Supporting our Students to Build Respectful Relationships
On Thursday 11 June, students in Years 7–10 participated in a series of respectful relationships education workshops, delivered in partnership with Consent Labs. The sessions are an important part of our wellbeing program, supporting students to develop the understanding, confidence and practical skills they need to navigate relationships safely and respectfully.
At the heart of this work was a simple but powerful message: every student deserves to feel safe, respected and confident in their relationships, and to know how to support others to feel the same.
In the Year 7, Foundations of Consent and Boundaries workshop, students were introduced to affirmative consent as an ongoing, enthusiastic “yes”, and began developing the language to express their own boundaries, to recognise and respect others’ boundaries, including how to hear and accept a “no”.
The Year 8 Consent in Online Spaces workshop focused on navigating consent online. Students unpacked how social media and pornography can misinform ideas about relationships, and explored issues such as sexting, online safety, and where to seek help if something goes wrong.
The Consent and Intoxication workshop for Year 9 examined how alcohol and other drugs can affect decision-making, boundaries and the ability to give consent. They learned to recognise signs of intoxication, identify risky situations, and developed practical strategies to look after themselves and their friends in social settings.
Recognising and Responding to Sexual Harassment and Assault was a sobering but important workshop for Year 10. Students developed a deeper understanding of what constitutes sexual harassment and sexual assault. A strong focus was placed on seeking support, understanding reporting options, and learning safe ways to intervene and support others.
Across all year levels, there was a strong emphasis on building students’ confidence and language on how to clearly express their boundaries, how to check in with others, and how to respond when something doesn’t feel right.
It was particularly encouraging to hear how students responded to this practical approach. Many reflected on the value of strategies they could use in everyday situations:
- “I learned more ways to say no… and that it’s okay to say no.”
- “We got to discuss our own boundaries and how to say what we are comfortable with.”
- “I now know what to do if I am in a situation and how to respond.”
Alongside these reflections, the vast majority reported a stronger understanding of respectful and non-consensual behaviour and a willingness to apply this learning in their own lives.
Respectful relationships education is most effective when schools and families work together. We encourage you to continue these conversations at home in ways that feel comfortable for your family. You might find these resources helpful when having these conversations.
Further Resources
Below are a selection of resources from our Online Safety Hub and SchoolTV. You will see on these sites there are many, many helpful resources. I invite you to save the pages and come back and explore other topics.
From our Online Safety Hub
- The dangers of sexting: what parents need to know
- Conversation Starter Cards: Safe Online Relationships
From SCEGGS School TV
If this article has raised any concerns for you or your child, a list of excellent support services are provided below. And of course, please don’t hesitate to call the School during the School Term for support or for a conversation about any of the content in this article.
1800 55 1800
1800 650 890
1800 737 732
Carol Bloomfield
Head of Student Wellbeing Programs
