New national blueprint: Ending gender-based violence in schools

A landmark new blueprint from national prevention organisation Our Watch is calling for stronger investment in respectful relationships education (RRE) in Australian schools — outlining key issues such as AI generated pornography, tech-facilitated abuse, sexual harassment of female teachers and students, and sexualised bullying. 

Based on over a decade of research, Our Watch’s Respectful Relationships Education: A blueprint for preventing gender-based violence through education systems provides evidence-based solutions to address the serious and pervasive problem of gendered violence in our schools. 

The blueprint outlines the urgency for governments to prioritise and fund a ‘whole of school’ approach to respectful relationships education (RRE), rather than one-off programs or a few classroom lessons.  

RRE is focused on addressing gender-based violence through age-appropriate lessons about healthy relationships, gender and respect alongside changes to school policies, structures and environments. Research into RRE has shown reductions in sexual bullying,  improvement in classroom behaviour, increased knowledge about gender and abuse, and schools developing more equal cultures.   

Our Watch CEO Patty Kinnersly said the blueprint had arrived at a crucial moment for Australian students and teachers who are facing alarming rates of gendered violence and looking for answers. 

“It is deeply concerning that nearly every week there is a new incident in the school environment– whether that be young men sharing deep fake porn of young women they know, or female teachers leaving the industry because they fear for their safety. 

“Research shows a clear connection between sexism, disrespect and gender-based violence. This landmark blueprint not only outlines the problems but also provides an evidence-based roadmap for governments on how the education system can help prevent gender-based violence.  

“Young people are increasingly exposed to harmful messaging about sex and relationships and report wanting more information and support.   

“This blueprint, developed in consultation with the education sector, provides a step-by-step plan to support schools to be places of safety, inclusion and respect.  

“Respectful relationships education in every Australian school will support young people to develop their ability to critique the world, cultivate strong and healthy relationships and contribute to ending violence against women and girls,” Ms Kinnersly said. 

Key findings from the Our Watch blueprint 

• 40% of 16 to 17 year olds experienced sexual harassment in a place of study. 

• Nearly 1 in 4 (24%) young women aged 18-24 have experienced image-based abuse.  

• Girls are twice as likely as boys to feel pressured or blackmailed into sexting (16% vs 8% of boys) 

• Young men with supportive attitudes towards rigid forms of masculinities (such as being tough, stoic and hypersexual) are much more likely to have perpetrated physical (54%), verbal (66%) and online (56%) bullying in the last month. 

• Most Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people (aged 14–17) have been exposed to potentially harmful online material such as violent images or sexual content (76%). 

• Teens with a disability are more likely to be asked for sexual information (26%) and sexual images (15%) compared to the national average of 18% and 11%. 

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