The Department of Human Services (DHS) has claimed that a new program, developed between the Office for Women and the Port Adelaide Football Club will teach young Indigenous people about respectful relationships as a way of breaking the cycle of violence against women.
The DHS said up to 500 students from 65 secondary schools would take part in the new Respectful Relationships Program across metropolitan areas and, for the first time, regions.
Minister for Human Services, Michelle Lensink said the Program was developed in consultation with Aboriginal community leaders and tailored specifically for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students in Years 10, 11 and 12.
Ms Lensink said the culturally appropriate Program would address concerns around family violence in Aboriginal communities.
She said the Program would fund 10 workshops, enabling the Port Adelaide Football Club to expand its already successful existing programs, The Power to End Violence and Empowered.
“The new Respectful Relationships Program will engage with our young people to not only prevent violence against women, but break the cycle before it’s too late,” Ms Lensink said.
The Minister said young women in the Program would be given the opportunity to attend a one-day leadership training aimed at promoting young women’s leadership and promoting a positive sense of self and identity.
Ms Lensink said young men would have the opportunity to learn how to be active bystanders and challenge assumptions about gender roles and stereotypes.
She said the Program would run from Term 3 and into early 2022 and included schools in Port Pirie, Whyalla, Port Augusta, Port Lincoln, the Adelaide Hills, South East, Far North, Riverland, Ceduna and Murray Bridge.
