Respectful Relationships

Respectful Relationships

We all want our students to have an education that gives them the best start to a happy, healthy and prosperous life. Respectful Relationships supports students to develop the knowledge, understanding and skills to strengthen their sense of self, and build and manage safe and respectful relationships. 

Respectful Relationships takes a whole-school approach, recognising that schools are a place of learning, a workplace and a key part of local communities. It embeds a culture of respect and equality across our entire school community, from our classrooms to staffrooms, sporting fields, fetes and social events. 

This approach leads to positive change in students’ academic outcomes, their wellbeing, classroom behaviour, and relationships between teachers and students. We know that changes in attitudes and behaviours can be achieved when positive attitudes, behaviours and gender equality are lived across the school community. 

Together, we can lead the way in creating genuine and lasting change so every child has the opportunity to achieve their full potential.

In our classrooms

Respectful Relationships acknowledges that children of any age have challenges to overcome, teaching social and emotional skills appropriate to their age and level of maturity. It is being taught in all government and Catholic schools and many independent schools from Prep to Year 12, as a core component of the Victorian Curriculum. 

In the primary years, Respectful Relationships focuses on treating everyone with respect and dignity. It is taught as part of the Health and Physical Education and Personal and Social Capability areas of the Victorian Curriculum. 

The supporting Resilience, Rights & Respectful Relationships teaching and learning materials have been developed by world-leading experts from the University of Melbourne. These age-appropriate resources align to the Victorian Curriculum and include lesson plans and activities that help students learn and practise social skills and apply them in a positive way to learning, life and relationships. 

The Resilience, Rights & Respectful Relationships resources cover eight topics for each year level.

Topic 1: Emotional Literacy

Topic 2: Personal Strengths

Topic 3: Positive Coping

Topic 4: Problem Solving

Topic 5: Stress Management

Topic 6: Help-Seeking

Topic 7: Gender and Identity

Topic 8: Positive Gender Relations

Sexuality & Health Lessons

We are working with Vanessa Hamilton a Sexuality Nurse Educator. She is the founder of Talking The Talk Sex and Health Education working as a highly respected and sought after speaker, writer and educator. 

Vanessa has spoken to literally tens of thousands of people about Sex and Sexuality during her 24 years of experience as a Sexual Health Nurse and has also spent 16 years educating children and adults. 

She has immersed herself in helping parents, teachers and health professionals understand Human Sexuality and how it relates to children. By providing simple explanations, tools and tips she reduces the fear that many people have and facilitates conversations that support children as they grow up in this hypersexualised society.

All classroom teachers will be implementing a series of Sexuality Health lessons that focus on physical, social, and emotional changes. 
 
The content of the lessons complies with the Australian Curriculum and is recommended by the Department of Education, and is focused on Respectful Relationships, Consent and Sexuality Education.
 
These specific lessons will support students to work towards achieving the required health standards of the Victorian Curriculum. Other components of the curriculum will be covered during Physical Education lessons and within the students’ regular classes.
 
The lessons deliver age-appropriate content using a fact-based approach. Each year level covers different concepts. A variety of materials will be used to deliver the content in a sensitive manner, including:

• Games
• Conversations
• Audio and visual media

 
Ripponlea Primary School respects your family’s role in teaching Sexuality Education and hopes that these lessons support and facilitate further conversations.