By KATHRYN BERMINGHAM
THE Federal Government’s program to support gender and sexual diversity in schools has come under attack this week but a local school has said it supports the strategy.
According to its website, the Safe Schools Coalition equips staff and students with “skills, practical ideas and greater confidence to lead positive change and be safe and inclusive”.
A spokesperson for Beaconhills College said this week that the school had been a signatory for the past two years.
“We support the Coalition’s contention that ‘all Australian schools value the health and wellbeing of students and agree that bullying of any kind is harmful and should not be accepted’,” the spokesperson said.
“Beaconhills has always supported the safety of its students. We foster a culture of tolerance of all students – regardless of their sexuality, nationality, religion or race.
“This aligns with the Christian principles on which our college was founded.”
On Tuesday 23 February Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull ordered an independent review of the Safe Schools Coalition after its manual came under attack from right-wing politicians and the Australian Christian Lobby.
Though Education Minister Simon Birmingham initially supported the program, an independent review now has until mid-March to advise him whether it is appropriate.
Almost 500 schools across Australia have signed onto the program, including several in the Cardinia and Casey municipalities.
The list of member schools includes Beaconhills College, Pakenham Springs Primary School, Oakwood School, Berwick College, Kambrya College, Timbarra College, Kooweerup Secondary College and Emerald Secondary College.
Labor candidate for La Trobe Simon Curtis, who has a background in education, said the work of the Safe Schools Coalition was “very important”.
“They play a very important role in helping young people to feel better supported while they’re at school,” he said.
“The program, as I understand it, isn’t a mandatory program in any way shape or form.
“By trying to suggest that the program forces schools to do something is underestimating the ability of the teachers and principals in those schools.
“It’s up to them to work out the right action to take and they are capable of doing that.”
The Cardinia Shire Council mental health factsheet states that the problem is particularly prevalent in the shire.
The 2015 Communities that Care survey indicated that 51 per cent of year eight students in Cardinia report depressive symptoms, compared to 41 per cent of year eight students Australia-wide.
What do you think of the Safe Schools Coalition? Has your school signed up? Let us know at www.facebook.com/PakenhamBerwickGazette.
