Media statement: National survey on understanding and experiences of consent
Children's Rights
National Children’s Commissioner Anne Hollonds and Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins have welcomed the Federal Government’s announcement of a national survey exploring consent education of secondary school students across Australia.
The Australian Human Rights Commission will conduct the survey, which will collect information about the extent of secondary students’ consent education and the understanding, experience, nature and reporting of sexual harassment among these students.
Teach Us Consent founder Chanel Contos, whose committed advocacy has helped put the issue of consent education in schools on the national agenda, will be a Special Advisor to the project.
The findings will be reported to government and the public, including to children and young people.
The Commission has undertaken regular surveys on the nature and prevalence of sexual harassment in Australian workplaces since 2002.
The Commission also has experience in safely conducting surveys and direct consultations with children and young people through the work of the National Children’s Commissioner. This survey of secondary school students will provide benchmark data to gauge the impact of consent education in the revised Australian Curriculum, which is expected to be rolled out nationally from 2023, subject to ministerial approval.
Further information about the survey will be shared in coming months.
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