ACT Education Minister Andrew Barr writes:
The ACT Government is ramping up efforts to stamp out homophobia in ACT schools as a La Trobe University study confirms our schools are the most common place same-sex attracted young people suffer abuse.
The Writing Themselves In 3 (WTi3) report was compiled by La Trobe University in 2010. It’s the third national study on the sexual health and wellbeing of same-sex attracted and gender-questioning young people. In 2010, more than 3000 young Australians responded to the survey, including 80 from the ACT.
Key findings of the 2010 report include:
- Young people continue to suffer high levels of verbal and physical homophobic abuse particularly at school.
- In 2010, 61% of young people reported verbal abuse because of homophobia, 18% physical abuse and 26% ‘other’ forms of homophobia.
- The most common place of abuse remained school with 80% of those who were abused naming school.
- As many as 37% of young people described their school as homophobic or very homophobic overall.
- For more than half of the participants, homophobic abuse impacted negatively on aspects of their schooling.
- 40% of young people surveyed said they wanted the Sexuality Education delivered by their school to be changed so that it was more inclusive of same sex attraction and gender diversity and
- Young same-sex attracted people who reported their school as having a supportive environment, were less likely to harm themselves or attempt suicide demonstrating the importance of putting policy into practice.
Like any form of bullying or discrimination, homophobia can have a massive and negative impact on the life of a young person. For example, the report shows there are strong links between homophobic abuse and feeling unsafe, excessive drug use, self arm and suicide attempts.
There is clear evidence in this report that schools can make a major contribution to the health and safety of students by effectively addressing homophobia.
I am determined that every ACT school will continue to make every student feel safe and valued.
That’s why I have asked the Department of Education and Training to:
- Arrange an ACT Schools anti-homophobia conference to be conducted on 17 May to coincide with the International Day Against Homophobia. The conference will be open to students and teachers in ACT public, independent and Catholic systemic schools.
- Develop a new training package to help ensure school counsellors and pastoral care coordinators can better work with their entire school to prevent homophobia and
- Reform school Anti-Sexual Harassment Contact Officer training to improve our schools response to homophobia.
ACT schools already work hard to make every student feel safe and welcome students. But there’s always more to do. Discrimination of any kind is not tolerated in ACT schools and it will not be tolerated in ACT schools.
In 2010, 61% of young people reported verbal abuse because of homophobia, 18% physical abuse and 26% ‘other’ forms of homophobia.
· the most common place of abuse remained school with 80% of those who were abused naming school.
· as many as 37% of young people described their school as homophobic or very homophobic overall.
· For more than half of the participants, homophobic abuse impacted negatively on aspects of their schooling.
· 40% of young people surveyed said they wanted the Sexuality Education delivered by their school to be changed so that it was more inclusive of same sex attraction and gender diversity and
· young same-sex attracted people who reported their school as having a supportive environment, were less likely to harm themselves or attempt suicide demonstrating the importance of putting policy into practice
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