Parent and school principal groups not consulted over new consent videos

Parent and principal groups say they played no part in developing the federal government’s new sex and consent education resources, despite the Education Department’s assurances that community stakeholders were consulted over the $3.8 million project.

The federal agency was forced to remove two videos from its The Good Society website on Tuesday following community backlash including from two state education ministers who labelled the resources as disappointing and patronising to young people.

Education Minister Sarah Mitchell says the federal government has missed the mark with their new consent video for school students. Credit:Dominic Lorrimer

Chief executive of the Association of Heads of Independent Schools of Australia, Beth Blackwood, said she had inquired with federal Education Minister Alan Tudge’s office after the resources were announced, to find out who had developed them and when they would be released.

“But at the end of the day the answer is no, we weren’t consulted. I don’t know who [developed the resources]; we were told by the government that it was the eSafety Commissioner and other groups,” she said.

“I think it would have been valuable to have engaged all the principals associations. We would have valued a consultation.”

Neither the Catholic Secondary Principals Australia, Australian Secondary Principals Association or Australian Primary Principals Association said they were involved.

President of APPA, Malcolm Elliott, said he had understood from Minister Tudge’s communications that individual principals or school leaders were consulted, but he did not know who those people were.

“‘Groups of principals may be more [accurate] than principals’ groups,” he said. “We are always seeking to be consulted. We think it’s an important part of what we have to offer. But in this instance we weren’t.”

But chief executive of Independent Schools Australia, Margery Evans, said while the peak body was not directly involved, some teachers from independent schools had been consulted.

“It would be a great shame [if] the current media controversy was to result in the substantial number of useful resources on The Good Society website being overlooked,” she said.

Several sex education experts who have spoken to The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald also said the advice of most of the nation’s most experienced experts in the area of sexuality education and violence prevention had not been included.

Start your day informed

Our Morning Edition newsletter is a curated guide to the most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up here.

Most Viewed in National

From our partners

Source: Read Full Article