Australia: NSW pilots anti-homophobia program in high schools
New South Wales will trial an anti-homophobia program similar to the Safe Schools Coalition running in Victorian schools.
The $250,000 Proud Schools program will be piloted in 12 NSW high schools.
Safe Schools Coalition Victoria (SSCV) coordinator Roz Ward and said she was pleased to see NSW follow Victoria’s lead, but said funding is still critical for Victoria’s model to continue.
“We look forward to working with [NSW schools] and hope that further funding will be provided by the new [Baillieu] Government to support our work after June 2011,” Ward told the Star Observer.
So far 22 schools have signed on to the Safe Schools scheme in Victoria, which works with school staff to develop anti-homophobia initiatives and to create bullying-free environments in schools.
The program — developed by Rainbow Network Victoria and the Foundation for Young Australians (FYA) — was launched last year after a one-off grant of $80,000 from the Victorian Education and Early Childhood Development department.
With funding almost up, those involved with the program are anxiously waiting for a commitment from the new Government to fund the initiative on an ongoing basis.
Ward said more than 600 students, teachers and school staff had accessed SSCV training. A resource booklet, Supporting Sexual Diversity in Schools: A Guide, has also been delivered to every school in Victoria.
Ward said feedback from school communities so far has been “fantastic”.
“Safe Schools Coalition Victoria has received so much positive feedback since we launched,” she said.
“Schools recognise the negative impact that homophobia has on the lives of young people, teachers and school staff.
“We know that effective school-based programs that address homophobia in schools and support teachers in dealing with this challenge can really make a difference.”
Recent research shows verbal and physical abuse against same-sex attracted (SSA) youth is on the increase.
Writing Themselves In 3 — the third national report of sexuality, health and wellbeing of SSA and gender questioning young people — showed a marked jump in homophobic violence in Australian schools, with strong links to higher levels of self-harm and suicide in abused youth.
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