‘We have an obligation’: Cairns schools prepared for consent education mandate

The government last month announced a national consent education mandate for all Australian schools. The Far North was prepared with ten Cairns schools already ahead of the game. What do you think about the new curriculum mandate?

CAIRNS schools are ready and prepared for Australia’s newest education mandate with many of the region’s primary and secondary schools already introduced consent programs into their curriculum in the past year.

Federal government last month announced that 2023 will see consent education become mandatory in all Australian schools. However, Cairns is ahead of the game with ten local schools already receiving consent programs from community organisation Vocational Partnerships Group.

Cairns State High School Year 10 co-ordinator Hamish Thompson said the school was grateful to community organisations that are committed to engaging young people in these “sometimes challenging” conversations.

“It is no surprise that government officials across the nation have unanimously decided to mandate consent education,” he said.

“This is important information that everyone needs to learn and understand. A holistic education is not one that is solely focused on curriculum.

“We run a weekly Connect program with all the students designed to bolster wellbeing and facilitate meaningful peer connections; we have seen the students participating in discussions, engaging in meaningful reflections and asking pertinent questions within the program.”

Gordonvale State Primary School Principal Lloyd Perkins said the mandate teaches a framework for kids to say no when they feel uncomfortable because it is “child protection and consent in the same form.”

“We have an obligation to do some teaching around healthy relationships in our existing curriculum so mandating consent education seems like a pretty natural progression,” he said.

“At high school the topic probably does cover sexual relationships, but consent is such a broad topic and, for us as a primary school, consent has a different focus that doesn’t rush the kids to think too maturely.”

Gordonvale State Primary School invited VPG to deliver their Junior Respect Me program to the primary school students, a lesson that focused on respectful friendships.

“For us, consent translates to things like peer pressure, how you talk to your friends, and asking permission first,” Mr Perkins said.

“The students have really enjoyed it, teachers have given us good feedback, and there’s a scope for kids to ask questions that don’t get dodged because the presenters are really well trained.”

VPG service co-ordinator Sarah Marsh said in the past 12 months their organisation has delivered consent programs in ten primary and secondary schools around the Cairns region.

“All children and young people deserve to understand consent and what constitutes a respectful relationship,” she said.

“Our program raises awareness of ethical behaviour and develops knowledge and skills around the prevention of sexual and intimate partner violence, building a culture of respect, responsibility and support.”

Originally published as ‘We have an obligation’: Cairns schools prepared for consent education mandate