A Whole School Approach to Respectful Relationships Education in Schools

Respectful relationships education is a comprehensive approach to the primary prevention of gender-based violence in schools. Schools are both education institutions and workplaces that can generate universal change to address the drivers of violence against women.

A whole school approach is about embedding systemic change across the entire school through policy, practice, procedures, staffing, environment, leadership and culture, and within the classroom.

Many schools do not have the time and resources to develop an effective whole school approach without support. Local and community organisations – including family violence and sexual assault services, local government and community and women’s health services – already have expertise in preventing violence against women in schools and responding to disclosures from both victims and perpetrators. These organisations are well placed to partner with schools to support them to plan, develop, implement and evaluate a whole school approach to Respectful Relationships Education, tailored to the needs of the school and their local community.