December 8, 2015

Respectful relationships support funding announced

Minister for Education James Merlino and Minister for Women and the Prevention of Family Violence Fiona Richardson have today announced $100,000 in funding for the Domestic Violence Resource Centre Victoria for the Partners in Prevention program (PiP).

Visiting Gisborne Secondary College, one of 19 Victorian schools participating in the pilot of the Building Respectful Relationships resource, Mr Merlino and Ms Richardson were joined by Emily Maguire, CEO of Domestic Violence Resource Centre Victoria, and Member for Macedon Mary-Anne Thomas.

The Partners in Prevention program aims to build the capacity of staff to support schools who deliver respectful relationships education in Victoria, including those in rural and regional Victoria.

The Program also seeks to build the capacity of community organisations who work with early childhood services and primary and secondary schools to support their delivery of respectful relationships education.

The funding boost comes as schools across the state prepare to deliver respectful relationships education from Prep to Year 10 classrooms, beginning in 2016.

As committed by the Andrews Labor Government, Respectful Relationships Education will be included in the Victorian curriculum to support students in learning how to build healthy relationships, and challenge negative gender attitudes.

Run by Our Watch, the Building Respectful Relationships trial concludes at the end of this month, with a report is due to be handed to the Government in March.

This report, and the findings of the Royal Commission into Family Violence, will inform further changes to Respectful Relationships Education and support provided to schools.

Today’s visit, part of the Victoria Against Violence campaign, seeks to highlight the impact of family violence across every community in Victoria.

Ms Richardson also used the visit to host a community forum on violence towards women and girls, and hear directly from local residents and organisations on its impacts.

For more information on the Victoria Against Violence campaign, visit http://www.vic.gov.au/news/victoria-against-violence.html

Quotes attributable to Minister for Education James Merlino
"Teaching healthy, respectful relationships is key to preventing violence and it deserves a place in our curriculum. The experiences of Gisborne Secondary College will shape how this can be rolled out across the state."

"The Andrews Labor Government is committed to providing schools with the support they need to deliver a respectful relationships education that gives children the skills they need to have healthy, safe relationships."

Quotes attributable to Minister for the Prevention of Family Violence Fiona Richardson
"This funding will allow the Domestic Violence Resource Centre to continue the important work it is doing in supporting schools and communities to develop safe, effective and sustainable prevention programs."

"Gender inequality and poor attitudes towards women are one of the key underlying causes of family violence."

Quotes attributable to Mary-Anne Thomas MP, Member for Macedon
"Schools in Macedon are at the forefront of this new curriculum with Gisborne and Kyneton Secondary Colleges among the first two schools in Victoria to pilot the Respectful Relationships program ".

"Changing attitudes to gender roles and stereotypes in our younger generation is key to addressing women’s inequality which is a major cause of violence against women and children – an issue about which I care deeply".

"I look forward to seeing the curriculum being rolled out to other schools in the Macedon Ranges and seeing this important conversation continue".

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