Consent education learning platform launched

An online consent education learning platform has been launched for students by Kids First Australia.

Over the past year, the Kids First team have worked with over 100 young people to co-design an informed and relevant digital program, which uses relatable, diverse and teen-driven content, to help empower young people in making healthy relationship choices.

Aligning with the mandatory Respectful Relationships program rolling out in schools across the nation in 2023, the ‘To Future Me’ platform draws upon the organisation’s decades of sexual abuse prevention work and is designed to guide educators through four e-learning modules, which feature a range of downloadable resources.

Greensborough College Learning Specialist Lisa Dunne piloted the program with her Year 8 class last year and said it is really important content for students, helping to counter some of the information they hear with the correct knowledge.

“Students were interested in learning in a tech-based way. They liked the gamification of the content, and the graphic design and imagery were great. Students could grab some headphones and just get on with it, and work in groups in other sections. It is presented in a way that continued to keep students engaged,” Dunne said.

“As an organisation, we have experience over many decades, developing programs for children of all ages to ensure they grow up happy, resilient and ready for adulthood,” said Nicole Artico, Acting CEO, Kids First.

“We were relieved to hear that consent education had become mandatory, and wanted to apply our expertise to resources which support the cause, transforming our previous face-to-face prevention program to an online version, To Future Me. It is evidence-based and ready for roll out.”

Development of the platform was initially supported by Westpac’s Safer Children, Safer Communities grant, with additional support from the bank received to expand the program. The grant will be used to create two new products, aimed at teachers and parents to help them feel confident about having direct conversations with students participating in the To Future Me program.

To Future Me is for Year 8 students and features accessible and inclusive content delivered through purpose-designed videos and quizzes across four self-guided modules. Modules provide students with help-seeking skills and a framework to understand consent. The platform also covers the topic of grooming and what it may look like, as well as exploring gender and sexual identities.

Image credit: iStock.com/DGLimages