Safe Schools Coalition Australia

Safe Schools Coalition Australia (SSCA) was an Australian coalition of organisations, educators and schools focused on reducing bullying and discrimination affecting lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer people in school communities. Its principal activity was the Safe Schools Program, a voluntary framework that supplied schools with guidance, lesson plans, posters, videos and professional support for creating more inclusive environments. Schools were encouraged to select and adapt resources according to their circumstances rather than apply one compulsory classroom curriculum. The program began in Victorian schools on 21 October 2010. It followed earlier Australian work on the needs of same-sex-attracted and gender-diverse students, including initiatives associated with the Gay and Lesbian Teachers and Students Association in New South Wales during the 1990s. The Victorian model expanded nationally in 2013, supported by federal and state funding. The Foundation for Young Australians managed the coalition, while participating organisations included Family Planning NSW, the Western Australian AIDS Council, Sexual Health and Family Planning ACT, Shine SA, True Relationships & Reproductive Health in Queensland, and Working it Out in Tasmania. The program's stated purpose was to address homophobic and transphobic bullying, improve school belonging and provide practical assistance to principals, teachers, students and families. Resources addressed sexual diversity, gender diversity and intersex experiences. The 2015 All of Us teaching resource was designed for secondary-school settings and incorporated material intended to help educators discuss LGBTIQ identities and challenge stereotypes. Other associated materials included lesson plans, posters, videos and guidance for responding to discriminatory language. The coalition also promoted research concerning bullying, school completion, mental health and the educational experiences of same-sex-attracted and gender-diverse young people. SSCA initially attracted support from governments of different political parties, education bodies, mental-health organisations and LGBTIQ advocates. Its public profile rose sharply in 2015 and 2016, when conservative politicians, religious organisations and sections of the media criticised some of its terminology and associated online materials. Critics argued that certain content was inappropriate for children or promoted contested concepts of gender and sexuality. Supporters responded that the program was an anti-bullying and inclusion initiative and that opponents had exaggerated or mischaracterised its official resources. The federal government commissioned an independent review led by University of Western Australia academic Bill Louden in February 2016. Published on 11 March 2016, the review found that the official guides, lesson plans and posters were consistent with the program's objectives and suitable for their intended use. It recommended clearer guidance about how materials should be implemented. Subsequent changes included restricting the formal program to high schools, removing role-play activities and requiring parental consent for participation. The review did not provide a basis for abolishing the core program. The coalition nevertheless became the subject of sustained political controversy. In October 2016 the federal government announced that it would not renew national funding beyond 2017. Victoria's Education Department assumed control of the program in December 2016. During 2017, the program ceased in New South Wales, Queensland and South Australia, while the Australian Capital Territory withdrew and Tasmania also moved away from the national coalition model. These jurisdictions developed or used their own approaches. By July 2017, schools in Western Australia, Tasmania and the Northern Territory were still identified as SSCA members. The national coalition subsequently ceased to operate as a unified program, although some resources remained available for schools and some schools continued to use them.

Safe Schools Coalition Australia developed from Australian efforts to address the educational effects of homophobia, transphobia and discrimination. Earlier work by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender teachers and student advocates, particularly in New South Wales during the 1990s, established a policy and support context for later school-based programs. SSCA itself commenced in Victoria on 21 October 2010, initially assisting schools that wanted structured help in creating safer environments for LGBTIQ students and families. The Victorian program expanded nationally in 2013 with federal funding and was formally launched in June 2014 under the Abbott government. Management was assigned to the Foundation for Young Australians, with state-based organisations acting as coalition members and delivery partners. The program operated within the broader National Safe Schools Framework and used a flexible model: principals and teachers could choose resources and activities appropriate to their school, while representatives could provide advice to school communities. Its materials included four main guides, posters, lesson plans and videos. The All of Us resource, launched in 2015, dealt with sexual diversity, gender diversity and intersex topics for secondary-school education. Associated resources and partner materials generated substantial public attention, particularly after critics argued that the program introduced controversial concepts to children. Supporters cited research reporting high levels of bullying among same-sex-attracted and gender-diverse young people, and maintained that inclusion improved students' safety, wellbeing and ability to participate in education. In February 2016, the federal government announced a review chaired by University of Western Australia Professor Bill Louden. The review was published on 11 March and concluded that the official resources were consistent with the program's objectives, that their language and content were suitable, and that the materials did not warrant major changes. It did recommend better guidance about implementation. Later modifications narrowed formal access to high schools, removed role-playing exercises and introduced a parental-consent requirement. The program continued to face political opposition. Parliamentary and media criticism included allegations that its lessons were sexualised or ideologically driven, while advocates described those allegations as distortions of an anti-bullying initiative. Support came from organisations including Beyond Blue, headspace and the Australian Secondary Principals Association, as well as many state governments and LGBTIQ community groups. A parliamentary petition supporting the coalition collected tens of thousands of signatures in 2016. The federal government announced in October 2016 that it would not renew funding beyond 2017. Victoria's Education Department assumed responsibility for the Victorian program in December. In 2017, New South Wales, Queensland and South Australia ceased using the national coalition model, and the Australian Capital Territory and Tasmania also withdrew or developed separate approaches. By July 2017, participating schools remained in Western Australia, Tasmania and the Northern Territory, but SSCA no longer functioned as a unified national program. Its resources continued to be available, and some schools reportedly retained or adapted them.

• 2017

  National coalition model breaks apart

  [1]Safe Schools Coalition Australiaen.wikipedia.org

  Multiple states and territories withdraw or establish their own approaches, leaving a reduced group of participating schools.

• 2016

  Louden review published

  [1]Safe Schools Coalition Australiaen.wikipedia.org

  An independent review finds the official program resources appropriate and recommends clearer implementation guidance.

• 2016

  Federal funding scheduled to end

  [1]Safe Schools Coalition Australiaen.wikipedia.org

  The federal government announces that national funding will not continue beyond 2017.

• 2015

  All of Us resource released

  [1]Safe Schools Coalition Australiaen.wikipedia.org

  A teaching resource addressing sexual diversity, gender diversity and intersex issues is introduced.

• 2014

  Formal national launch

  [1]Safe Schools Coalition Australiaen.wikipedia.org

  The coalition is formally launched under the federal government.

• 2013

  National expansion

  [1]Safe Schools Coalition Australiaen.wikipedia.org

  The program expands beyond Victoria with national government funding.

• 2010

  Program begins in Victoria

  [1]Safe Schools Coalition Australiaen.wikipedia.org

  The Safe Schools Program commences in Victorian schools on 21 October.

An education-sector inclusion and anti-bullying initiative focused on practical support for schools serving LGBTIQ students, families and staff.

• School inclusion and anti-bullying program · 2010

  Safe Schools Program

  The coalition's core offering provided voluntary guidance and support to schools seeking to reduce homophobic and transphobic bullying. It combined professional advice with adaptable lesson plans, posters, videos and implementation guidance. Schools could select material according to their context, and the program was later adjusted to focus formally on high schools, remove role-play activities and require parental consent for participation.

• Teacher and classroom resource · 2015

  All of Us

  All of Us was a teaching manual released in 2015 for work with secondary students. It addressed sexual diversity, gender diversity and intersex experiences, and was intended to help educators challenge stereotypes and create more inclusive school environments. The resource was reviewed as part of the 2016 independent assessment of the official SSCA materials.

• 2016

  Political controversy over sexuality and gender content

  The coalition became embroiled in a national dispute after conservative politicians, religious groups and media critics alleged that some program and associated materials were inappropriate or promoted contested theories of gender and sexuality. The coalition rejected those characterisations. The dispute prompted a government review, which found the official resources appropriate, but it contributed to the decision not to renew federal funding.

  Source

Read more

• 2016Support petition for Safe Schools

  Australia

  Supporters organised a parliamentary petition defending the program amid national political controversy. The petition presented in March 2016 reportedly contained approximately 70,000 signatures.

  Outcome. The campaign demonstrated substantial public support but did not prevent the later decision to end federal funding.

  Source

• 2016

  Program resources revised after reviewStrategy

  Background

  The independent Louden review found no need for major changes but recommended clearer guidance on implementation.

  Action taken

  The program was narrowed to high schools, role-playing activities were removed and parental consent was required before participation.

  Aftermath

  The changes addressed some criticisms but did not end the political dispute surrounding the coalition.

  Source

• 2016

  Federal government ends future national fundingStrategy

  Background

  The program faced sustained political opposition despite the independent review's broadly favourable findings.

  Action taken

  The federal government announced that it would not renew funding beyond 2017.

  Aftermath

  Victoria assumed control of its program, while several other jurisdictions withdrew and developed separate approaches.

  Source

1. 1Safe Schools Coalition Australiaen.wikipedia.org