Targeted prevention education and student wellbeing programs have an important role to play in supporting a school’s sexuality education program.
Programs to support the wellbeing of students who have, for example, been sexually assaulted, and programs designed to prevent chlamydia, unwanted pregnancies and homophobic bullying, can assist in informing the content of the school’s sexuality education program.
The consistency of messages in prevention and wellbeing programs and the school’s sexuality education program will support powerful student learning in sexuality education.
The occurrence of sex-related critical incidents, such as sexual assault and homophobic bullying, can also alert the school to the need to re-evaluate the current sexuality education curriculum, teaching strategies and student learning needs.
External providers – This page provides a policy outline on the use of external providers offering targeted education, prevention and wellbeing support. Several providers are identified across a range of areas, including sexually transmissible infections, sexual diversity and sexual assault.
Student wellbeing and anti-bullying
- Student Health and Wellbeing – this site provides educators, parents and the community with policies and programs to enhance the health and resilience of young people in Victoria.
- PROTECT – information to support schools to keep children safe and implement the Child Safe Standards.
Pregnant and parenting students
- Pregnant and parenting students – see the Department's policy related to pregnant and parenting students in the School Policy and Advisory Guide, on the Student Pregnancy and Parenting page.
- Reach Out! – Sex and Pregnancy – developed by The Inspire Foundation, a non-government organisation for young people’s health, this website provides several fact sheets with a focus on pregnancy and other sex-related matters.
Sexual assault
- Identifying and responding to student sexual offending – information to support all school staff to take action if they suspect, or are witness to, student sexual offending.
- Managing and Reporting School Incidents (Including Emergencies) – information on managing and reporting school incidents.
- Centre Against Sexual Assault(opens in a new window) – these centres help survivors of sexual assault to obtain comprehensive, timely support and intervention to address their needs. In some regions, the CASA also offers targeted prevention education programs, for example, the Respect, Protect, Connect Program in the Eastern region (with Women’s Health East) and the CASA House Secondary Schools Program in the north-west metropolitan region. For more information about the Respect, Protect, Connect Program, see: External providers.
Gender identity
Many young people expressing gender non-conforming behaviours face the same risk factors as same-sex attracted people. The following resources focus on the support needs of students who may be experiencing gender identity issues.
- Rainbow Health Australia – this resource is available from Rainbow Health Australia. It is designed to provide information and support to young people between 16 and 25 who are questioning their gender or supporting someone who is doing so.
- The Schools Policy and Advisory Guide provides an outline of policy for government schools relating to gender identity and students with a transgender or intersex status. See: LGBTIQA+ Student Support.
Updated