safe schools coalition australiadivinity 2 respec talents

The program assists schools to have conversations with students about mutual respect and understanding towards each other despite differences in their culture, beliefs, sexuality or gender. [8][9][10], In December 2016, the Victorian Government said it will take responsibility for and "overhaul" the Safe Schools program, with the government cutting its ties with both Ward[131][132] and La Trobe University. [39], In February 2017, it was announced that NSW public school teachers were provided with, "a list of resources that should not be used. The program was run by the Safe Schools Coalition Australia, "a national coalition of organisations and schools working together to create safe and inclusive school environments for same-sex attracted, intersex and gender diverse students". Coalition MPs who support Safe School such as Warren Entsch said the concerns were being pushed by external lobby groups. The Safe Schools Coalition Australia guide for a Health and Physical Education resource for years 7 and 8 on the topic of gender and sexual diversity. Videos are available to accompany the lessons. School staff may access support and advice from Safe Schools on matters like how to: As part of their efforts to establish a safe and inclusive environment, schools determine what their needs are, what resources they should use, and how best to support their community. Annastacia Palaszczuk pledged support for Safe Schools during the 2015 Queensland state election but as of March 2016 had not made any announcements. Review of appropriateness and efficacy of the Safe . [58], Various aspects of the program have been criticised by The Australian newspaper. The role of a school is to equip its students to lead healthy and productive lives, to not only achieve academically but also to be happy, healthy and resilient. We aim to provide documents in an accessible format. The material, including written content, videos, posters and websites, sought to promote understanding and tolerance of LGBTIQ youth through real-life scenarios and education. The parents would probably call the police because it would sound a lot like grooming work that a sexual predator might undertake, Mr Christensen told parliament in 2016. Schools can consider how these examples could be adapted to suit their context. They looked up to me. Unsurprisingly, views among academics, support groups and organisations varied markedly. Finally, concerns have also been raised about the age-appropriateness of the materials, given that they sometimes pertain to sexual orientation. Anti safe schools signs were "torn up, burnt and defaced with threats to kill". And I oppose Safe Schools", "Catherine McGregor speaks out against Safe Schools", "Catherine McGregor dropped from LGBT group over anti-Safe School comments", "Catherine McGregors angry response to Kaleidoscope Australia sacking", "Cate McGregor declares herself wrong to oppose Safe Schools", "Encounter made me realise I was wrong to oppose Safe Schools", "Roz Ward suspended from controversial Safe Schools program", "Flag slur underlines concerns: Turnbull", "Safe Schools' Roz Ward to sue La Trobe University unless they drop misconduct investigation", "Jeff Kennett: Safe Schools funding lost if Roz Ward stays", "Safe Schools: Australian Chinese community petition against anti-bullying program lodged in NSW", "Safe Schools program: thousands in NSW sign petition calling for it to be scrapped", "Indians join Chinese concerned about Safe Schools rollout", "National curriculum review: Who is Kevin Donnelly? Students who don't feel safe or included at school cannot learn effectively and reach their full potential. The Safe Schools program helps schools foster a safe environment that is supportive and inclusive of LGBTIQ+ students. Tagged with: anti-bullying pastoral care Safe Schools. [139], The program began in Queensland from the start of the second semester in 2015. It was an opt-in program. LGBTIQ identities are becoming more visible and diverse, and young people are using and inventing a range of ways to identify and talk about it. Safe Schools Coalition co-founder, Roz Ward[44] has compiled the accompanying notes for teachers and parents. If you're having problems accessing a document, please contact us for help. "Young trans people need an ally, and I could have been one." The Department of Education acknowledges the traditional owners and custodians of country throughout Australia and acknowledge their continuing connection to land, water and community. [128][129] All state secondary schools in Victoria are to be members of the SSCA by 2018. It was an opt-in program. [69] The Safe Schools Coalition dismissed those claims in their entirety. Sexual orientation . The fact that parental oversight was undermines is because the department of education explicitly states it exists for the welfare of the students. Queer education is not a wild sexual and gender philosophy. [144] South Australia has withdrawn from the Safe Schools Coalition Program. Non-government schools and primary schools can also access support from Safe Schools. Watch The Ally Network from Bendigo Senior Secondary College videoExternal Link on Vimeo. [49] The Safe Schools Coalition actively encourages people to report any inappropriate content. advice on how to support you or your child, including where to go for other support services. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. The four official Guides were consistent with the aims of the program and appropriate for use in schools. Anyone saying the program was indoctrinating innocent children or showcasing wild sexual philosophies is out of touch.. There are similar whole-school initiatives, including for primary schools, in the UK and elsewhere. The Safe Schools Coalition Australia Programme Resources The Safe Schools Coalition Australia is a national coalition of organisations and schools, convened by the Foundation for Young Australians. In 2015, a teaching manual called All Of Us[42] was launched, following approval by the federal Education Department. Following reports of inappropriate content and material being used in classrooms, in 2016 the Turnbull Government triggered a review of the program. Issues relating to the Safe Schools program were raised during the Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey debate. Safe Schools Coalition Australia has produced materials funded by the Federal Government and taught in more than 500 government schools across Australia. As Victoria Rawlings from the University of Sydney told The Conversation: Much of the debate relating to Safe Schools so far has included commentators explicitly and implicitly suggesting that young people require protection from the concepts that the program raises.. [35][59][60][61][62] In July 2015, the Australian Christian Lobby lodged a 10,891-signature petition with the Queensland parliament in relation to the Safe Schools program. Here at safe schools, we produce solutions that actively promote safety in and around our schools because no student should be hurt when traveling to and from a place of education. The Ally Network works with Bendigo Senior Secondary Colleges LGBTIQ+ student group to strive for excellence in LGBTIQ+ inclusion. [40] Some schools present no classroom material to students. [53] Australian LGBTIQ rights activist and academic Rodney Croome welcomed a review as a way of ensuring its funding delivered the outcomes it sought. As such, it is our job to provide them with the education they need NOT the education parents want. CAUSE(Coalition Against Unsafe Sexual Education) is dedicated to challenging the safety in teaching sexualizing LGBT gender ideologies to children in schools. It is a program for principals, teachers and school communities. [89], In July 2016, members of Sydney's Chinese community lodged a petition containing more than 17,000 signatures, against the Safe Schools program. "[84], In her column in Fairfax Media she said "to my chagrin, I failed to anticipate the ammunition I offered to those like Miranda Devine and Lyle Shelton who refuse outright to accept the reality and legitimacy of trans identity." First, readers have been interpellated as parents b. During 2016, Crusoe College joined the Safe Schools Coalition (SSC) as part of our commitment to providing a safe and inclusive learning environment for all our students. [147] In April 2017 it was reported that Tasmania will scrap its support for the Safe Schools program, replacing it with a comprehensive anti-bullying scheme. About 30 people, several of whom had their faces covered with bandanas, blocked the entrance to the seminar stopping the majority of the attendees from entering. [125], In March 2016, following the Louden Review, the Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews took issue that students will now require parental permission to attend the Safe Schools program. When that emerged it should have been hit on the head by centre-right governments at federal and state level". The Department. There is also little evidence to suggest Safe Schools Coalition is indoctrinating students. Myth: The Safe Schools program encourages the use of props.Fact: The Department of Education and Training provides evidence-based information, written resources and professional learning for school staff to use as they see fit to support schools to prevent, and respond to, discrimination against LGBTIQ+ students. However the Clerk of the Parliament would not permit that wording on the Queensland parliament's website because of the "intemperate" language. [17] The current (as of November 2017) federal government's policy is not to fund the program beyond 2017. There was no national data for lower years. The ad incorporates the words, "Only you know whether you are a boy or a girl". Myth: Respectful Relationships and the Safe Schools program are the same.Fact: Respectful Relationships and Safe Schools are two very different initiatives. [23], In describing the aims of the program, the Safe Schools Coalition Australia reports that "75% of same sex attracted young people experience some form of homophobic abuse or bullying A staggering 80% of young people experienced abuse and bullying while at school",[24] more than anywhere else. Education Reviewtakes an in-depth look at the program and asks you the question: What did we learn from Safe Schools? Myth: The Safe Schools program encourages students to question or change their gender or sexuality.Fact: Nothing about the Safe Schools program encourages students to question or change their gender or sexuality. Gender isnt real and you, nor Stephen, are very bright. The Department of Education and Training has developed the following resource to build schools understanding of the Safe Schools program and to guide their efforts to support LGBTIQ+ inclusion in their community. In 2014, SHFPACT led a successful collaboration of ACT health and community services in a bid to provide the Safe Schools Coalition Australia program in Canberra. This includes considering any further resources and supports that may be required. The national coalition was established to deliver on the vision of the Australian Government's National Safe Schools Framework which aims to build safe school communities where diversity is valued, the risk from all types of harm is minimised and all members of the community feel respected, inclu It includes the key research that underpins the program, practical information about how to create changes, and how to get started. And is it indoctrinating students? [76] Several of these resources, including Stand Out,[77] created in 2011 by the Safe Schools Coalition Victoria and Minus18[73] were part of the Louden Review. A student group named US Pride has been a highly successful component of this on-campus support. It's now a national network convened by the Foundation for Young Australians, and delivered by partner. All Of Us is a collection of short videos and teaching activities designed by Safe Schools Coalition Australia in order to assist students in understanding gender diversity, sexual diversity and intersex topics. [155], One Northern Territory school has signed up for the program.[13]. Stream. You may also wish to contact your local school directly to discuss their approach to LGBTIQ+ inclusion and support. FOI Reference. This month, wed like education professionals to look back at the program and consider the following: Education Review welcomes contributions on this topic, both in written and podcast form. [5], Schools are encouraged to join the coalition as members. Opposition education spokesman Andrew Wall tabled a petition and asked the ACT government to withdraw support for the program. Family First Senator Bob Day labelled the program anti-parent for its lack of consultation and for exposing ideas that were antithetical to many families values. The program provides information and resources to schools to raise understanding and awareness of sexual and gender diversity. "It's an excellent program, and it saves lives." [122], In September 2016, NSW students were told not to participate in any class lessons involving Safe Schools Coalition materials without the consent of their parents. To date, more than 13,000 school staff around Australia have taken part in training delivered by the coalition. [34][51] The program is supported by Beyond Blue, headspace and the Australian Secondary Principals Association. Talking about queer relationships is no different to talking about straight ones. The Department of Education and Training provides information, resources and professional learning that have been developed by experts for school staff to use as they see fit to prevent discrimination against LGBTIQ+ students. D16/1616448. [12], In 2017 the SSCA program ceased in New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia and the Australian Capital Territory pulled out (and with Tasmania to pull out) of the Safe Schools Coalition Australia program, with each developing their own programs. Myth: The program promotes and teaches children to undertake behaviour such as chest-binding and cross-dressing.Fact: The program does not promote chest-binding or cross-dressing. Safe Schools Coalition Victoria alone has supported more than 50 schools to make sure transgender and gender diverse students can be themselves at school. 80% of these homophobic and transphobic incidents take place in schools. [87] Ward's solicitors wrote to the university's Vice-Chancellor, John Dewar, urging him to withdraw all allegations and reinstate her by 10am Monday, otherwise legal action would ensue. Safe Schools is a world-leading, evidence-based program to make schools safe environments for same-sex-attracted, intersex and gender-diverse students, staff and families. [1], The review revealed that opponents to the program had made statements that grossly misrepresented and exaggerated the nature of the program. Lucy Nicholas does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment. Some of the most vocal critics were Nationals MP George Christensen, Family First Senator Bob Day and Australian Conservative Party founder and former Liberal Cory Bernardi. It also looks at topics like coping with stress and problem solving, helping students excel at school. Together we do better - version one (PDF. They are not normally circulated to primary schools and in some states only circulated to secondary schools on request. Although Australia has seen significant advances in legal equality for LGBTIQ citizens over the last 50 years, the nation's schools remain contentious spaces of debate, particularly as concerns issues of sexuality and gender. National LGBTIQ+ Health Alliance. The program began in Victorian schools in 2010 and expanded nationwide in 2013 as the first of its kind in Australia. "I should have been a supporter from the start. Creation Date. Most argued the content and material was age-appropriate and educationally sound. [13] The new program will have a change of name with the ACT Education Minister saying it, "won't be defined as a program because then that implies that you're delivering a class or a program on something". The Safe Schools Coalition in Australia provides a national, government-funded program "aimed at creating safe and supportive school environments for same-sex attracted, intersex and. Read Benalla's case study (DOCX, 109KB)External Link for more details. [55] The petition incorporated wording from a Safe Schools student resource. They are designed to help you improve inclusion at your school. [70], A review was announced by the Turnbull Liberal/National Coalition government on 26 February 2016, after Coalition backbenchers George Christensen and Cory Bernardi raised concerns over what they claimed was the "sexualised" nature of the program, and forty-three Coalition backbenchers including former leader Tony Abbott had signed a petition calling for the program's closure. [37] The Australian Christian Lobby and the Former National Party senator Bill O'Chee have criticised the program. [142] A police statement and camera footage do not support the protesters version of what took place, saying, "there was no record of any cars hurtling towards protesters, nor any other assault or injury". [148], In August 2016, the ACT Chief Minister, Andrew Barr, committed $100,000 to the Safe Schools Program in the Territory. The Safe Schools Coalition Australia was a group of organisations in Australia focused on LGBTIQ people in schools. [citation needed] Representatives from Safe Schools are available to meet with parents, students and teachers upon request. This Web site is operated and maintained by AIR. 17 October 2016. [41] There are four official guides, three official posters and eight lesson plans. [116], The Federal Government ceased its funding of the Safe Schools program in October 2016. [5] According to the official website as of September 2016, 545 schools are members, up from the February 2016 figure when a campaign against the program commenced. [29] Content was created by a number of experts in the field. [96], The Australian Human Rights Commission expressed concern over attempts to impose parental consent requirements, stating that there needed to be careful consideration of its impact on children struggling with sexual orientation, gender identity or intersex status, and stating "while we recognise the rights of parents to be informed and engaged in their childs education, it is important to ensure children who have not yet come out to their family can still access the program and its resources.[97], Former Prime Minister John Howard has said, "What's disappointed me is an issue like Safe Schools. "Trans kids are still doing it tough. Research found that: 61% of same-sex attracted or gender diverse young people in Australia have experienced verbal abuse; 18% of same-sex attracted or gender diverse young people in Australia have experienced physical abuse; and. No harm was expected to come from primary schools students viewing the material, just that they may not comprehend some terms such as transphobia or homophobia. 5 Comments. I could have helped, and I didn't, and I regret that. One Nation Queensland leader Steve Dickson said the Safe Schools program contained 'highly explicit material' that is being 'directed at young children'. What was the Safe Schools Coalition Australia program in the ACT? On this page: What are Safe Schools? They are suitable for use by individual secondary students but may not be suitable for use in some faith-based schools. [50], The program has been supported by the majority of state governments, as well as psychologists, gay-support groups and other non-governmental and religious organisations. Given this, and that most students receive sex education in years 7 and 8, the teaching resource All of Us, intended for years 7/8, coincides with the period designated most appropriate for this type of health education for young people. However, schools are still very unsafe environments for young people who are same-sex attracted or gender diverse, and students still express reluctance to express their sexual and gender identities. Watch Benalla P-12 College US Pride videoExternal Link on Vimeo. [35] Federal funding for the program was sought by openly gay Senator Penny Wong, the (ALP) Finance Minister in 2013. [113] The Turnbull Liberal/National Coalition government was quick to adopt changes to the program following the review. Others believed it was sexualising students by exposing them to inappropriate content and material. Resources provided by the Department of Education and Training to help deliver the program are developed by experts and carefully selected to ensure they are appropriate for the ages of students using them. . Our school stands up for inclusion and diversity (PDF, Schools and early childhood services at risk of grassfire - Category 4, Championing Victorian industry within schools, School excursions, incursions and online events, Kindergarten Central Registration and Enrolment, Vocational Education and Training (VET) at school, Why kids need to get their move on - in your language, Targeted initiative to attract more teachers, Rural and Regional Pre-service Teacher Placements, Tier 1: School-wide mental health promotion, How schools provide targeted mental health response, Supporting students after distressing events, Staff wellbeing after conflict or emergency, Workforce readiness programs for secondary schools, International Specialised Skills Institute, Transforming the first years of the teaching career, Tutor Learning Initiative: information for prospective tutors, High intensity OSHC support for students with disabilities, Board certified behaviour analyst pilot project, Free sanitary pads and tampons in all government schools, Year 9 NAPLAN certificates of achievement, Downloadable communications resources for schools, Asylum seeker Vocational Education Training program, Senior secondary schooling pathway reforms, Inclusive education for students with disabilities, Victorian child health and wellbeing survey, Effective Early Education Experiences - E4Kids Study, Victorian student health and wellbeing survey, Australian Early Development Census (AEDC) Victoria, Using the AEDC: research, resources and data sources, Comprehensive monitoring: an AEDC extension project, AEDC Victorian results - change over time, Victorian Child and Adolescent Monitoring System, Guidance for early childhood services and parents, Administration information for all school coordinators, Government school coordinators: setting up the Challenge, Catholic school coordinators: setting up the Challenge, Independent school coordinators: setting up the Challenge, Independent school administrators: setting up the Challenge, How to send student logins via email in bulk, 150 years of public education in Victoria, 150 Years Teaching and Learning Resource Packs, satisfy our policies regarding sexual and gender diversity and Victorian and Australian anti-discrimination legislation, prevent and respond to bullying incidents of LGBTIQ+ students, adopt a whole-school approach to preventing discrimination, harassment and bullying, create supportive and inclusive school policies, train staff on creating supportive spaces for LGBTIQ+ students, develop student-led activities to create positive, inclusive change, and. Was the program too flexible in allowing schools a lot of choice and did this lead to problems of interpretation? [59] The petition was subsequently tabled with that offending wording removed. [56], However, the program is opposed by some religious groups, particularly the Christian right, with the program said to be "gagged" on same-sex marriage while the Safe Schools Coalition said there had been "no change to media protocols". Since its inception in Victoria in 2010, the Safe Schools program was Australias most controversial anti-bullying campaign. What most parents found abhorrent (note: it was not a moral panic in some circles as the article claims) was that LGBT activists tried to hijack the program and use it as a way of indoctrinating innocent children. The Benalla P-12 College has worked to build greater inclusivity for LGBTIQ+ students over the past two years, in response to student needs. While Dewar defended the University's actions, he reinstated Ward, with the Teachers Union saying Ward would be then able to resume supporting young people who are bullied. [25] The All Of Us resource[26] cites research on same sex attracted and gender diverse youth documented in the report, Writing Themselves in 3, prepared by the La Trobe University's, Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society. [37], The program expanded nationally because of its success. For example, if students establish a queer-straight alliance, Safe Schools may hold a discussion with, and provide resources to, interested students and staff to assist them. [30] Former Labor senator Joe Bullock has also criticised Safe Schools. [8][9][10], The SSCA initially received bipartisan support from government. At least 4% of young people are transgender or gender diverse: an umbrella term including transsexual and transgender, used to describe a broad range of non-conforming gender identities and expressions. [32] Addressing school bullying with practical steps is a worldwide trend. [47] In some instances the mere knowledge that a school is part of the coalition has increased the level of safety felt by LGBTIQ students. They have subsequently added new links to optional resources from The Gayby Project[127] produced by the makers of the Australian documentary film Gayby Baby for students in grade five to year 10. May 24, 2019 He "vowed to defend its place in every Victorian secondary school", while the NSW Premier Mike Baird disagreed, saying "parental engagement is a good thing. Its mission is to create safe and inclusive schools for students, families and staff who are in these groups. The contents of the National Center on Safe Supportive Learning Environments Web site were assembled under contracts from the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Safe and Supportive Schools to the American Institutes for Research (AIR), Contract Number 91990021A0020. [134], The Victorian government has pledged to fully fund the program in Victoria,[3] and has established Safe Schools Victoria. In October 2016 the federal government said that it would not renew its funding for the program. National funding for the work comes from the Department of Education. Notably, however, the resource consists almost entirely of the voices of students and young people who wrote about their own identities for the resource. These resources do not include props. While grounded in good intentions and empirical evidence, critics of the program viewed it as a form of social engineering, a radical form of left-wing propaganda being imposed on students. 2. "[85], In June 2016, La Trobe University suspended Roz Ward, the British academic and activist who "runs the Safe Schools Coalition" through the university's Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society, for saying she wanted to get rid of the "racist" Australian flag and replace it with a red flag, "and my work is done". McGregor said she objects to the program as she believes it is underpinned by a political ideology with which she does not agree, saying that the program "teaches a derivative of queer theory, which I believe leads trans people into a blind alley". Supporting sexual diversity, intersex and gender diversity in schools, Subscribe to Safe Schools Coalition Australia. In 2010, the Victorian Government established Safe Schools to ensure schools are safe places for all students, including lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and gender diverse, intersex, queer and questioning (LGBTIQ+) students, and are free of discrimination. As of July 2017, 54 schools in WA, Tas and NT were nominated as SSCA members. [64] Some of the negative commentary surrounding the program has been attributed to the belief that young people who are exposed to LGBTIQ issues might then change their sexuality. The Department of Education and Training encourages parents to discuss any concerns directly with the school principal. Please include the document's FOI Reference and Title in your request. [141], In September 2017 there was what was described as "aggressive altercations" to prevent people entering a Brisbane church where a Safe Schools seminar was being held. First, readers have been interpellated as parents b. Teachers could use as many or as few of the materials as they wished, and decisions relating to the suitability of content and material rested with school communities. Myth: The Safe Schools program isnt a real anti-bullying program.Fact: It is a sad reality that LGBTIQ+ young people are more likely to be bullied at school than elsewhere and this has a major impact on their educational outcomes. "[1], In May 2016, Queenslander of the Year and transgender woman Cate McGregor, who "had been asked to be an Ambassador for the program and had initially agreed",[80] subsequently said that she does not agree that the Safe Schools program is the best way to support transgender children. The Safe Schools Coalition Australia (SSCA) is a national network of schools and organisations working to make schools more inclusive for same sex attracted and gender diverse students, staff and families. Sexuality and gender identity do not appear out of the ether in Year 7.. Schools were needing an anti-bullying program to protect everyone not just those who feel that there is a gender other than male and female. This article focuses on the journalistic rhetoric surrounding the Safe Schools Coalition Australia. It found that the content in guideline documents was consistent with the aims of the program and that the language and content was suitable. By February 2016, 490 .

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