Respectful Relationships:
Proactive Education
Building Safe, Respectful and Positive Relationships – 365 days of calling it out
ET Australia Secondary College (ETASC) is committed to creating a safe, inclusive and supportive environment where all students can learn and thrive. As part of this commitment, ETASC participates in the Respectful Relationships: Proactive Education (RRE) program developed by Independent Schools NSW (ISNSW).
The Respectful Relationships: Proactive Education program is a whole-school initiative designed to build students’ understanding of healthy, respectful relationships. The program supports schools to explicitly teach age-appropriate skills in communication, empathy, consent, personal boundaries, and respectful behaviour.
Rather than responding only when issues arise, RRE focuses on prevention through education, equipping students with the knowledge and strategies to recognise, establish, and maintain positive relationships in both face-to-face and online environments now and in their lives beyond the classroom.
Why is Respectful Relationships Education Important?
Respectful relationships education helps students to:
- Develop positive communication skills
- Build empathy and understanding of others
- Recognise and respect personal boundaries
- Understand the importance of consent and respectful behaviour
- Navigate friendships and relationships in healthy and safe ways
- Make safe and responsible choices online
- Contribute to an inclusive and respectful school culture
How is the Program Delivered at ETASC?
Respectful relationships education is embedded within our existing wellbeing and learning programs through a whole-school approach.
Curriculum Learning
Age-appropriate learning experiences are incorporated into PDHPE (7-10 Years) and Health Movement Science (Years 11-12) programs. Students explore topics such as communication, emotional regulation, respectful behaviour, consent, personal boundaries and online interactions.
Staff Learning and Development
Teachers and support staff participate in professional learning to ensure they have the knowledge, confidence and resources to deliver respectful relationships education consistently and effectively.
A Whole-School Approach
Respectful relationships are reinforced through everyday interactions, respectful relationship-focused initiatives such as Love Bites, school policies and behaviour expectations. This helps create consistent messages and expectations across the school community.
The RISE Framework
At ETASC, staff use the RISE Framework, which represents 4 key components of an effective and safe response when addressing inappropriate or harmful language, attitudes and behaviours. RISE provides a consistent approach that supports learning, reflection and personal growth.
Recognise harmful attitudes and behaviours
Invite conversation through respectful and supportive dialogue
Set clear expectations about respectful behaviour
Engage students in critical thinking and reflection
The framework focuses on helping students understand the impact of their words and actions, rather than simply imposing consequences.
For example, if a student makes a disrespectful comment, a staff member may use the RISE Framework to question their understanding of the ideas/attitudes, discuss why the comment may be harmful, reinforce school expectations and encourage the student to reflect on its impact on others.
The key to successfully implementing RISE responses is to be curious and not critical during the conversation or discussion with students.
What you (parents and carers) may notice:
As students engage with this program, families and carers may notice increased discussion around:
- Respectful communication
- Personal boundaries
- Empathy and perspective-taking
- Online behaviour
- Managing conflict respectfully
- Understanding the impact of words and actions and accountability
Working in Partnership with Families
ETASC recognises that families play a pivotal role in helping young people develop respectful relationships. RRE complements the values and conversations that occur at home, providing students with consistent messages about respect, empathy, safety and inclusion.
By working together, schools and families can help young people develop the skills and understanding needed to build healthy, respectful relationships throughout their lives.
