathered as “warriors who are not prepared to sit quietly and let this continue” and who were “at the new forefront of the battle for change”.

Secondary students marching from Victoria Square through the CBD, protesting against sexual violence in schools and for better sexual consent education. Picture: Kelly Barnes

“It is so appalling to me, and unacceptable that you feel you are not safe in your schools,” Ms Ellis said.

“If we do not fix this toxic, dangerous culture before people graduate from school, we know it will lead to more assault, more harassment, more attacks in our workplaces, streets and communities … It needs to stop and it needs to stop now.”

The march was organised by Adelaide Youth Against Sexual Violence and the Adelaide High School Call4Action group, which organised a June 1 walkout that captured the attention of consent campaigner Chanel Contos. Ms Contos is working with the Adelaide High students to stage a much larger national march in coming months.

The rally at Victoria Square against sexual violence in schools and for better sex education on sexual consent. Pictures Kelly Barnes

The students at Victoria Square, holding a rally against sexual violence in schools and for better sex education on sexual consent. Picture: Kelly Barnes

The Adelaide march organisers have set up a petition calling for state and federal MPs to ensure every South Australian school student receive compulsory relationship and sexual heath training, including consent and sexual assault prevention and that all school staff are trained on how to deal with sexual assault complaints.

On Wednesday, The Advertiser reported SA’s Education Department had ordered an immediate curriculum overhaul after experts warned online pornography is warping kids’ concepts of sex and consent.

The state’s curriculum has been criticised as “archaic” and in need of urgent update by child safety campaigner Sonya Ryan who warns teenagers are hurting themselves in violent sex acts normalised via pornography.