Power to Kids in Schools

Aligned with the Respect Matters portfolio in the Australian Curriculum, Power to Kids in Schools embeds a whole-of-school approach through three evidence-based prevention and response strategies. Educators and schools explore each strategy within their own context. A deep understanding of trauma-informed, culturally-safe, relationship and strength-based practice is fostered to support effective implementation. Participants gain confidence to create safe spaces for brave conversations with young people on key sexual health and safety topics.

By upskilling the whole school community, Power to Kids in Schools aims to increase young people’s understanding of healthy relationships and sexual safety. Through increased understanding and improved strengths-based relationships, children and young people are more likely to ask questions, disclose concerns and seek help when needed.

Power to Kids in Schools is an adaptation of the successful Power to Kids in Out of Home Care program. Power to Kids in Out of Home Care is a multi-disciplinary approach developed by MacKillop Family Services in partnership with the University of Melbourne. The program aims to strengthen prevention and responses to sexual exploitation, harmful sexual behaviours and dating violence for young people living in residential care. The program is informed by a strong evidence-base of international research and the professional experience of practitioners on the ground.

Power to Kids in Out of Home Care was developed to address several recommendations made by the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse and has now been delivered to over 1,500 professionals nationally.

The Power to Kids in Schools program is implemented over several phases. During the ‘readiness’ phase we partner with schools to understand their specific contexts and needs. We start our training with leadership to ensure understanding and support is consistent across the school. The second phase is ‘whole of staff’ professional learning. This includes introductory elearns, a professional learning day, and access to an online portal that contains a library of resources and tools for educators. The final phase is implementation. Power to Kids in Schools supports schools to build capacity internally to sustain and continue to deepen knowledge across the key sexual safety topics. There are also mechanisms to embed practice and tools to support monitoring progress.

Power to Kids in Schools utilises a “Brave Conversation model.” This model follows the TALK acronym:

• Take the Initiative

• Ask the child what they think or feel

• Let them know the facts and range of beliefs

• Keep the conversation going

(Faulkner & Schergen, 2016)

This is a simple method for having a trauma-informed conversation and keeping focus on a young person's feelings and values. The brave conversation model utilises fact-based education, eliminating shame and empowering children and young people to make their own decisions in a safe way.

• Harmful sexual behaviour

• Child sexual exploitation

• Dating violence

• Rights and responsibilities

• Cultural practice

• Gender and diversity

• Sexual health

• Sexual behaviour

• Respectful relationships and love

• Consent and age

• Grooming and abuse

• Disclosure and informed friend

• Online safety and pornography

• Increased knowledge of harmful sexual behaviour, child sexual exploitation & dating violence

• Enhanced capacity to identify, intervene & respond to harmful sexual behaviour, child sexual exploitation & dating violence

• Increased confidence and competence to have sexual safety conversations with children & young people.