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Safe Schools

The Safe Schools program helps schools foster a safe environment that is supportive and inclusive of LGBTIQA+ students.

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In 2010, the Victorian Government established Safe Schools to ensure schools are safe places for all students, including lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and gender diverse, intersex, queer and questioning, and asexual (LGBTIQA+) students, and are free of discrimination.

It was born out of the need identified by school communities, parents and teachers for greater support for LGBTIQA+ students, who are at higher risks of bullying and suicide and to ensure that schools create safe and inclusive environments.

A key part of the program is to provide professional development and training for Victorian government, Catholic and independent school staff so that they are equipped to support LGBTIQA+ students.

The Safe Schools program is managed and delivered directly by the Department of Education.

What is the Safe Schools program?

The Safe Schools program helps schools foster a safe environment that is supportive and inclusive of LGBTIQA+ students.

It recognises that creating a safe and inclusive environment is key to tackling bullying and harassment and preventing suicide and self-harm.

All students should be safe from bullying and feel included at school. Students who don't feel safe or included at school cannot learn effectively and reach their full potential.

Safe Schools is not a subject taught in the classroom and it is not a part of the curriculum. Support is available to all Victorian government, Catholic and independent schools.

Watch Safe Schools - Georgie's story on Vimeo.

How does Safe Schools work?

The Safe Schools team can provide schools with:

  • professional learning for school staff
  • support to review school policies and practice to improve inclusion for LGBTIQA+ students
  • consultation, advice and resources for schools to support individual students, including assistance for schools supporting students who are affirming their gender at school
  • networking and linkages to evidence-based information, resources and local support services.

School principals take into consideration the views of their school community, including their parent and student representative groups, when determining the best approach to implementing their commitment to being a safe and inclusive environment for LGBTIQA+ students.

Case studies

The Department of Education has developed videos and booklets showcasing good examples of LGBTIQA+ inclusion in secondary schools. Schools can consider how these examples could be adapted to suit their context.

Benalla P-12 College – US Pride Group

The Benalla P-12 College has worked to build greater inclusivity for LGBTIQA+ students, in response to student needs. The College partnered with the Diversity Project, Uniting Goulburn North East, to provide ongoing, on-campus support to LGBTIQA+ students. A student group named US Pride has been a highly successful component of this on-campus support.

Watch Benalla P-12 College US Pride video on Vimeo.

Read Benalla's case study (DOCX, 109KB) for more details.

Bendigo Senior Secondary College – The Ally Network

The Bendigo Senior Secondary College has a network of staff ‘Allies’ who receive specialised training and drive LGBTIQA+ inclusion including through the provision of support to students. The Ally Network works with Bendigo Senior Secondary College’s LGBTIQA+ student group to strive for excellence in LGBTIQA+ inclusion.

Watch The Ally Network from Bendigo Senior Secondary College video on Vimeo.

Read Bendigo's case study (DOCX, 110KB) for more details.

Downloadable posters

These posters are available to download and print. They are designed to help you improve inclusion at your school.

Myths and facts

Myth: The Safe Schools program is a compulsory part of the school curriculum.
Fact: Safe Schools is not part of the Victorian Curriculum – it’s a program that provides support to staff to help ensure schools are inclusive places for all students, including LGBTIQA+ students.

The Department of Education provides information, resources and professional learning that have been developed based on evidence. School staff can use this as they see fit to prevent discrimination against LGBTIQA+ students.

Myth: The Safe Schools program is teaching sex education to students, including material that is not age appropriate.
Fact: Safe Schools is not a sex education program, and does not work with students.

The Safe Schools program provides support to school staff to create safe and inclusive environments for LGBTIQA+ students.

Myth: The Safe Schools program encourages students to question or change their gender or sexuality.
Fact: Nothing about the Safe Schools program encourages students to question or change their gender or sexuality. The Safe Schools program supports school staff to create an environment where LGBTIQA+ students feel safe.

Myth: The Safe Schools program isn’t a real anti-bullying program.
Fact: It is a sad reality that LGBTIQA+ young people are more likely to be bullied at school than elsewhere and this has a major impact on their educational outcomes.

Safe Schools provides information, resources and professional learning to schools to raise understanding and awareness of LGBTIQA+ diversity. The program assists schools to have conversations with students about mutual respect and understanding towards each other despite differences in their culture, beliefs, sexuality or gender. By doing so, young people feel safer at school and are provided with an environment where they can be happy, confident and resilient.

Myth: All government and non-government schools are forced to join the program.
Fact: Safe Schools is a program available to all Victorian government, Catholic and independent schools. Schools can access a range of support to help the school create a safe and inclusive environment for LGBTIQA+ students, in a way that best meets the needs of their students and school community. Other schools, including primary schools and non-government schools, can access the Safe Schools information and resources as they see fit and request support where they need it.

Myth: Parents are not allowed to consent to their child’s participation and the program disregards the wishes of parents who do not want their children to participate.
Fact: Safe Schools provides support to school staff and is not a program for students. Individual schools decide how to create a safe and inclusive environment for LGBTIQA+ students at their school, based on their local context and the needs of their school community.

This is often done in consultation with students, the school council and the broader school community. The Department of Education encourages parents to discuss any concerns directly with the school principal. Within any school community, there is always a diversity of views represented and schools take those views into account when working with children and families.

Myth: Schools are overstepping their role by seeking support through the Safe Schools program.
Fact: Making sure our school environments are safe and free from discrimination and harassment is a requirement through Victoria’s Child Safe Standards and under Australian and Victorian anti-discrimination laws. The role of a school is to equip its students to lead healthy and productive lives, to not only achieve academically but also to be happy, healthy and resilient. Social and emotional learning is a key aspect of development for young people.

Myth: Respectful Relationships and the Safe Schools program are the same.
Fact: Respectful Relationships and Safe Schools are different initiatives.

References

[1] Hill AO, Lyons A, Jones J, McGowan I, Carman M, Parsons M, Power J, Bourne A (2021) Writing Themselves In 4: The health and wellbeing of LGBTQA+ young people in Australia. National report, monograph series number 124. Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society, La Trobe University: Melbourne. ARCSHS.

Further supports

If you need immediate support, please contact one of the following services:

Help in your language

To speak to us in a language other than English call Victorian Interpreting and Translating Services (VITS) on 03 9280 0783

If you have a speech or hearing impairment contact the National Relay Service (NRS):

Contact us

School staff and parents/carers can contact Safe Schools for:

  • assistance in creating a safe and inclusive school environment
  • advice on how to support LGBTIQA+ students
  • advice on how to support you or your child, including where to go for other support services.
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