Student Activities & Resources

A whole-school approach to Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE) is:

• an understanding of the partnership between the student, the home, the school, and the community
• recognition by all stakeholders of the value and importance of RSE
• accepting RSE as a shared responsibility
• effectively responding to critical incidents

The school community commits to a shared vision, which is reflected in school policies, practices, procedures, and structures.

Central to this is the goal of supporting positive student outcomes in all their relationships, online sexual safety and their sexual and reproductive health.

In the below sections, find recommendations and supporting documentation to deliver a successful Relationships and Sexuality Education Program.

To ensure best practice delivery of Relationships and Sexuality Education, it is important that all staff have the support of school leadership teams and staff. Knowing that there is support will increase confidence in programs that are delivered and assist with communication to the whole school community.

Vision Statement

Creating a shared Vision Statement activity helps to create an environment in which Relationships and Sexuality Education is understood as shared responsibility for all stakeholders within a community. A Vision Statement can inform policy and assist in the planning of programs. Vision Statement Activity for staff

Policy

It is recommended that organisations create a policy reflecting the intentions of a Relationships and Sexuality Education program. Policy can reflect:

• Vision Statement
• Relevant government policy
• Mandatory reporting and child safe standards
• Whole school engagement strategies
• Links to wellbeing and support services
• Staff time allocation
• Staff training
• Inclusion of external providers (if applicable)

The below policies can be used as guidance:

• Sexuality and Consent Education
• LGBTIQA+ Student Support
• Child Safe Standards
• Child Abuse (including grooming) – Identification and Response
• Respectful Relationships whole-school approach
• Best Practice Framework for Online Safety Education
• International technical guidance on sexuality education: An evidence-informed approach

Community Consultation

It is recommended that community consultation occurs during the planning of Relationships and Sexuality Education programs.

This may involve surveying staff, students, parents and carers as to what they would like included in a program.

Questions may include a range of suggested topics, as well as asking who would be preferred to deliver the program.

Staff Training 

It is recommended that staff delivering Relationships and Sexuality programs are comfortable with the material and well trained in the content.  

Options for delivery are:  

• HPE teacher 
• Classroom teacher 
• Home room teacher 
• Wellbeing staff 
• School Nurse 
• Nominated staff from each year level 
• External provider 

Sexual Health Victoria offers a range of Professional Development options, including self-paced eLearning and tailored Professional Learning Workshops for a school or organisation.  

Curriculum guidance

Relationships and Sexuality Education falls within the Health and Physical Education curriculum.

Content Descriptions Victorian Curriculum 2.0 

Relationships and Sexuality (RS) and Safety (S) are focus areas within the sub strand of Personal, Social and Community Health. The codes (RS) and (S) can be found withing the elaborations of each Content Description within the curriculum guidance.

There is also relevant direction for Relationships and Sexuality Education in the Victorian Curriculum relating to Cross Curriculum Capabilities and Foundational skills of Digital Literacy.

The Australian Curriculum direction includes Relationships and Sexuality (RS) and Safety (S) as focus areas of the Health and Physical Education Curriculum.

Content Descriptions Australian Curriculum 9.0 

Relationships and sexuality (RS) addresses physical, social and emotional changes that occur over time and the significant role relationships, identities and sexuality play in these changes. The content supports students to develop positive and respectful practices in relation to their reproductive and sexual health and their identities.

Safety (S) addresses safety issues that students may encounter in their daily lives. The content supports students to make safe decisions and behave in ways that protect their own safety and that of others.

Scope and Sequence

Sexual Health Victoria have provided a Scope and Sequence which indicates the topics to address by year level.

Sexual Health Victoria offer a range of resources to support parents to start and continue discussions about relationships and sexuality at home. SHV recommends that these links are shared with the community. 

It is recommended that parents and carers receive communication about any school Relationships and Sexuality Program.

Schools and organisations are welcome to use or adapt the provided letter which details the importance of the program, topics covered and recommends continuing conversations at home.

Lesson Plans and Resources

To create engaging lesson plans mapped to the Victorian and Australian curriculum, SHV recommends that educators access the free activities listed on this page. Activities are sorted by year level. It may be appropriate to adapt activities from any year level depending on the needs of the students.

Create a safe environment

It is important when delivering Relationships and Sexuality Education that all students feel supported and validated in their experiences. SHV recommends:

• Setting ground rules at the start of each lesson.
• Acknowledging diversity of sex, sexuality and gender.
• Acknowledging differing views and values within a community.
• Protectively interrupting in the event of a student sharing personal information.
• Allowing students to listen quietly without contributing if they need to.

Highlight Help seeking Pathways

Students should be made aware of help seeking pathways available to them. If they do need support, they may not understand how to seek help. Options to highlight include:

• School nurse
• School wellbeing
• Kids helpline
• Classroom teacher
• Leadership team
• eSafety
• Health websites such as Sexual Health Victoria
• 1800 My Options
• Sexual Assault Services Victoria

Respond to questions

Sexual Health Victoria responds to all student questions in an age and developmentally appropriate way.

Sometimes students ask questions in a way that sounds offensive or funny. Educators can rephrase or answer in a direct way that acknowledges the question and answers in a way that satisfies the student’s curiosity.

Young people can also be encouraged to ask their questions at home if they would like to contextualise answers within their own family values.

See SHV self paced eLearning: Answering Questions With Confidence

Evaluate Program

At the end of a program it is helpful to survey students to better understand areas that require more information and continue to improve delivery. Parents and carers may also be interested in the feedback from students.