- Starick Services awarded contract to deliver Western Australian Respectful Relationships Teaching Support program
- Respectful Relationships is a primary prevention program that builds whole-of-school initiatives and strategies to promote positive and healthy relationships
- Additional element will strengthen respectful relationships education in Catholic and Independent schools
The Cook Government has awarded a three-year contract to Starick Services to deliver the Western Australian Respectful Relationships Teaching Support Program,including a new element to develop resources for Catholic and Independent schools.
The program is a voluntary primary prevention initiative which has been delivered by Starick in primary and secondary schools in the public education system across WA since 2019.
The program, which has already been rolled out to 91 schools across the State, focuses on promoting respectful relationships and gender equality, to prevent family and domestic violence before it starts.
It aims to provide teachers and school staff with the skills and confidence to support students to build relationships that are non-violent, equal and mutually respectful.
Funding of $2.2 million has been committed by the Cook Government to secure the long-term delivery of the program. As part of the expansion funding, $650,000 has been allocated for the development of new resources for the Catholic and Independent schools' sector.
Starick also delivers the Respectful Relationships Sport and Recreation pilot, which promotes respectful relationships and gender equality in sport and recreation clubs in WA.
As stated by Prevention of Family and Domestic Violence Minister Sabine Winton:
"The Cook Government is committed to supporting initiatives that help stop violence before it starts.
"The Respectful Relationships Teaching Support Program is a voluntary program that provides teachers with evidence-based skills to talk to students about what healthy, respectful relationships should look like.
"Extending resources to Catholic and Independent schools will ensure that many more Western Australian children will benefit from this important initiative.
"This is about creating generational change to break the cycle of family and domestic violence by promoting equality and respect in relationships.
"Starick has demonstrated an ongoing commitment to ensuring the success of this program and I look forward to continuing to work with them."
