Sex education not preparing Aussie kids for real life, new study finds

New research has revealed the extent to which sex education is failing our children as parents are urged to do more.

Kids should be given lessons in personal safety at school to protect them from being sexually assaulted or exploited by their peers, a charity says.

Bravehearts – which raises awareness of child sexual abuse – says it is an emerging issue and the little research being done suggests it is increasing.

CEO Alison Geale said the charity itself has a six-month waiting list for children – both boys and girls – who have been referred to one of its counselling programs because they have engaged in unhealthy sexual behaviour.

She said parents are “out of their depth” on this issue, but need to step up and start talking to their children about porn and personal safety.

“We are seeing increasingly harmful sexual behaviours in children and addiction to porn is one of the main issues,” Ms Geale said.

“Left untreated, that’s terrible for a growing brain.”

Lilah McLennan and Hayden Ryder say there is definitely a problem with sex-ed in Australia. Picture: David Clark

She said examples include kids taking photos of others in the bathroom, showing other children porn, making unwanted sexual advances or demands and taking and sharing explicit pictures of themselves or others.

Australian crime data shows that children and young people aged 10 to 19 were the alleged offenders in 20 per cent of sexual offences committed in 2019/2020.

Meanwhile, the majority of child sexual abuse allegations occurring within an institutional location – most often a school – involved a minor as the person of interest.

It comes as new research from another charity, Act for Kids, found more than three quarters of Australians said the sex education they received at school did not prepare them for real life experiences.

A third said they did not receive any sex education at school.

Lilah McLennan, 18, and Hayden Ryder, 20, want to see more work in the area of sex-ed in schools. Picture: David Clark

Brisbane student Hayden Ryder, 20, said he had no sex education lessons and first watched porn aged 12.

He said at school, boys would ask each other who their favourite porn star was.

“I absolutely learnt my sex-ed from porn,” Mr Ryder said.

“I think there is a problem with sex-ed in Australia.

“What would have helped me when I was learning was that it’s not just anatomy and sexual organs, that there are feelings and consent and a relationship.”

He said he learnt about respect from his parents who have a positive and loving relationship.

Fellow student Lilah McLennan, 18, said there was no information about consent at school and sex education came with a stigma because she attended a religious high school.

Act for Kids CEO Dr Katrina Lines said consent should be taught to children before they start primary school “with conversations starting in the home environment, such as teaching them how to say no and the meaning of yes versus no”.

“It can be as simple as using the correct language for body parts rather than euphemisms, or explaining your actions in your child’s routines, such as bathing,” she said.

The charity is calling on parents to do more and for the government to mandate a minimum standard for evidence-based sex education programs in all Australian schools.

The Morrison Government set money aside in the Budget before the election to roll out consent education in schools from next year.

Bravehearts Information and Support Line on 1800 272 831. Bravehearts Day on Friday, September 9, hopes to raise awareness and funds to help educate kids on safety.

Originally published as Sex education not preparing Aussie kids for real life, new study finds