Safe Schools

The Safe Schools program helps schools foster a safe environment that is supportive and inclusive of LGBTIQA+ students.

On this page

In 2010, the Victorian Government established Safe Schools to ensure schools are safe places for all students, including lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and gender diverse, intersex, queer and questioning, and asexual (LGBTIQA+) students, and are free of discrimination.

It was born out of the need identified by school communities, parents and teachers for greater support for LGBTIQA+ students, who are at higher risks of bullying and suicide and to ensure that schools create safe and inclusive environments.

A key part of the program is to provide professional development and training for secondary school teachers so that they are equipped to support LGBTIQA+ students.

The Safe Schools program is managed and delivered directly by the Department of Education.

What are Safe Schools?

The Safe Schools program helps schools foster a safe environment that is supportive and inclusive of LGBTIQA+ students.

It recognises that creating a safe and inclusive environment is key to tackling bullying and harassment and preventing suicide and self-harm.

All students should be safe from bullying and feel included at school. Students who don't feel safe or included at school cannot learn effectively and reach their full potential.

Safe Schools is not a subject taught in the classroom and it is not a part of the curriculum.

It is a program for principals, teachers and school communities.

Schools have the discretion to use as many or as few of the resources, training materials, and other support that the program offers to help them deliver their commitment.

Non-government schools and primary schools can also access support from Safe Schools.

Watch Safe Schools - Georgie's story on Vimeo.

How does Safe Schools work?

Schools choose from a range of evidence-based and age-appropriate information, resources and professional learning to help them prevent, and respond to, bullying and discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity or intersex status. This could involve a review of school policies and practice, professional development for school staff, or establishing a student-led group to help create a more inclusive environment.

School principals take into consideration the views of their school community, including their parent and student representative groups, when determining the best approach to implementing their commitment to being a safe school.

How does my school become a safe school?

The Safe Schools Unit can work together with your school to build safer and more inclusive environments for your whole school community.

To start this process, schools can contact the Safe Schools Unit or download:

The Government expects schools across Victoria to ensure the safety and inclusion of all students in their care, including LGBTIQA+ students and is providing support through the Department of Education - including through ongoing delivery of the Safe Schools program - to enable them to do so.

You may also wish to contact your local school directly to discuss their approach to LGBTIQA+ inclusion and support.

Safe Schools support and resources

School staff may access support and advice from Safe Schools on matters like how to:

  • satisfy our policies regarding sexual and gender diversity and Victorian and Australian anti-discrimination legislation
  • prevent and respond to bullying incidents of LGBTIQA+ students
  • adopt a whole-school approach to preventing discrimination, harassment and bullying
  • create supportive and inclusive school policies
  • train staff on creating supportive spaces for LGBTIQA+ students
  • develop student-led activities to create positive, inclusive change, and
  • equip other staff with skills and ideas to create inclusive environments.

As part of their efforts to establish a safe and inclusive environment, schools determine what their needs are, what resources they should use, and how best to support their community.

Resources

The Department of Education has developed the following resource to build schools’ understanding of the Safe Schools program and to guide their efforts to support LGBTIQA+ inclusion in their community.

We regularly consult with schools and key stakeholders to ensure the program continues to meet the needs of schools and their communities. This includes considering any further resources and supports that may be required.

Case studies

The Department of Education has developed videos and booklets showcasing good examples of LGBTIQA+ inclusion in secondary schools. Schools can consider how these examples could be adapted to suit their context.

Benalla P-12 College – US Pride Group

The Benalla P-12 College has worked to build greater inclusivity for LGBTIQA+ students over the past two years, in response to student needs. The College partnered with the Diversity Project, Uniting Goulburn North East, to provide ongoing, on-campus support to students who identify as LGBTIQA+. A student group named US Pride has been a highly successful component of this on-campus support.

Watch Benalla P-12 College US Pride video on Vimeo.

Read Benalla's case study (DOCX, 109KB) for more details.

Bendigo Senior Secondary College – The Ally Network

The Bendigo Senior Secondary College has a network of staff ‘Allies’ who receive specialised training and drive LGBTIQA+ inclusion including through the provision of support to students. The Ally Network works with Bendigo Senior Secondary College’s LGBTIQA+ student group to strive for excellence in LGBTIQA+ inclusion.

Watch The Ally Network from Bendigo Senior Secondary College video on Vimeo.

Read Bendigo's case study (DOCX, 110KB) for more details.

Downloadable posters

These posters are available to download and print. They are designed to help you improve inclusion at your school.

Myths and facts

From time to time, ill-informed and false information is circulated about the Safe Schools program.

Myth: The Safe Schools program is a compulsory part of the school curriculum.
Fact: Safe Schools is not part of the Victorian Curriculum – it’s a commitment that schools make to be inclusive places for all students, including LGBTIQA+ students.

The Department of Education provides information, resources and professional learning that have been developed by experts for school staff to use as they see fit to prevent discrimination against LGBTIQA+ students.

Myth: The Safe Schools program is teaching sex education and/or sexual practices to students, including material that is not age-appropriate.
Fact: Safe Schools is not a sex education program, nor does it teach sexual practices.

The Safe Schools program simply seeks to create safe and inclusive environments for LGBTIQA+ students. Resources provided by the Department of Education to help deliver the program are developed by experts and carefully selected to ensure they are appropriate for the ages of students using them.

Myth: The Safe Schools program encourages students to question or change their gender or sexuality.
Fact: Nothing about the Safe Schools program encourages students to question or change their gender or sexuality.

Myth: The Safe Schools program teaches radical gender theory.
Fact: Safe Schools does not teach radical gender theory. It is simply a program to help schools and students understand and respect that people should not be discriminated against for any reason - including gender and sexual diversity.

Myth: The Safe Schools program teaches there are 63 different genders.
Fact: The Safe Schools program does not teach this.

Myth: The Safe Schools program encourages the use of props.
Fact: The Department of Education provides evidence-based information, written resources and professional learning for school staff to use as they see fit to support schools to prevent, and respond to, discrimination against LGBTIQA+ students. These resources do not include props.

Myth: The Safe Schools program asks students to role play same-sex relationships.
Fact: There are no role-playing or acting exercises in the optional Safe Schools teaching resources. Rather, one interactive exercise invites students to imagine themselves in someone else’s shoes. This exercise is designed to build empathy and understanding of others. Resources provided by the Department of Education are developed by experts and carefully selected to ensure they are age-appropriate.

Myth: The Safe Schools program isn’t a real anti-bullying program.
Fact: It is a sad reality that LGBTIQA+ young people are more likely to be bullied at school than elsewhere and this has a major impact on their educational outcomes.

Safe Schools provides information and resources to schools to raise understanding and awareness of sexual and gender diversity. The program assists schools to have conversations with students about mutual respect and understanding towards each other despite differences in their culture, beliefs, sexuality or gender. By doing so, young people feel safer at school and are provided with an environment where they can be happy, confident and resilient.

Myth: All government and non-government schools are forced to join the program.
Fact: These schools are free to implement the program in a way that best suits their students and community. Other schools, including primary schools and non-government schools, can access the Safe Schools information and resources as they see fit and request support where they need it.

Myth: Parents are not allowed to consent to their child’s participation and the program disregards the wishes of parents who do not want their children to participate.
Fact: Individual schools decide how to implement the Safe Schools program at their school, based on their local context and the needs of their school community.

This is often done in consultation with students, the school council and the broader school community. The program does not impose specific requirements for student participation but does ask all school community members to demonstrate the school’s values. The Department of Education encourages parents to discuss any concerns directly with the school principal. Within any school community, there is always a diversity of views represented and schools take those views into account when working with children and families.

Myth: Students are told not to discuss the content of the Safe Schools program with people outside of school, including their parents.
Fact: This is not true. Students are encouraged to discuss what they learn at school with their families and parents. Schools are encouraged to engage families and the broader school community in their implementation of the Safe Schools program.

Myth: The program promotes and teaches children to undertake behaviour such as chest-binding and cross-dressing.
Fact: The program does not promote chest-binding or cross-dressing. The program provides information and resources to schools to raise understanding and awareness of sexual and gender diversity.

Many LGBTIQA+ students feel uncomfortable about seeking support or affirming their identity and providing guidance and advice about these processes can reduce fear and anxiety in dealing with this. For many people, the question of their gender or their sexuality is straightforward; however, for some, it is more contested as they don’t fit neatly into the ‘norm’. The Safe Schools program is solely aimed at helping children and young people understand that not everyone is the same and to respect this.

Myth: The Safe Schools program promotes cross-dressing.
Fact: The Safe Schools program does not promote cross-dressing. The Safe Schools program seeks to ensure all children and young people feel safe, happy and comfortable at school.

Myth: Schools are overstepping their role by participating in the Safe Schools program.
Fact: Making sure our school environments are safe and free from discrimination and harassment is a requirement under Australian and Victorian anti-discrimination laws. The role of a school is to equip its students to lead healthy and productive lives, to not only achieve academically but also to be happy, healthy and resilient. Social and emotional learning is a key aspect of development for young people.

Myth: Respectful Relationships and the Safe Schools program are the same.
Fact: Respectful Relationships and Safe Schools are two very different initiatives.

The Victorian Royal Commission into Family Violence recommended Respectful Relationships be introduced to all government schools (Recommendation 189). The Respectful Relationships initiative takes a whole school approach, looking at practices and policies to build a culture of respect and equality. It also looks at topics like coping with stress and problem solving, helping students excel at school.

References

[1] Rosenstreich, G. (2013) LGBTIQ+ People Mental Health and Suicide(opens in a new window) Revised 2nd Edition. National LGBTIQ+ Health Alliance. Sydney, p 3.

[2] T Jones and Western Australian Equal Opportunity Commission(opens in a new window) (2012), A report about discrimination and bullying on the grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity in Western Australian education, p 11.

Further supports

If you need immediate support, please contact one of the following services:

Help in your language

To speak to us in a language other than English call Victorian Interpreting and Translating Services (VITS) on 03 9280 0783

If you have a speech or hearing impairment contact the National Relay Service (NRS):

Contact us

School staff, parents and students can contact Safe Schools for:

  • assistance in creating a safe and inclusive school environment
  • advice on how to support LGBTIQA+ students
  • advice on how to support you or your child, including where to go for other support services.
Education

Updated

Back to top