Mandate the introduction of respectful relationships education into every Victorian Government school

The Department of Education and Training will support Victorian schools and early childhood settings to implement Respectful Relationships through:

• a Leading School and Partner School initiative, providing intensive training and support to Victorian government, Catholic and Independent schools to implement the whole-school approach to Respectful Relationships
• provide support to Victorian schools to implement the Respectful Relationships curriculum
• develop a professional learning program for up to 4,000 early childhood educators working in funded kindergarten programs
• establish a regional Respectful Relationships workforce to support schools and early childhood education settings to implement the Respectful Relationships initiative and strengthen referral and response to family violence

Respectful relationships education is a core component of the Victorian Curriculum through the Health and Physical Education and Personal and Social Capability curriculum areas. All Victorian government and Catholic schools deliver the Victorian Curriculum. Schools are supported to deliver the curriculum through the optional Resilience, Rights and Respectful Relationships teaching and learning resources.

Slot gameMore than 1,450 Victorian schools have signed on to drive change within their school community by implementing the Respectful Relationships whole-school approach, as recommended by the Royal Commission into Family Violence.

The Respectful Relationships initiative also includes professional learning that will strengthen the capacity of up to 6,000 early childhood educators in Victorian Government-funded kindergarten programs to promote respectful relationships, positive attitudes and behaviours within their integrated teaching approach, to enable children to build healthy relationships, resilience and confidence.

A Project Lead and Liaison Officer help build the capacity of schools and government-funded kindergartens to implement the Respectful Relationships initiative in each of the Department of Education and Training's 17 Area Teams. Respectful Relationships schools are included in the Education State initiatives map on the Department of Education and Training’s website.

Slot gameThe 2018/19 State Budget invested $22.8 million to continue the Respectful Relationships initiative for 2 years.

The Victorian Government committed $645,500 to support Partners in Prevention (PiP) for another year commencing from July 2019. This network has a membership of more than 1,400 professionals who promote Respectful Relationships education in schools and early childhood settings across the state. Funding will support members with training, resources, networking and learning opportunities and support the expansion of the network to include primary prevention practitioners working in other settings.

Forecast implementation date: 31 March 2021.