Information for Parents and Carers

Child safety is our highest priority across all of Interrelate's services. Through our education programs we ensure children are supported to recognise the early signs of unsafe behaviour and build their confidence to speak up when something doesn't feel right.

Yes, consent is an important mandatory theme throughout all of our relationships and sexuality education programs.

Consent is addressed at age-appropriate levels for years 3 - 6, introducing students to concepts about safety, respect and communication. Themes of consent are also woven throughout our online and in-person programs including discussions and workbook activities.

Our program content is aligned with state curriculums and satisfies the relevant syllabus outcomes for teaching students the principles and behaviours that define consent. If you would like more information around this you can contact us directly at schoolservices@interrelate.org.au.

It's common for parents and carers of young people to worry that giving their child information about sex will lead them to become sexually active earlier. We can assure you that early education about relationships and sexuality encourages children to make more informed decisions when it comes to their relationships and sexual health and educates them about the risks involved, giving them lifelong skills about consent and respect.

Supported by research, our evidence-based programs are aligned with positions held by the World Health Organisation and United Nations that appropriate sexual health information should be available to children and young people as a lack of knowledge about sexual and reproductive health can leave children vulnerable to coercion, sexually transmitted infections and unintended pregnancy.

If you have any questions or concerns about the content, we encourage you to reach out direct or discuss with your school the option of hosting a family evening session (Tricky Talks) with our educators where you can learn about our educational programs and voice any questions or concerns freely.

Our approach is to provide children with an introductory understanding of anatomy and the reproductive system including sex and birth. Your child will receive this information at an age-appropriate level with the focus kept on understanding their bodies and the roles they play in reproduction and development, learning the basic principles of consent and boundary setting along the way. The information is presented by the educator and at times supported by animated videos and images of basic anatomy.

No we do not encourage children to have sex. Our relationships and sexuality education programs are centered on the principles of consent and respect and provide them the biological facts of puberty, intercourse, pregnancy and birth.

Our educators facilitate informed discussions about decision-making, consent, respect and safety in relationships including safe and unsafe behaviours, actions and consequences. As a child safe organisation our mission is to deliver evidence-based information to support children entering into puberty helping them to develop confidence and boundaries to keep themselves safe.

Research has shown that early education of relationships and sexuality is linked to positive and healthy behaviour in relationships later in life. By educating children early in life around respectful behaviours and providing consistent opportunities for them to develop a healthy self-esteem and sense of identity, we are empowering the next generation to lead the way when it comes to forming and maintaining respectful relationships.

Our programs are delivered at an age-appropriate level, introducing new levels of understanding about their body's development and forming new relationships as they grow.

Yes, all of our programs have a program logic framework developed around syllabus outcomes and evidence-based research. We partner with external bodies including universities and peak bodies, to undertake rigorous evaluations of our programs, and are proudly endorsed by the ESafety Commissioner to deliver education to school-aged children.