Younger kids to receive sexual consent ed under review

Queensland school children will be taught more explicit, age-appropriate sexual consent education, following harrowing allegations of rapes and assaults among teens.

Queensland school kids will be taught more explicit sexual consent education at a younger age, following harrowing allegations of rapes and assaults among teens.

In March, distressing sexual assault testimonies published on a viral petitioncalling for better sexual consent education prompted Education Minister Grace Grace to order a sweeping review into current practices.

Ms Grace said since then more than 70 stakeholders including education leaders, principal representatives, parent bodies and unions have weighed in on what changes to the existing Respectful Relationships Education Program (RREP) should look like.

“What we’ve found from consultation is that there’s a strong need to build and promote a culture within schools that encourages people to seek help,” she said.

Ms Grace said she had also sought the views of students through the Ministerial Student Advisory Council, who expressed the need for more explicit, age-appropriate education on consent and the reporting of sexual assault.

“They also said this needs to start earlier,” she said.

“We’re also working towards providing further support to teachers to feel more confident in delivering this message and to be able to respond to students who’ve come forward with claims of assault or abuse.”

Minister for Education Grace Grace. Picture: Liam Kidston.

It was expected the updated material and resources would be finalised by the end of the year, and rolled out to schools in 2022.

A Department of Education spokesman said a gap analysis had also been undertaken, with consultations showing the need for broader education addressing the drivers of gender-based violence.

“Curriculum experts are utilising the identified themes and supporting evidence-based practices to strengthen the RREP and resources to ensure students understand consent and are supported to build safe and respectful relationships,” he said.

“Additional information will be provided to parents, carers and students about what is being taught in schools, where to go to make a report of sexual assault and what happens to these reports after they have been made.”

Queensland Secondary Principals’ Association president Mark Breckenridge said the organisation had been involved in the consultations, which had been progressing well.

“Schools are fully ready to play their part,” he said.

But he also said it was important that schools were not seen as the only ones responsible for teaching kids about sexual consent.

“While schools have a role to play, it’s not their job to fix this,” he said.

“This is a society issue that we all need to step up to the plate to address.”