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Consent reaches ‘ tipping point ’
Teach Us Consent petition prompts governments to act .
By Dallas Bastian
An online petition that calls for more robust and earlier education about consent in Australian schools has amassed over 30,000 signatures as state governments react to a growing number of accounts of sexual assault on school grounds .
The petition , started by a former student of Sydney ’ s Kambala School , Chanel Contos , includes almost 3000 testimonies from past and present students .
Contos said she was not shocked by how many stories emerged .
“ Those who have signed this petition have done so because they are sad and angry that they did not receive an adequate education regarding what amounts to sexual assault and what to do when it happens ,” the petition read .
“ These are uncomfortable conversations to have with young teenagers but it is far more uncomfortable to live knowing that something happened to you , or a friend , or perhaps that you were even the perpetrator of it , and it could have been avoided .”
Queensland ’ s Education Minister Grace Grace said the state would examine whether existing education adequately addresses sexual consent and reporting .
Grace told parliament young Queenslanders had been sharing their personal stories of disturbing behaviours , including sexual violence , during and after their school years .
“ It is a responsibility of parents , carers and society more broadly to educate and support young people in addressing issues of sexual harassment , assault and consent ,” she said .
“ I have asked the director-general of my department to work across the nongovernment and state education sectors , P & Cs and school communities to explore whether current Australian curriculum and respectful relationships education adequately address all issues , including consent and reporting .”
NSW Police recently met with key stakeholders in the education sector to discuss the issue of sexual violence .
At that meeting , representatives from the force , the NSW Department of Education ,
Association of Independent Schools and Catholic Schools NSW committed to establish a statement of intent to address the issue across the state ’ s schools .
But late last year Jacqueline Hendriks , a research fellow at Curtin University , said work also needs to be done on a national level , as Australia ’ s relationships and sex education response is “ not clearly directed or regulated ”.
“ Its delivery varies widely and often fails to support the personal and social development of young people .”
Writing for The Conversation , Hendriks said Australia needs to look at the approaches of countries like England and Germany and implement similar measures here .
“ Relationships and sex education became compulsory throughout schools in England at the beginning of September 2020 . In primary schools the course will focus on relationships , while secondary schools will include topics such as managing intimate relationships , consent and online behaviour ,” she said .
“ England is now in line with countries such as Germany , the Netherlands , and certain regions of Canada where government commitment ensures widespread , evidence-based relationships and sex education .”
She added that clearer articulation of the relationships and sexuality curriculum would ensure consistent delivery across all schools .
Federal Education Minister Alan Tudge told Sky News the government would nationally distribute Respect Matters , a suite of education material .
“ I ’ ve got to say I ’ ve been quite shocked at the extent of the number of people who are coming forward ,” Tudge said .
“ This is an issue for the entire community to do better at .”
Contos called on Australians to keep up the movement ’ s momentum .
“... they ’ re going to have to keep being angry ,” she told The Sydney Morning
Herald . “ It ’ s exhausting to do that , and I understand that there will be a point where people may switch off . But I really hope there isn ’ t .
“ I think we ’ re about to be at that tipping point , where it will soon be more socially acceptable to call out behaviour , than it will to do things that perpetuate rape culture . And once we reach that , I think it will change our society for generations to come .” ■
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