Calls for organisations to deliver relationship program in schools to prevent family and domestic violence

The State Government is calling on organisations to help deliver better education to children about respectful relationships in an effort to stamp out family and domestic violence before it starts. The Respectful Relationships Teaching Support Program is a voluntary primary prevention initiative which has been delivered in primary and secondary public schools since 2019. It focuses on promoting respectful relationships and gender equality and has previously been delivered by Starick — a not-for-profit organisation supporting women and children escaping family and domestic violence. Now the State Government wants more eligible organisations to deliver the program with additional funding for Catholic and independent schools. To secure the long-term delivery of the program, $2.2 million has been committed. A contract is being released to tender to secure a provider to deliver the program until 2027. Prevention of Family and Domestic Violence Minister Sabine Winton said the program was needed to stop domestic violence at the source by teaching children to foster respectful relationships. “The Respectful Relationships Teaching Support Program is a voluntary program that provides teachers with evidence-based skills to talk to students about what healthy, respectful relationships should look like,” she said. “By expanding to Catholic and independent schools, we will be ensuring that many more Western Australian children will benefit from this important initiative. “This is about creating generational change to break the cycle of family and domestic violence by promoting equality and respect in relationships.” Eligible organisations can seek information at Tenders WA.