A revamped Respectful Relationships Education program will be rolled out to an additional 150 public schools, as part of the NSW Government’s continuing work in primary prevention to stop violence before it starts in our communities.

As a priority under NSW’s first dedicated primary prevention strategy Pathways to Prevention, the NSW Government has provided $8 million in funding to the Respectful Relationships curriculum, with the pilot program ready to be expanded to 150 additional schools in Term 1, 2026.

The Federal Government has also provided $17.6 million in funding under its Commonwealth Consent and Respectful Relationships Education (CRRE) Measure.

Ten schools across New South Wales have already piloted the new evidence-informed, age-appropriate program and came together at the end of last year to share their experiences. None were in the Northern Rivers.

The new Respectful Relationships Education Program focuses on the whole school community to embed equality, empathy, and safety.

It provides teachers, leaders and school staff with access to resources, professional learning, and system-based expertise to implement whole-school approaches to address the drivers of gender-based violence and promote gender equality.

Every NSW Public School will also have access to resources, tools and support to embed a whole school approach in their school context, including new K-12 Teaching Respectful Relationships Curriculum resources.

The NSW Government has also provided an $8 million boost in funding for the All-In Early Education program run by Women’s and Girls’ Emergency Centre (WAGEC). The program runs in select early education centres across NSW to equip early childhood educators and families to engage with children on respect, safety and equality.

A year since the launch of its primary prevention strategy, the state government has been rolling it out across the community, including:

• Establishing the Multisport Coalition for the Prevention of Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence
• Partnering with Local Government NSW to lead best practice primary prevention at the local level
• Funding local organisations through our Multi-Year Primary Prevention Grants to run primary prevention programs across the state, including work with boys and men
• Providing one-off grants for community organisations to engage the community in raising awareness about domestic violence and gender equality during 16 Days of Activism.

Find out more about Respectful Relationships Education here: https://education.nsw.gov.au/teaching-and-learning/curriculum/respectful-relationships-education.

Acting Minister for Education and Early Learning Courtney Houssos said, “Preventing gender-based violence must start long before harm occurs, and the Minns Labor Government’s investment in Respectful Relationships Education is about giving young people the tools to develop healthy, respectful relationships in their lives.

“The results from our pilot schools have been encouraging, and we are now ready to expand the program to 150 more schools in 2026.

“Schools will be supported with evidence-informed, age-appropriate resources that help address the drivers of gender-based violence.”

Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Jodie Harrison said, “Through our Respectful Relationships Education, we are giving our children and young people the tools to challenge rigid gender norms that are the underlying drivers of gender-based violence so they can live free of violence. 

“Everyone has a right to be safe and respected and to live a life free of domestic, family and sexual violence.

“We must work as a community to address domestic, family and sexual violence and change attitudes and behaviours that tolerate violence against women.”

Support:

For information on Men’s Behaviour Change Programs operating in your local area, contact the Men's Referral Service on 1300 766 491. 

If you or someone you know are in immediate danger, call the Police on Triple Zero / 000.

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic and family violence, call the NSW Domestic Violence Line on 1800 65 64 63 for free counselling and referrals, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

For confidential advice, support, and referrals, contact 1800 RESPECT or 13 YARN.