PREVENTION

Preventing sexual harm
 

Educating, supporting and providing support services for all on campus is the starting point for preventing sexual harm. Ensuring this is visible in all media formats is important, alongside constant messaging to provide reminders that these sites and places are available.
 

Awareness campaigns and messages help reinforce the importance of consent, healthy relationships, caring and kindness for all who are on our campuses.
 

Starting the year with a plan of what this looks like is important for the continuous development of this key message. This is part of the duty of care and pastoral code of conduct for all students and for ensuring both staff and students work in an environment and place where they can feel safe and flourish.
 

Part of preventing sexual harm is keeping the conversation alive and ensuring all voices are heard. Shift the norm from keeping quiet to talking about sexual harm.

 

A useful reference point are the latest Year 9-13 Relationships and Sexuality Education guidelines: “Today the world is changing rapidly, in multiple ways, and Aotearoa New Zealand is more diverse than ever before. There are growing concerns about climate change and the impact of the recent global pandemic, COVID-19. This update is informed by an awareness of changing family structures, shifting social norms in relation to gender and sexuality, the rise of social media, and the increased use of digital communications and devices. It acknowledges the increased calls for social inclusion and for the prevention of bullying, violence, and child abuse. It recognises the importance of social and emotional learning for healthy relationships.

 

"These revised guidelines continue to draw on Hutchison’s (2013) core recommendations and also incorporate the latest research on relationships, gender, sexuality, and wellbeing. The guidelines take into account the cultural and social changes noted above and the related interagency work to prevent violence. They also reflect Aotearoa New Zealand’s ongoing commitments to national and international legislation, including Te Tiriti o Waitangi and the Human Rights Act (1993). (page 6 year 9-13 RSE guidelines).”

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