Geelong schools named in petition about consent

SEVERAL Geelong schools have been named in an online petition asking people to submit their testimonies about being sexually abused at school and the need for consent to be taught at school.

The Teach Us Consent website, started by a former Sydney student, urges holistic sexuality education to be introduced earlier in the school curriculum.

Launched in late February, the website has attracted nearly 36,000 signatures of support and more than 3,400 testimonies.

“The majority of signatories to this petition will have long since graduated from school,” the website states. “Most are now at university or in their early years of the workforce with their high school days only a distant memory.

“Yet, they are advocating for younger generations to receive an ‘education that they were either deprived of or received far too late’.”

Local schools named in the testimonies include Geelong College, Geelong Grammar, Geelong High School, Matthew Flinders College and St Joseph’s College.

Some schools have directly addressed the issue in statements to parents.

On March 25, Geelong Grammar School (GGS) principal Rebecca Cody said the safety and welfare of students was the school’s highest priority.

“We can assure all past and present students that we are here to listen and that we have programmes in place to provide independent, confidential counselling and support,” Ms Cody said.

“At GGS we begin formal education regarding consent and positive and respectful relationships at Year 7 within our curriculum, with the support of external experts such as BraveHearts.

“This education continues right through every student’s time with us.”

In the March 4 edition of the St Joseph’s College newsletter, principal Tony Paatsch said the petition and its “harrowing stories of abuse” were a reminder that “we need to find ways to further educate our boys toward the elimination of sexual prejudice, discrimination and sexism”.

“Currently, the college has a range of age-appropriate curriculum that is delivered to our young men along with full school programs including Respectful Relationships and ‘Be an Upstander’ not a ‘Bystander’, which includes a commitment to challenge any inappropriate comment or gesture that is sexist by nature,” Mr Paatsch said.

“Lessons from the Victorian State Government Resilience, Rights and Respectful Relationships are also included in our pastoral care program.”

If you need help, phone the 1800 RESPECT national helpline (1800 737 732), the Lifeline 24 hour crisis line on 131 114 or Beyond Blue on
1300 224 636.