Consent Matters: Boundaries, Respect, and Positive Intervention 2.0 (Updated July 2023)

Published on: Sep 2019 1 hour of Core activities 1 hour 30 minutes of Additional activities

Modules featured in the Australian version:

  • Module 1: Thinking about consent
    Overview

    Core activities: 10-15 minutes approximately

    This module looks at what consent means in normal, everyday situations before exploring why it is important to have sexual consent. It uses activities, animations and scenarios to help students fully understand when consent has and has not been given, and how things like alcohol and drugs impact on capacity to consent. Common misconceptions around consent and sexual violence are broken down and explored. The module ends with information on the support available from a range of national and local organisations, as well as insights into how to support a friend who discloses sexual violence or abuse.

     

    Syllabus
    • The consent conversation
    • Why consent matters
    • Sex and consent
    • Consent misconceptions
    • Consent 101
    • How consent works in practice
    • Practice scenario: Alcohol and consent
    • Support
  • Module 2: Communication skills and relationships
    Overview

    Core activities: 15-20 minutes approximately

    This part of the course asks students to consider what they value in a relationship and suggests approaches for talking about sex with partners. It provides activities, animations and scenarios to help students consider their own boundaries and how to communicate effectively with their partner/s. The module explores how to recognise other people’s boundaries and signs indicating when to stop or pause. It also enables students to identify the indicators of unhealthy relationships.  The module ends with information on the support available from a range of national and local organisations, as well as insights into how to support a friend who discloses sexual violence or abuse.

     

    Syllabus
    • Communication and consent
    • Sex and relationship misconceptions
    • Let’s talk about sex
    • Boundaries
    • Stop, Pause, Go
    • Relationships and respect
    • Practice scenario: Pressure, communication skills and respect
    • Support
  • Module 3: Looking out for others
    Overview

    Core activities: 30 minutes approximately 

    This module empowers students to look out for others and intervene when they see behaviour that makes them uncomfortable, such as verbal, physical or sexual harassment. Based on ‘social norm’ theory, students will reflect on instances when they saw a problematic situation and wanted to intervene. Demonstrating the ‘true norm’ that most people want to help and do the right thing, the module explores common barriers to bystander intervention and show that students can intervene safely and compassionately by understanding how to reduce or overcome these barriers. Students will reflect on the different ways to intervene in a situation, from confrontation through to shifting the focus. The module ends with information on the support available from a range of national and local organisations, as well as insights into how to support a friend who discloses sexual violence or abuse.

     

    Syllabus
    • What’s positive intervention?
    • Difficult situations
    • What holds us back?
    • Choosing to step in
    • Becoming an active bystander
    • Different ways of stepping in
    • Practice scenarios: Looking out for others
    • Support

Modules featured in the UK version:

  • Module 1: Thinking about consent
    Overview

    Core activities: 10-15 minutes approximately

    This module looks at what consent means in normal, everyday situations before exploring why it is important to have sexual consent. It uses activities, animations and scenarios to help students fully understand when consent has and has not been given, and how things like alcohol and drugs impact on capacity to consent. Common misconceptions around consent and sexual violence are broken down and explored. The module ends with information on the support available from a range of national and local organisations, as well as insights into how to support a friend who discloses sexual violence or abuse.

     

    Syllabus
    • The consent conversation
    • Why consent matters
    • Sex and consent
    • Consent misconceptions
    • Consent 101
    • How consent works in practice
    • Practice scenario: Alcohol and consent
    • Support
  • Module 2: Communication skills and relationships
    Overview

    Core activities: 15-20 minutes approximately

    This part of the course asks students to consider what they value in a relationship and suggests approaches for talking about sex with partners. It provides activities, animations and scenarios to help students consider their own boundaries and how to communicate effectively with their partner/s. The module explores how to recognise other people’s boundaries and signs indicating when to stop or pause. It also enables students to identify the indicators of unhealthy relationships. The module ends with information on the support available from a range of national and local organisations, as well as insights into how to support a friend who discloses sexual violence or abuse.

     

    Syllabus
    • Communication and consent
    • Boundaries
    • Let’s talk about sex
    • Stop, Pause, Go
    • Relationships and respect
    • Practice scenario: Pressure, communication skills and respect
    • Support
  • Module 3: Looking out for others
    Overview

    Core activities: 30 minutes approximately 

    This module empowers students to look out for others and intervene when they see behaviour that makes them uncomfortable, such as verbal, physical or sexual harassment. Based on ‘social norm’ theory, students will reflect on instances when they saw a problematic situation and wanted to intervene. Demonstrating the ‘true norm’ that most people want to help and do the right thing, the module explores common barriers to bystander intervention and show that students can intervene safely and compassionately by understanding how to reduce or overcome these barriers. Students will reflect on the different ways to intervene in a situation, from confrontation through to shifting the focus. The module ends with information on the support available from a range of national and local organisations, as well as insights into how to support a friend who discloses sexual violence or abuse.

     

    Syllabus
    • What’s positive intervention?
    • Difficult situations
    • What holds us back?
    • Choosing to step in
    • Becoming an active bystander
    • Different ways of stepping in
    • Practice scenarios: Looking out for others
    • Support