Keynote Speaker Melissa Kang
Melissa Kang is a medical doctor who trained in General Practice and then worked exclusively with adolescents and young adults in hospital and community settings for 30 years. Melissa was the medical writer behind the ‘Dolly Doctor’ Q&A column in Dolly magazine, between 1993 and 2016 and has recently co-authored award-winning books for adolescents including Welcome to Your Period, Welcome to Consent, Welcome to Your Boobs and Welcome to Sex.
Melissa has also been an academic for over 25 years and is currently the co-head of the General Practice Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, at the University of Sydney. Her research has focused on access to health care, health system navigation, adolescent sexuality and sexual health. She is currently the Vice President Oceania of the International Association for Adolescent Health and a member of the IAAH Education Committee. She was previously the president of the Australian Association for Adolescent Health from 2015 – 2020.
Keynote Speaker Daniel Principe
Daniel is a passionate youth advocate and educator. He champions boys across Australia to challenge culture and aspire to live courageous, respectful and empathetic lives.
Daniel is a board member of the DART Institute, an ambassador for the Women’s Resilience Centre and an ambassador for the national campaign Consent Can’t Wait. He was a recent nominee for the 2025 NSW Australian of the Year.
Having presented to tens of thousands of young people in every Australian state and territory, Daniel is no stranger to the complex challenges that our distracted digital world presents in adolescence. By partnering with schools and communities, Daniel encourages young people to recognise and resist distorted attitudes towards bodies, relationships and sex. He invites his audiences to instead aspire to healthy relationships built on mutual respect and empathy.
Daniel is a regular guest on TV, radio and podcasts to discuss healthy masculinity, consent, respectful relationships and the cultural challenges young people are facing. None of these evolving challenges sway Daniel’s confidence that all young people can flourish if we create spaces for them to be their best selves.
RSE Awards
In 2023, we presented the inaugural Relationships and Sexuality Education Awards to four Western Australian teachers. We are excited to present these awards again in 2025.
School staff who are committed to providing comprehensive, evidence-based relationships and sexuality education (RSE) across kindergarten to year 12 are essential to ensure this vital education is provided to children, adolescents, and young people. Further, schools and educators who engage in a whole-school approach to RSE, including parents, caregivers, and their broader school community are important. When implementing a whole-school approach, we know that it is not just classroom teachers who will provide all the RSE. Others such as school administrators, student support staff, school health nurses, wellbeing coordinators, and other school staff are also involved, and therefore eligible for any category of award. The winner of each award will receive a $500 contribution to resources for your school and a glass trophy!!
Nominations will close on the 5th of May. Finalists will be announced on the 12th of May. If you are a finalist, you will be asked to make a 2 to 4-minute video, where you will speak to the information you included in your nomination. You will need to create a video to be eligible for the award. The videos will be posted on the RSE Project's Facebook Group, and winners will be selected by the RSE Project's Advisory Group. The awards, $500 resource contribution, and trophies will be presented at the 2025 Growing and Developing Healthy Relationships Symposium, held at Curtin University on the 24th of October.
Check out the awards using the drop down boxes below. To nominate yourself or someone else, please head to the survey here.
The Rising Star RSE Educator Award recognises the contribution and commitment of a Western Australian school educator (i.e. Classroom Teacher, School Nurse, Wellbeing Coordinator, Principal, Deputy Principal, Education Assistant, etc) in providing new and highly innovative comprehensive relationships and sexuality education (RSE) to their school community. Unlike the other awards, the Rising Star does not need to show evidence of a whole-school program. Rather, the Rising Star recognises someone who had created and/or delivered a new, innovative strategy used within their classroom setting. The educator will show evidence of highly effective RSE delivery and outcomes, uniquely tailored to suit their school community's needs.
- The nominee has created a new and innovative strategy to enhance knowledge, language, and engagement in the area of RSE across their school community.
- They have demonstrated highly creative, innovative and/or specifically targeted education for their school community.
- Their work has resulted in a broadening of both student cohort and/or school community culture and participation in positive and inclusive RSE.
The Regional RSE Educator Award recognises the outstanding contribution and commitment of a regional school educator (i.e. Classroom Teacher, School Nurse, Wellbeing Coordinator, Principal, Deputy Principal, Education Assistant, etc) in providing targeted, comprehensive, positive, and creative relationships and sexuality education (RSE) across their whole school community. The winner of this award will have championed RSE through a whole-school approach, incorporating RSE into their curriculum and learning, ethos and environment, and partnerships and community, whilst tackling the unique challenges which are faced by educators in a regional context. The educator demonstrates evidence of highly effective RSE delivery and outcomes that are tailored to suit their unique regional context and community needs, with the limited support typically provided in RSE in the regions.
- The nominee has made a significant and demonstrable contribution to the knowledge, language and engagement in the area of RSE across their whole school community.
- They have demonstrated high-level education skills and RSE content delivery to a regional school demographic.
- Their work has resulted in a broadening of their regional student cohort and/or school community culture, and participation in positive and inclusive RSE.
The Primary School RSE Educator Award recognises the outstanding contribution and commitment of a Western Australian primary school educator (i.e. Classroom Teacher, School Nurse, Wellbeing Coordinator, Principal, Deputy Principal, Education Assistant, etc), in providing targeted, comprehensive, and positive relationships and sexuality education (RSE) across their whole school community. The winner of this award will have championed RSE through a whole-school approach, incorporating RSE into their curriculum and learning, ethos and environment, and partnerships and community. The educator demonstrates evidence of highly effective RSE delivery and outcomes, tailored to suit their unique primary school context and community needs.
- The nominee has made a significant and demonstrable contribution to knowledge, language and engagement in the area of RSE across their primary school community.
- They have demonstrated high-level education skills and RSE content delivery to a primary school demographic.
- Their work has resulted in a broadening of both student cohort and/or school community culture and participation in positive and inclusive RSE.
The Secondary School RSE Educator Award recognises the outstanding contribution and commitment of a Western Australian secondary school educator (i.e. Classroom Teacher, School Nurse, Wellbeing Coordinator, Principal, Deputy Principal, Education Assistant, etc), in providing targeted, comprehensive, and positive relationships and sexuality education (RSE) across their whole school community. The winner of this award will have championed RSE through a whole-school approach, incorporating RSE into their curriculum and learning, ethos and environment, and partnerships and community. The educator demonstrates evidence of highly effective RSE delivery and outcomes, tailored to suit their unique secondary school context and community needs.
- The nominee has made a significant and demonstrable contribution to knowledge, language and engagement in the area of RSE across their secondary school community.
- They have demonstrated high-level education skills and RSE content delivery to a secondary school demographic.
- Their work has resulted in a broadening of both student cohort and/or school community culture and participation in positive and inclusive RSE.
Session 1 Workshops
Act, Belong, Commit & The RSE Project
This workshop is specifically designed to support mainstream educators to better understand Autism and ADHD, and how to cater for these amazing students in RSE. It will take participants through a 101 lesson about these forms of neurodivergence, give practical tips and considerations as well as plenty of time for questions and conversations aiming to increase knowledge and confidence.
The session will be run by facilitators from Act Belong Commit and the RSE project. These organisations deliver evidence-based health promotion projects. Act Belong Commit focuses on encouraging people to take action to improve and protect their mental health and wellbeing, whilst the RSE project supports Western Australian schools to deliver comprehensive and evidence-based relationships and sexuality education (RSE). Together these organisations provide a comprehensive overview of relationship and sexuality education that supports all students.
What you will learn in this workshop:
- know what Autism and ADHD are
- know how to be more inclusive of neurodivergence in the classroom
- be aware of sensory considerations in sexuality education
- learn tips and tricks for educating autistic and ADHD students
- have had a safe space to ask questions and learn about neurodivergence
Appropriate for: Primary and Secondary School, School Nurses, Education Support
SHINE SA
SHINE SA provides comprehensive and integrated sexual and reproductive health services and programs in South Australia. This workshop session is presented by the SHINE SA Schools Team and focuses on teaching young people skills for healthy relationships and consent, with an emphasis on embracing and navigating the ambiguity present in many aspects of our lives. Through engaging, interactive, and practical activities, participants will gain the tools to teach young people essential skills for negotiating consent, including respecting autonomy, boundaries, and decisions, while prioritising the safety, pleasure, and well-being of all involved. Participants will also learn to guide young people in understanding and expressing emotions, desires, needs, and wants clearly, while creating a safe-enough space where someone can confidently say No. Strategies for teaching young people how to respond respectfully to feelings of disappointment or frustration and manage emotions effectively will be explored.
What you will learn in this workshop:
- Understand the core concepts of consent and how these principles are connected to Australian laws, enabling them to effectively teach young people about legal and ethical consent in relationships.
- Be equipped to identify factors that impact a person’s ability to give, seek, or deny consent, empowering them to guide young people in recognising these factors and navigating consent in real-life situations.
- Have strategies for teaching about the safety and well-being of sexual partners, including fostering respect for boundaries, affirmative consent, and communication skills, increasing the likelihood that young people can experience consensual, respectful, and pleasurable sexual experiences.
Appropriate for: Primary and Secondary School
Caitlin Humphrys Consulting and Queensland Catholic Education Commission
Incorporating faith perspectives without compromising quality and evidence based practices in RSE is a challenge, but one that also provides an opportunity that to speak to the reality of the world that students live in through a values lens. This session explores how faith-based values can guide conversations about healthy sexual relationships. Participants will learn how to integrate faith perspectives into discussions on sexuality, promoting respect, dignity, and responsibility in the context of sexual relationships.
What you will learn in this workshop:
- It is possible to deliver quality RSE in faith-based schools
- Be equipped with tools to handle resistance from conservative community members
- Be equipped with tools to answer curly questions with honesty and in a way that does not compromise values
- Understand the importance of not compromising on evidence-based RSE in faith based school settings
Appropriate for: Primary and Secondary School
SHQ
SHQ is a sexual health clinic in Perth, that offers a variety of clinical, counselling and educational services that empower people of all genders, cultures, ages and sexualities, with the knowledge, skills and confidence to make informed choices about their sexual health and relationships. It is important for young people to learn about their bodies, puberty and periods in supportive environments. Many teaching resources are medicalised, unrealistic and do not reflect the true diversity of bodies. SHQ have developed an inclusive drawings resource to help teachers and educators facilitate lessons around bodies, puberty and periods. SHQ will be showcasing the newest resource, the Period Kit, at the symposium. Bronwyn is a senior educator with a Masters of Sexology and of Counselling, and has extensive experience working with young people in schools and community. Bronwyn specialises in delivering strengths-based, trauma informed, respectful relationships and sexual health education programs.
What you will learn from this workshop:
- Understand sexual and reproductive systems (bodies) and how to educate young people about these in an age appropriate way.
- Be able to facilitate lessons around bodies, periods and puberty with young people, with access to teaching resources.
- Feel more confident to respond to young people’s questions about puberty, bodies, periods, sexual health and growing up.
- Have access to a new resource designed for teaching about periods, showcased at the symposium
- Understand referral pathways and services available for young people.
Appropriate for: Primary and Secondary School, School Nurses, Education Support
Youth Educating Peers Project
The Youth Educating Peers (YEP) Project is a peer project that delivers relationship and sexuality education (RSE) through a youth friendly, trauma-informed, harm reduction, inclusive and engaging approach. YEP's tagline: Sexual health for young people by young people. The workshop will explore online sexual literacy for young people including aspects of online dating, pornography & sexting. The workshop will give you practical activities to use in RSE lessons. It will also provide you with tips on delivering taboo topics, as well as the reasons why it is important to provide this vital education. Additionally, it will provide you with tips for how to engage disengaged young people. The session will also include aspects of healthy relationships, consent, pleasure and safer sex as all YEP sessions have this as a throughline. The session will be informative, resourceful and fun.
What you will learn in this workshop:
- Feel more equipped (skills and resources) to provide education to young people about online dating, sexting and pornography.
- Feel more confident to deliver RSE and have conversations with young people about regarding online sexuality.
- Have tools and research that will support them in advocating for topics such as pornography literacy and sexting harm reduction topics to be delivered within RSE.
- Have tools to make RSE youth friendly, trauma-informed, inclusive, evidence-based and engaging.
- Have an increased sense of permission or passion to deliver RSE.
Appropriate for: Secondary School, School Nurses, Education Support
Session 2 Workshops
Talk NOW!
This workshop, developed by Talk NOW!, draws on over eight years of expertise in delivering evidence-based, trauma-informed programs that have engaged over 150,000 students and 500 schools. Guided by a team passionate about promoting positive change, the session equips participants with practical strategies for navigating rejection and building healthy relationships. Highly interactive, the workshop includes role-playing real-life scenarios, collaborative problem-solving, and guided discussions, allowing attendees to have a go at applying new skills. Delegates will explore how to set and respect boundaries, communicate effectively, and manage rejection with empathy and confidence. Participants leave with a toolkit of actionable ideas grounded in respectful relationship principles ready to implement in their schools, classrooms, or communities. With a focus on empowering individuals to promote emotional resilience and positive interactions, Talk NOW! continues to lead the way in shaping meaningful, lasting change in relationship education.
What you will learn in this workshop:
- Practical Tools for Healthy Relationships Be equipped with strategies to set and respect boundaries and communicate effectively in a variety of contexts.
- Emotional Resilience Made Actionable Gain confidence in managing rejection with empathy and supporting others in developing emotional resilience.
- Mastering Real-Life Relationship Challenges Develop skills to navigate complex real-life scenarios through role-playing and collaborative problem-solving.
- Building a Culture of Respect and Empathy Understand how to build environments that prioritise empathy, mutual respect, and positive interactions.
Appropriate for: Primary and Secondary School
Youth Choices
Challenging, thought provoking, and realistic, this evocative short film and theatre in education presentation compels people to think about consent in all its forms. By depicting realistic scenarios ranging from being teased by Mum and Dad about going on a date, to the intricacies of healthy and unhealthy relationships, the program serves as a vital part of consent education in WA schools. This script was devised in collaboration with Western Australian high school students, based on their real experiences of negotiating consent with each other at school and on weekends, and at home with their families. After watching the film, we generate an empathy driven dialogue to break down this challenging problem. This discussion encourages the audience to engage deeply with the underlying lesson on consent, paving the way for exploring practical solutions together.
What you will learn in this workshop:
- Gain awareness of this free resource for young people in Perth and WA
- Get a greater understanding of consent through the eyes of today’s youth
- Further understand the importance of consent education in schools
Appropriate for: Primary and Secondary School, School Nurses, Education Support.
Sexual Health Victoria
The concept of pleasure is an integral part of sexual wellbeing and comprehensive relationships and sexuality education (RSE). This workshop will clarify how to talk to young people about pleasure across various RSE contexts including consent, healthy relationships, anatomy, safer sex and sexual decision-making. It aims to increase participants' confidence to educate about pleasure, and to articulate its importance to parents, carers and school professionals. This workshop will: examine the importance of pleasure in RSE; explore how to incorporate key messages about pleasure into school-based RSE classes, focusing on upper primary and secondary age groups; guide participants through a series of activities which present opportunities to intentionally teach pleasure; provide opportunities throughout for educators to consider how to answer pleasure-based questions young people may ask. Sexual Health Victoria is a state-wide independent, for purpose, all-choice organisation that runs RSE programs in school, community and disability settings.
What you will learn from this workshop:
- Understand the importance of pleasure in RSE.
- Understand where to incorporate key messages about pleasure into RSE, in age- and stage-appropriate ways. Gain practical tools to integrate pleasure into different RSE topics
Appropriate for: Upper Primary, Secondary School, School Nurses, Education Support
WAAC and Freedom Centre
Freedom is a service run by WAAC that provides support for the LGBTIQA+ youth run by peers, through education sessions, community stalls, social drop in spaces, and counselling in both metro and regional WA. This session is for school staff including teachers, nurses and admin to support LGBTIQA+ students. It will cover the LGBTIQA+ acronym, share LGBTIQA+ experiences of health and discrimination, and give insight and practical tips on how teachers can support LGBTIQA+ students on both individual and organisation levels.
What you will learn from this workshop:
Appropriate for: Upper Primary and Secondary School
Aboriginal Health Council of Western Australia.
Join the Aboriginal Health Council of Western Australia for an interactive workshop which will address how to engage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people in RSE.
Key learnings to come!