Safe Schools
At Ascot Vale Heights School we are committed to creating a learning environment where all members of the school community are welcomed, accepted, treated equitably and with respect regardless of their backgrounds or personal attributes such as race, language, religious beliefs, gender identity, disability or sexual orientation so that they can participate, achieve and thrive.
National and international research shows that positive school environments lead to better academic results, increased confidence and better attendance at school. Students who don’t feel safe or included at school cannot learn effectively and reach their full potential. A safe and inclusive environment is also the key to tackling bullying, harassment and preventing self-harm.
We acknowledge the benefit to all students who attend a safe and inclusive school and thereby celebrate the diversity of backgrounds and experiences in our school community and we will not tolerate behaviours, language or practices that label, stereotype or demean others.
Myths and facts
From time to time, ill-informed and false information is circulated about the Safe Schools program.
Myth: The Safe Schools program is a compulsory part of the school curriculum.
Fact: Safe Schools is not part of the Victorian Curriculum – it’s a commitment that schools make to be inclusive places for all students, including LGBTIQA+ students.
The Department of Education provides information, resources and professional learning that have been developed by experts for school staff to use as they see fit to prevent discrimination against LGBTIQA+ students.
Myth: The Safe Schools program is teaching sex education and/or sexual practices to students, including material that is not age-appropriate.
Fact: Safe Schools is not a sex education program, nor does it teach sexual practices.
The Safe Schools program simply seeks to create safe and inclusive environments for LGBTIQA+ students. Resources provided by the Department of Education to help deliver the program are developed by experts and carefully selected to ensure they are appropriate for the ages of students using them.
Myth: The Safe Schools program encourages students to question or change their gender or sexuality.
Fact: Nothing about the Safe Schools program encourages students to question or change their gender or sexuality.
Myth: The Safe Schools program teaches radical gender theory.
Fact: Safe Schools does not teach radical gender theory. It is simply a program to help schools and students understand and respect that people should not be discriminated against for any reason – including gender and sexual diversity.
Myth: The Safe Schools program teaches there are 63 different genders.
Fact: The Safe Schools program does not teach this.
Myth: The Safe Schools program encourages the use of props.
Fact: The Department of Education provides evidence-based information, written resources and professional learning for school staff to use as they see fit to support schools to prevent, and respond to, discrimination against LGBTIQA+ students. These resources do not include props.
Myth: The Safe Schools program asks students to role play same-sex relationships.
Fact: There are no role-playing or acting exercises in the optional Safe Schools teaching resources. Rather, one interactive exercise invites students to imagine themselves in someone else’s shoes. This exercise is designed to build empathy and understanding of others. Resources provided by the Department of Education are developed by experts and carefully selected to ensure they are age-appropriate.
Myth: The Safe Schools program isn’t a real anti-bullying program.
Fact: It is a sad reality that LGBTIQA+ young people are more likely to be bullied at school than elsewhere and this has a major impact on their educational outcomes.
Safe Schools provides information and resources to schools to raise understanding and awareness of sexual and gender diversity. The program assists schools to have conversations with students about mutual respect and understanding towards each other despite differences in their culture, beliefs, sexuality or gender. By doing so, young people feel safer at school and are provided with an environment where they can be happy, confident and resilient.
Myth: All government and non-government schools are forced to join the program.
Fact: These schools are free to implement the program in a way that best suits their students and community. Other schools, including primary schools and non-government schools, can access the Safe Schools information and resources as they see fit and request support where they need it.
Myth: Parents are not allowed to consent to their child’s participation and the program disregards the wishes of parents who do not want their children to participate.
Fact: Individual schools decide how to implement the Safe Schools program at their school, based on their local context and the needs of their school community.
This is often done in consultation with students, the school council and the broader school community. The program does not impose specific requirements for student participation but does ask all school community members to demonstrate the school’s values. The Department of Education encourages parents to discuss any concerns directly with the school principal. Within any school community, there is always a diversity of views represented and schools take those views into account when working with children and families.
Myth: Students are told not to discuss the content of the Safe Schools program with people outside of school, including their parents.
Fact: This is not true. Students are encouraged to discuss what they learn at school with their families and parents. Schools are encouraged to engage families and the broader school community in their implementation of the Safe Schools program.
Myth: The program promotes and teaches children to undertake behaviour such as chest-binding and cross-dressing.
Fact: The program does not promote chest-binding or cross-dressing. The program provides information and resources to schools to raise understanding and awareness of sexual and gender diversity.
Many LGBTIQA+ students feel uncomfortable about seeking support or affirming their identity and providing guidance and advice about these processes can reduce fear and anxiety in dealing with this. For many people, the question of their gender or their sexuality is straightforward; however, for some, it is more contested as they don’t fit neatly into the ‘norm’. The Safe Schools program is solely aimed at helping children and young people understand that not everyone is the same and to respect this.
Myth: The Safe Schools program promotes cross-dressing.
Fact: The Safe Schools program does not promote cross-dressing. The Safe Schools program seeks to ensure all children and young people feel safe, happy and comfortable at school.
Myth: Schools are overstepping their role by participating in the Safe Schools program.
Fact: Making sure our school environments are safe and free from discrimination and harassment is a requirement under Australian and Victorian anti-discrimination laws. The role of a school is to equip its students to lead healthy and productive lives, to not only achieve academically but also to be happy, healthy and resilient. Social and emotional learning is a key aspect of development for young people.
Myth: Respectful Relationships and the Safe Schools program are the same.
Fact: Respectful Relationships and Safe Schools are two very different initiatives.
The Victorian Royal Commission into Family Violence recommended Respectful Relationships be introduced to all government schools (Recommendation 189). The Respectful Relationships initiative takes a whole school approach, looking at practices and policies to build a culture of respect and equality. It also looks at topics like coping with stress and problem solving, helping students excel at school.
References
[1] Rosenstreich, G. (2013) LGBTIQ+ People Mental Health and Suicide(opens in a new window) Revised 2nd Edition. National LGBTIQ+ Health Alliance. Sydney, p 3.
[2] T Jones and Western Australian Equal Opportunity Commission(opens in a new window) (2012), A report about discrimination and bullying on the grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity in Western Australian education, p 11.
Further supports
If you need immediate support, please contact one of the following services:
- Lifeline Australia 13 11 14
- Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800
- Headspace 1800 650 890
- Switchboard Victoria 1800 184 527
- Parentline 13 22 89
- for emergency medical assistance, please call 000
Help in your language
To speak to us in a language other than English call Victorian Interpreting and Translating Services (VITS) on 03 9280 0783
If you have a speech or hearing impairment contact the National Relay Service (NRS):
- TTY users: 133 677
- Speak and Listen to users: 1300 555 727
