Consent education is a key component of the Victorian Curriculum 2.0, embedded across Health and Physical Education and closely aligned with the development of respectful relationships and personal and social capabilities.

However, consent is not always straightforward as asking for and giving consent is a nuanced, often complex process, especially in sexual situations. For young people to develop the skills to navigate these moments with confidence in their decision making, educators must first understand the real-world legal and ethical challenges they face.

This presentation from Sexual Health Victoria (SHV) offers a comprehensive approach to consent education, grounded in our work across primary prevention, the promotion of healthy and respectful relationships, and the challenging of gender stereotypes.

We will explore the affirmative consent model and the legislative amendments relevant to teaching consent.  While the foundational legal and ethical principles of consent remain consistent, we also explore that different cohorts face different challenges—therefore, consent education must be tailored to the context.

Drawing on SHV’s work with young people with disability, support for parents as primary preventers of sexual violence, and our role as eSafety trusted providers, this session offers practical, inclusive, and context-specific consent education strategies.

 It will also address the growing importance of digital consent and online safety, equipping educators to better support young people in both physical and digital spaces.

Participants will leave with greater confidence in teaching consent and a deeper understanding of its complexities, ultimately contributing to safer decisions for our young people.