Policy
The purpose of this policy is to emphasise the importance of sexuality education in Victorian government schools, including the teaching of consent, and to explain the role that principals, teaching staff and the school community, play in providing sexuality education to students.
Summary
- Sexuality and consent are part of the Victorian Curriculum, mandated for Government and Catholic schools in Victoria.
- The teaching of consent in all government schools in an age-appropriate way from Foundation to Year 12 is mandatory. Guidance and resources are available to support schools in educating students on consent.
- Comprehensive sexuality education is most effective when it has a whole-school learning approach and is underpinned by a strong research evidence base.
- Schools are not required to seek parental permission for the inclusion of sexuality or consent .
- However, a parent or carer may decide not to allow their child to participate in sexual education.
Details
Sexuality education
All students must receive a comprehensive and age-appropriate sexual health education aligned to the Victorian Curriculum, including the teaching of consent.
However, a parent or carer may decide not to allow their child to participate in the sexual health component of the school’s health education.
Working with parents and carers
Productive partnerships between schools, family and the community also provide a strong network of connections that can help young people build social, emotional and positive relationship skills.
The role of the parent or carer is an important part of the shared responsibility of sexuality education and the school should actively support parent engagement activities.
School-based sexuality education programs are more effective when they are developed in consultation with parents and the local community.
In recognition of a shared responsibility for sexuality education, school leaders may cultivate strategic partnerships with the local community and parents.
The role of school leadership in sexuality education
The school’s leadership team provides the overall support for the sexuality education program. Generally, this is through:
- endorsing the development and ongoing provision of a program that best meets the learning needs of the student population
- ensuring appropriate consultation through the school council
- supporting staff training to ensure teaching staff have the ability to teach and assess sexuality education against the Victorian Curriculum
- ensuring consent is taught in an age-appropriate way
- committing the necessary staff time and resources
- demonstrating an understanding of the importance of sexuality education
- communicating support for sexuality education to the school community
- driving the shared responsibility approach to sexuality education
- assisting the school community to reach a shared understanding when there are different views about sexuality education
- communicating that the provision of comprehensive sexuality education is most effective when it has a whole-school learning approach and is underpinned by a strong research evidence-base.
Principals must ensure that consent is taught in an age-appropriate way from Foundation to Year 12. Guidance and resources are available to support this
The role of the school council
Consultation with school council regarding the sexuality education curriculum is not required but principals may choose to take the curriculum or relevant teaching and learning resources to school council for discussion or noting so that the school council is aware of the way in which sexual education curriculum is organised at the school.
The role of community agencies and external providers
Community agencies and external providers such as community health centres, local council youth programs and peak bodies representing specific cultural groups may assist schools in developing comprehensive sexuality education programs in alignment with the Victorian Curriculum.
Supporting LGBTIQA+ students
Schools must support and respect sexuality diversity, including lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and gender diverse, intersex, queer, questioning and asexual (LGBTIQA+) students.
For specific information relating to support for same-sex attracted, gender diverse, transgender and intersex students, refer to the department's policy on LGBTIQA+ Student Support.
More information
For more information about sexuality education, teaching programs, professional learning and resources, refer to Sexuality on the department’s website.
For more information about the Victorian Curriculum: Health and Physical Education, refer to the Health and Physical Education on the VCAA website.
For more information on teaching and implementing Respectful Relationships from Prep to Year 12, refer to the Respectful page.
For classroom teaching resources, refer to Consent on FUSE.
Definitions
Consent
To give consent is to give free agreement without fear, force or pressure.
Related policies
Reviewed 12 December 2023