Media Release
For immediate distribution – please on forward
Monday 16th April 2013
Over 100 Schools have joined Safe Schools Coalition Victoria!
Safe Schools Coalition Victoria have welcomed their 100 and 101st new member schools this month. Glen Eira College and Elwood College joined on the same day to push the membership into 3 figures! The news was greeted with cheers from over 400 young people when it was announced at the Same Sex Formal on Saturday night (April 6th). The highly popular event, organised by Minus18 in partnership with Safe Schools Coalition Victoria aimed to create a safe, supportive and celebratory space for same sex attracted young people and their friends, whilst also raising awareness of inclusion at school formals more generally.
Since launching in October 2010, support for the coalition has continued to increase throughout the state. The program has delivered professional learning sessions with over 2,500 school staff across Victoria, and reached thousands of students through school based projects and partnerships. It has also distributed thousands of information booklets, posters, and stickers to school staff and students.
Safe Schools Coalition Victoria is funded by the Victorian Department of Education and Early Childhood Development and the Department of Health. Based at Gay and Lesbian Health Victoria at La Trobe University, research is used to make sure that training and resources are high quality and relevant to the broader education framework.
The coalition aims to create school environments ‘where every family can belong, where every teacher can teach and every student can learn’. Government schools in Victoria have a positive duty to support sexual diversity, and ensure that there is no homophobic or transphobic bullying or discrimination.
Roz Ward, co-founder and co-ordinator of the coalition said;
“It is very exciting to welcome our 100th school to the coalition. When we launched back in 2010 nobody quite knew just how popular the coalition would become.
We have received so much positive feedback; we just know this is making a difference to students all across Victoria, and in all different kinds of schools.
The cheers from students at the same sex formal to this news, just shows how important this initiative has been in giving young people the confidence to just be themselves. We want everyone at school to feel like they belong, and whatever their gender or sexuality, they are valued as part of the community”
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Roz Ward, Coordinator of Safe Schools Coalition Victoria is available for interview.
T: 03 9285 5131 | M: 0450 319952 | E: r.ward@latrobe.edu.au
CHECK OUT OUR NEW WEBSITE: www.sscv.org.au
Roz Ward
Youth Programs, Gay and Lesbian Health Victoria
Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society
La Trobe University, 215 Franklin Street, Melbourne 3000
T:03 9285 5131 F:03 9285 5220
E: r.ward@latrobe.edu.au