A RESPECTFUL relationships program dealing with family violence, respect for women and girls, compassion and gender equality is being piloted at 10 Queensland schools including Capalaba and Russell Island.
The Palaszczuk government has partnered with Our Watch and the Luke Batty Foundation to deliver the 18-month pilot in support of measures to stamp-out bullying and domestic violence.
Education Minister Grace Grace said launched the Creating a violence free future: Respectful relationships education in primary school program at Eagleby South State School on Wednesday.
“We committed to supporting programs like this in our state schools in response to the Not Now, Not Ever taskforce and we will continue to raise our efforts to rid our community of domestic and family violence,” Ms Grace said.
The program will also be delivered at Eagleby South, Kingston, Woodhill, Flagstone, Coomera Rivers, Pimpama, Peak Crossing and Springwood Central state schools.
“All have begun to engage students, school staff and the wider school community in a discussion about respectful relationships,” Ms Grace said.
“The Palaszczuk government is proud to support this flagship pilot to raise awareness of domestic and family violence, support respectful relationships and gender equality.
“It is important that our youngest Queenslanders learn that violence is never acceptable and that all people deserve to be treated with respect and compassion.”
Ms Grace said students in years 1 and 2 would receive 10 hours of respectful relationships curriculum instruction while school leaders and staff would be provided with professional development.
“The pilot schools will promote gender equality and respectful relationships and will involve parents to reinforce the key messages around respect and equality,” she said.
“Our Watch has contracted Deakin University to evaluate the pilot program, which is also being delivered in a number of primary schools in Victoria.”
The minister said the Myer Foundation had provided $1.2 million to Our Watch and the Luke Barry Foundation to deliver the program,” she said.
Eagleby South State School Principal Andrew Barnes said the pilot was different to the respectful relationships programs already in place because it addressed attitudes towards women and girls.
“I am looking forward to our 160 year 1 and year 2 students being involved as well as seeing some sustained change in attitudes around gender equality.”
