Sexism, Sexual-Assault, rape culture and gender-based violence have become prevalent issues within the Adelaide High School Community. This can be contributed to a clear lack of education, programs and discussion offered to the students and staff that allow such issues to be adequately educated on and prevented.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics reports that school-aged young people and young men are a key group, both perpetrating and becoming victims of sexual assault.

20-30% of rapes and 30-50% of child sexual assaults are perpetrated by adolescents.

Young women ages 15-19 are reported to have the highest rate of sexual assault crimes committed against them per year. In comparison it was reported in 2018-19 that the majority of sexual assault offenders recorded by the police were male (97%); Men ages 15-19 had the highest offender rate.

Such statistics only enforce that gender-based violence, in particular, violence against women begins within school communities. 

Our group Call4Action is lobbying for whole-school focus to be drawn towards these issues. Melbourne Centre Against Sexual Assault reports that communities that incorporated primary prevention (before violence has occurred) and secondary (early prevention) strategies showed a relevant statistical change in the student's and staff knowledge and understanding of the issues and also worked as a preventative method of sexual assault and gender-based violence within school communities.

The Sexual Assault Prevention Program for Secondary Schools concluded that ultimately an educated community of staff and students was a community where sexual assault and sexism happened statistically occurred less. 

We want to initiate the first steps of prevention of these issues within the community, by creating informed and educated students and staff.

Aims of prevention programs and focused education:

- Reduce incidents of sexual assault within the school community.

-  Establish safe environments for young people to discuss relationships, consent, and communication.

- Enhance young people’s knowledge of and access to support.

-  Enhance the capacity of Adelaide High School to respond to sexual assault.    

 

Our Demands:

Education Highlighting and Combating Issues within the School

-  Ensure precise and legitimate language and terminology is utilised when addressing topics such as rape, consent, sexual assault, and gender-based violence.

Note: Removal of confusing metaphors or analogies to teach serious topics, such methods are known to undermine and mock the issues, therefore not conveying the proper information and severity.

-  Interview and initiate discussions with students about topics they feel need to be covered. Ensure that any programs planned out cover relevant issues and do not gloss over confronting or serious topics.

Issues to consider: Rape, Sexual assault/harassment, Gender and sexuality-based violence, Sexism/Misogyny, LGBTQ+ and minority groups issues

 

A Whole-School Approach

- Establishment of educational sexual assault prevention programs mandatory for all students from years 7-12

Several key components that should be mandatory within the programs:

- Whole-staff professional development on the issue of sexual assault and gender/sexuality-based violence.

- Multiple sessions to be done annually for all year levels (7-12)

- Monitoring of students to measure knowledge and perception increase surrounding the topics within the program.

- Teacher and staff support on the delivery of the SHINE and Keeping Safe: Child Protection Curriculum.

 

Taking Accountability

- Establishment of a database recording every student complaint concerning, sexual assault, gender-based violence or harassment, Sexuality-based violence, or harassment.

Explanation: Such databases keep the school and leadership accountable as there is clear data on how often incidents occur and whether these statistics correlate to the school’s approach to handling and educating the issue. Also active in preventing the undermining of victims.

We encourage you as students to share this petition around the community, know that your voices are important and need to be heard. We hope to bring systematic change to all Australian high schools, these are only the first steps.

Thank you for your support.