\u2018traffic light system\u2019<\/a>\u00a0were introduced to help young people assess how relationships make them feel \u2013 green for safe, respected and supportive, red for anxious, controlled or diminished.<\/p>\nOne of the most powerful takeaways for parents was the importance of listening. When a child shares something personal, the panel advised that the best response is simply, \u201cThank you for telling me,\u201d followed by, \u201cHow can I support you?\u201d These responses help build trust and create a safe space for future conversations. Parents were reassured that they don\u2019t need to be experts to support their children \u2013 what matters most is open, non-judgemental communication. Creating safe spaces at home where children feel comfortable to reflect, question, and grow was a key practical takeaway. Parents were encouraged to model empathy and curiosity, and to use role-play to help children navigate real-life social situations.<\/p>\n
The panel also addressed the growing trend of young people using tracking apps like Snap Maps in romantic relationships. While often framed as caring, this behaviour can lead to issues of privacy, trust, and coercive control. Teaching children to set boundaries and to feel confident saying \u201cno\u201d in everyday situations \u2013 such as choosing to spend time with family or focus on schoolwork \u2013 was highlighted as a sign of a healthy relationship. A lack of respect for those boundaries, on the other hand, was identified as an early red flag.<\/p>\n
Media influences were also discussed, with references to recent shows like\u00a0Adolescence<\/em>\u00a0on Netflix and the controversial online game\u00a0No Mercy<\/em>. These examples sparked important conversations about the messages young people receive and the role of adults in challenging harmful narratives. The panel urged parents to be proactive in these discussions, warning that if they don\u2019t fill the silence around sex and relationships, other, potentially harmful sources will. Even if parents feel unsure, the panel stressed that it\u2019s better for children to hear their voice than none at all.<\/p>\nA recurring theme throughout the evening was the importance of collaboration between parents and schools. The forum reinforced the idea that a \u201cvillage approach\u201d is essential to support young people effectively. While schools are well-placed to lead preventative education, it is through strong partnerships with families that these lessons truly take root. RespectED is part of MLC School\u2019s broader commitment to student wellbeing. The school\u2019s Kindergarten to Year 12 Wellbeing and Personal Development, Health and Physical Education (PDHPE) programs include developmentally appropriate respectful relationships content, providing a strong foundation for parents to build upon.<\/p>\n
Following the forum, students in Year 8 to Year 10 participated in workshops with Elephant Ed. The response was overwhelmingly positive, with 100% of Year 9 and Year 10 students and 99% of Year 8 students giving the sessions a thumbs up. Approximately 96% of students across all three grades reported feeling more informed on the topics covered.<\/p>\n
MLC School extends its sincere thanks to all who attended and contributed to this vital conversation. One parent reflected,\u00a0\u201cThis forum truly stands out and has made a deep impression. I want to thank the School for its strong stance on this, for unashamedly not shying away from difficult topics, and for promoting protective partnerships with parents in this space.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0Special thanks go to P&F President Felicity Clemens, Raji Behi, and the executive team for their support in making this event possible and for their commitment to educating and empowering the MLC School community.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\u201cWhen girls become women who value and demand respect, they challenge systems of inequality and injustice.\u201d On Thursday 29 May 2025, MLC School proudly hosted RespectED, a parent forum sponsored by the Parents and Friends (P&F) Association. This important community event brought together parents, MLC School staff, and guests from local schools to explore the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":4823,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","article_category":[7],"article_tag":[],"class_list":["post-4822","article","type-article","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","article_category-old-girls-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thebuzz.net.au\/mlc-oldgirls\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/article\/4822","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thebuzz.net.au\/mlc-oldgirls\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/article"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thebuzz.net.au\/mlc-oldgirls\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/article"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thebuzz.net.au\/mlc-oldgirls\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4822"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thebuzz.net.au\/mlc-oldgirls\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4823"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thebuzz.net.au\/mlc-oldgirls\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4822"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"article_category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thebuzz.net.au\/mlc-oldgirls\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/article_category?post=4822"},{"taxonomy":"article_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thebuzz.net.au\/mlc-oldgirls\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/article_tag?post=4822"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}