They normally are available either in the school library or through the student support centre. Education Reviewtakes an in-depth look at the program and asks you the question: What did we learn from Safe Schools? [29] Content was created by a number of experts in the field. Other schools, including primary schools and non-government schools, can access the Safe Schools information and resources as they see fit and request support where they need it. Safe Schools Coalition - Crusoe College Safe Schools Coalition Australia - Wikiwand The Real Agenda Behind the Safe Schools Coalition [66] Christensen also likened the program to a "pedophile grooming a victim",[67][68] said the program was attempting to introduce into schools "queer gender theory" and "marxist ideology" that should be limited to universities. It also looks at topics like coping with stress and problem solving, helping students excel at school. Schools are encouraged to customise the implementation of resources which are provided. 5 Comments. Certain politicians and media commentators have accused the initiative of harming the students it ostensibly aims to benefit. They are suitable for use by individual secondary students but may not be suitable for use in some faith-based schools. Its mission is to create safe and inclusive schools for students, families and staff who are in these groups. [115] Federal President of the Australian Education Union Correna Haythorpe criticised the decision requiring parent body consent before a school could instigate the program saying that decision should be made by educators. [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. [15] St Joseph's College in Melbourne is a Catholic school taking part in the program. Download Safe Schools Coalition Australia (SSCA) Programme. Moral Panic 101 | The Monthly Watch Benalla P-12 College US Pride videoExternal Link on Vimeo. [39], The Safe Schools Program contains a range of materials from which principals and teachers may choose to include, allowing educators to decide what is appropriate for their schools. Finally, concerns have also been raised about the age-appropriateness of the materials, given that they sometimes pertain to sexual orientation. It is funded by the Australian Government and, in Victoria, by the Victorian Government. [113] The Turnbull Liberal/National Coalition government was quick to adopt changes to the program following the review. It was an opt-in program. [143], The South Australian Education Minister lamented the federal government's response to the successful program,[114] which was launched in that state on 13 June 2014. Safe Schools review findings: experts respond - The Conversation If you would like to request a copy, please email foi@education.gov.au. When that emerged it should have been hit on the head by centre-right governments at federal and state level". In response, Deputy Chief Minister, Yvette Berry said Mr Wall should be "ashamed of himself" for bringing the petition forward. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. Terms of reference for Safe Schools Coalition Australia (SSCA) Programme. "[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". Stream. [2] T Jones and Western Australian Equal Opportunity CommissionExternal Link (2012), A report about discrimination and bullying on the grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity in Western Australian education, p 11. The Department. The Victorian Royal Commission into Family Violence recommended Respectful Relationships be introduced to all government schools (Recommendation 189). [6], The program began in Victorian schools in 2010 and expanded nationwide in 2013 as the first of its kind in Australia. It includes the key research that underpins the program, practical information about how to create changes, and how to get started. [47] Another aim is to reduce the incidence of depression, suicide and self-harm. 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. Myth: The Safe Schools program teaches there are 63 different genders.Fact: The Safe Schools program does not teach this. I could have helped, and I didn't, and I regret that. ", William Louden, Review of Appropriateness and Efficacy of the Safe Schools Coalition Australia Program Resources[1], The review did not find that any of the official resources were inappropriate. [117] State governments are also fully responsible for directly funded programs in South Australia[118] and the Australian Capital Territory. Myth: The Safe Schools program asks students to role play same-sex relationships.Fact: There are no role-playing or acting exercises in the optional Safe Schools teaching resources. [citation needed] Representatives from Safe Schools are available to meet with parents, students and teachers upon request. 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. [82][83], However, in May 2018, McGregor declared she had been wrong about the program. Safe Schools Coalition Australia is 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, staff and families. SSCA has partnered with an existing organisation in each state and territory to deliver the SSCA programme: Sexual Health Resource content includes a video of same sex attracted and gender diverse youth, as well as intersex film-maker Phoebe Hart. 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 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. This rhetoric is significant for two reasons. Behind Australia's safe schools campaign | MercatorNet In October 2016 the federal government said that it would not renew its funding for the program. Otherwise, teachers will be accused of grooming and may face disciplinary or legal action against them. What was the Safe Schools Coalition Australia program in the ACT? [3][4] In December 2016, the Education Department took control of the program in Victoria. . Please include the document's FOI Reference and Title in your request. Read Bendigo's case study (DOCX, 110KB)External Link for more details. [8][9][10], The SSCA initially received bipartisan support from government. The review was conducted by University of Western Australias Professor Bill Louden. [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. Discussing queer issues is not discussing sex with students and this very conflation is why bigots remain so ignorant. Schools are encouraged to engage families and the broader school community in their implementation of the Safe Schools program. 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. [69] The Safe Schools Coalition dismissed those claims in their entirety. There is also little evidence to suggest Safe Schools Coalition is indoctrinating students. [139], The program began in Queensland from the start of the second semester in 2015. Do LGBTIQ students require a more targeted anti-bullying program or can their needs be addressed through broad anti-bullying campaigns? It is established that young people are sexually active with or without sex education. [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. Another part of the program that received a lot of criticism appeared in The Guide to supporting a student to affirm or transition gender identity at school. [120], Following the launch of a Safe Schools-based teaching resource, NSW Education Minister Adrian Piccoli ordered his department to immediately withdraw the material, stating "Safe Schools materials are only to be used strictly in accordance with the revised guidelines established by the federal government,"[121] with the Minister tasking Mark Scott, the Secretary of the NSW Education Department, to undertake a review of the program. [35] Authors of the manual include Margot Fink, a finalist for Young Australian of the Year in 2016. [1] All lesson plans were found to be consistent with the aims of the program as were all the posters. Safe Schools Coalition Australia has been funded by the Victorian Government since 2010 and the Australian Government since 2013 to support sexual diversity, gender . [1][6] The SSCA is managed by The Foundation for Young Australians[7] and funded by various state governments. The Safe Schools program helps schools foster a safe environment that is supportive and inclusive of LGBTIQ+ students. [55] A petition presented by Australian Greens Senator Robert Simms to Parliament in March 2016 contained 70,000 signatures in support of the organisation. This could involve a review of school policies and practice, professional development for school staff, or establishing a student-led group to help create a more inclusive environment. [58] After conservatives described it as promoting homosexuality and recruiting children, the newly elected Howard government cancelled the Here for Life program. The Respectful Relationships program covers topics such as emotional literacy, anger management, coping skills, problem solving skills, anti-bullying, how to seek help from others, and gender equality. Predatory schools and student non-lives: a discourse analysis of the Your parents will read this: Reading (as) parents in journalistic [11] In response an independent review was conducted in 2016. Safe Schools: Everything you need to know about the - Mashable The LGBTI groups which were pushing it may not have realised this fact, but, for legal reasons alone, schools have to be very careful about the manner in which they discuss sex with students. Those accusations have, in turn, been labelled 'homophobic' by supporters of the Coalition. Since its inception in Victoria in 2010, the Safe Schools program was Australias most controversial anti-bullying campaign. A key aspect of Safe Schools Coalition is that its model is based on the voluntary membership of schools and is instigated by schools themselves, almost always led by staff or students. [144] South Australia has withdrawn from the Safe Schools Coalition Program. [27][28], Research on student performance comparing those within to those without the program indicated gender diverse and same-sex-attracted young people did better with Safe Schools. 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. [155], One Northern Territory school has signed up for the program.[13]. [152], In August 2017 Liberal politician Elizabeth Kikkert speaking in the ACT Legislative Assembly said that "13-year-old girls [were asked] to fantasise about sexual intercourse". Many also ridiculed the implicit or explicit belief that the program was sexualising innocent, sheltered children. We are opposed to . [34][51] The program is supported by Beyond Blue, headspace and the Australian Secondary Principals Association. [13] The South Australian opposition said it will replace the Safe Schools program if elected. I disagree with both comments posted here. [59] The petition was subsequently tabled with that offending wording removed. [95] Donnelly has also said there is a lack of transparency with the program in New South Wales. 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. [114], In September 2016, Queensland students were told not to participate in any class lessons involving Safe Schools Coalition materials without the consent of their parents. This article addresses the controversy surrounding the Safe Schools Coalition Australia. [15], Some parents of students who took part in the program have expressed dislike for changes to school policy in regards to bathroom use. Guide to making your school safe and inclusive for LGBTIQ+ students (DOCX, The Ally Network from Bendigo Senior Secondary College. At least 10% of young people are same-sex attracted. The Safe Schools Coalition Australia (SSCA) was a group of organisations in Australia focused on LGBTIQ people in schools. Toggle State and Territory Government positions subsection, George Christensen Speech to the House of Representatives, Turnbull Liberal/National Coalition government, "Review of Appropriateness and Efficacy of the Safe Schools Coalition Australia Program Resources", "Safe Schools Coalition looks to new leader as funds run dry", "Fast Facts About Safe Schools Coalition Australia", "Push in schools to fight 'modern' homophobia", "No backing down on Safe Schools, Education Minister James Merlino tells parents", "Safe Schools: 'rainbow ideology' fuels sex switches", "Safe Schools program downsized after campaign by right-wing MPs and Christian lobby groups", "Safe Schools program is making a difference", "Principal warns against academic impact of bullying", "Catholic principal pressured to withdraw from Safe Schools Coalition", "Salvation Army Supports Safe Schools Initiative", "Salvation Army in retreat on Safe Schools program", "Salvation Army backflips on Safe Schools support", "Salvation Army Announces National Position On Safe Schools", "Safe Schools Program gets Bega Valley council support", "Safe School support rescinded in heated Bega council meeting", "We support the Safe Schools Coalition Australia", Organisation Intersex International Australia, "Safe Schools LGBTI program researchers 'receiving abusive emails' after Christian lobby campaign", "Christian lobby groups claim 'radical sexual experimentation' is being promoted in schools", "Secrecy over Safe Schools in NSW criticised", "Coming out: gay friendly schools form Rainbow Alliance", Department of Education and Training (Australia), "Safe Schools program ordered to stay silent on gay marriage", "MP demands schools offer get-out option on gender bully scheme", "Only one school has quit Safe Schools LGBTI program after parents' objections", Department of Education and Training (Victoria), "Is 'The Gender Fairy' in your school library? It found that the content in guideline documents was consistent with the aims of the program and that the language and content was suitable. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our, Former Sydney school IT worker faces court, Redefining perseverance can empower burnt-out teachers: opinion, How teachers can explicitly teach vocabulary across the curriculum, One in three high school maths teachers in Australia teaching out-of-field. This includes considering any further resources and supports that may be required. Mr Berardi, who called for all Commonwealth funding for the program to be scrapped, said the anti-bullying program bullies and intimidates children into giving the answers demanded by the authors, asked children as young as 11 to consider they had no genitals and was an unashamed social engineering project orchestrated by the political Left. We asked the experts to look at the. In a survey by Gay and Lesbian Health Victoria, 25.9% of gay men and 24.4% of lesbians aged 16 to 24 years reported that they always knew they were same-sex attracted. On 26 February 2016 the Australian Government announced that there would be an independent review of the current resources provided to schools under the Safe Schools Coalition Australia (SSCA) Programme.
Macy's Last Act Clearance Sale Women's,
Breweries Petersburg, Va,
How Much Does A Rossi Coach Gun Cost,
Town Of Hempstead Marriage Ceremony,
Articles S