An expanded Respectful Relationships Education program will reach an additional 150 public schools across New South Wales from Term 1, 2026, as part of the Minns Labor Government’s focus on preventing violence before it begins.
The expansion follows a pilot across ten NSW schools and forms a priority action under the state’s first dedicated primary prevention strategy, Pathways to Prevention. The NSW Government has committed $8 million to support the rollout, alongside $17.6 million in federal funding through the Commonwealth Consent and Respectful Relationships Education Measure.
The program is designed to work across entire school communities, with a focus on equality, empathy and safety. It provides teachers, school leaders and staff with access to professional learning, curriculum resources and system-level support to help address the drivers of gender-based violence and promote gender equality in age-appropriate ways.
Acting Minister for Education and Early Learning Courtney Houssos said the approach was grounded in early intervention rather than reacting after harm had occurred.
“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,” she said.
“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.”
Alongside the expansion, every NSW public school will have access to updated K–12 Teaching Respectful Relationships curriculum resources, as well as tools and guidance to adapt a whole-school approach to their own communities.
Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Jodie Harrison said education played a central role in shifting attitudes that allow violence to persist.
“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,” she said.
“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.”
The expanded school program sits alongside broader prevention work being rolled out across the state over the past year. This includes the establishment of the Multisport Coalition for the Prevention of Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence, partnerships with Local Government NSW to support prevention at the local level, and funding for community-led programs, including initiatives that engage boys and men.
The government has also provided an additional $8 million to the All-In Early Education program run by the Women’s and Girls’ Emergency Centre, which supports early childhood educators and families to talk with young children about respect, safety and equality in select centres across NSW.
Schools involved in the initial pilot have reported positive outcomes in building shared language and expectations around respect. Deputy Principal of Burwood Girls High School Katherine Lye said the program aligned closely with the school’s broader values.
“Our vision is to drive effective Respectful Relationships Education to strengthen a culture of empathy, equality and positive communication within our school community,” she said.
“We want to empower every student with the skills to build safe and inclusive relationships.”
The government says the education rollout complements other measures aimed at closing gaps in frontline services, strengthening protections for victim-survivors, holding perpetrators to account and supporting early intervention across the state.
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