Health Education is an important part of the curriculum, which teaches students how to be healthy, safe, active and informed citizens in an increasingly sedentary and technology-driven world. With the internet so readily available, it is vital that students are taught, and have access to, reliable and accurate health information.

All primary schools in Australia are required to teach health. The Personal, Social and Community health strands in the Australian Curriculum: Health and Physical Education covers a range of topics across six focus areas:

• Safety
• Food and nutrition
• Mental health and wellbeing
• Health benefits of physical activity
• Relationships and sexuality
• Alcohol and other drugs

Parents are encouraged to work in partnership with their child’s teacher to support their child as they learn to make informed choices about their personal health and wellbeing.

During Term 2, it is acknowledged that some areas of the health curriculum, such as relationships and sexuality, may be sensitive areas for parents to discuss with their child. The lessons that cover the relationships and sexuality focus area of the curriculum will introduce a range of concepts at an age-appropriate level. Please find some details about this program below.

Consent and Respectful Relationships Program

The students will be learning:

• Protective Safety (Body Safety)
• Consent
• Respectful Relationships: Emotional Literacy, Personal Strengths, Positive Coping, Problem Solving
• We All Grow Up

Lessons will identify and discuss the physical, social and emotional changes associated during the lifespan. This unit of work will be delivered in a manner appropriate to the age of the students. This unit may potentially invoke questions or discussion at home, and to support your child as they learn about consent and respectful relationships and begin to experience changes, listed below are several websites to refer to for your reference.

• betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/puberty
• healthdirect.gov.au/emotional-changes-puberty
• raisingchildren.net.au/pre-teens/development/puberty-sexual-development/puberty-helping-your-child

We have aligned our Consent and Respectful Relationships program with Vanessa Hamilton’s Talking the Talk program. More detail to come and a parent information session for all families in the coming weeks. St Catherine’s respects your family’s role in teaching Sexuality Education and hope that these lessons support and facilitate further conversations.

Please reach out if you wish to discuss any area of the health curriculum, or have any questions or concerns about the lessons your child will participate in.