The Department of Education is surveying parents and carers to understand how to help them talk about consent with their children at home and build on what is already taught in NSW schools.
Secretary of the Department, Georgina Harrisson said the opening of the anonymous survey followed students from across the State, both past and present, calling for improved education on consenting.
Ms Harrisson said results of the Survey would help guide the Department’s planning and development of support and resources for parents and carers.
“We expect parents to have a wide range of views and expectations and we want to understand those views better, so we can respond sensitively and appropriately to the issue,” she said.
“Parents and carers play an important role in supporting children and young people to navigate consent, form healthy and respectful relationships outside of school and can help support broader cultural change to harmful sexual behaviour.
“Through the NSW Federation of Parents and Citizens and other key groups, we are engaging parents and carers as critical partners in this work to address the issue of sexual violence and improve supports regarding consent education.”
Ms Harrisson said the Survey had been designed to capture a diverse range of parent and carer views, including culturally and linguistically diverse parents and carers and those with children and young people with disability.
The Secretary said the Survey was available in 11 languages and would take less than 10 minutes to complete.
“The Survey is one way for parents, carers and the community to provide their views and insights on this important and sensitive issue,” she said.
“We are also working with the P&C Federation in hosting a series of webinars with key speakers to provide further support and information to parents and carers in addressing the issues of consent and sexual violence beyond the school gate.”
Ms Harrisson said the Survey launched on 17 November and would be open for four weeks.
The Department’s Survey can be accessed at this PS News link.
