Respectful Relationships

Respectful Relationships supports schools and early childhood settings to promote and model respect, positive attitudes and behaviours. It teaches our children how to build healthy relationships, resilience and confidence.

Croydon Community School has been involved in the Respectful Relationships initiative for a number of years, being a pilot school and evolving our practice since then. Students engage in classroom activities and whole school activities in varying degrees throughout the year. Students work through ideas and contribute in their advisories by exploring ideas and discuss topics through collaborative learning. Each Advisory runs 1 or 2 Respectful Relationship classes each week to gain skills and knowledge in self-awareness, self-management and coping strategies.

In the family violence prevention space, the term ‘Respectful Relationships’ has a very specific meaning – the building and promotion of gender equity in relationships, and the challenging of gender stereotypes. The topics cover Emotional literacy, Personal strengths, Positive coping, Problem solving, Stress management, Help-seeking, Gender and identity and Positive gender relations.

We are also a Lead school in the initiative, working with 8 other Partner schools to support them to embed the whole school approach and build their own practice within their school. This has also been an opportunity to share practice and create a community of schools learning together and supporting each other.