Eleven schools to fight homophobia

Eleven Victorian schools have signed-on to be part of a new Safe Schools Coalition to end homophobic bullying.

Launching the new initiative last Thursday, Education Minister Bronwyn Pike praised the schools for their involvement.

“I want to make sure that every student has every opportunity to thrive, grow and learn and nothing gets in the way of that,” Pike said at the launch.

“Schools are coming out [in support], and I think this is a fantastic thing.”

The coalition was developed by the Rainbow Network Victoria ­- after receiving an $80,000 government grant – and has since been supported by the Foundation for Young Australians (FYA).

FYA CEO Jan Owen said she had been questioned as to why the group had supported the venture.

“I think there are hard things to do and get started,” she said. “This kind of idea, and the strength of it, and the work that has gone into it, is a no-brainer for FYA to support … so [young people] can be who they want to be.”

The coalition is based on a similar US model, however is thought to be an Australian first.

As part of the initiative, a training session of 200 pre-service teaches took place this week.

Rainbow Network Victoria project co-ordinator Roz Ward told Southern Star Observer the model aimed to empower teachers and students to foster a safe environment where people can be comfortable being themselves.

“It’s a really positive model, schools can join to make a commitment to support sexual diversity and gender diversity,” Ward said.

“So we’re not telling schools things they’re doing wrong, we’re trying to find things schools are doing right and to celebrate those things and build on them.”

Ward said she hopes the message to take action on homophobia will spread.

“It’s a really collaborative thing. The bigger it gets, the more the positive message about challenging homophobia in schools becomes, and it’s harder for other schools to ignore this.”

info: Visit, www.rainbownetwork.net.au

SAFE SCHOOLS
Croydon Secondary College
Eltham College of Education
Eltham High School
Hallam Senior College
MacRobertson Girls High School
Melbourne High School
Methodist Ladies College
Northcote High School
Pearcedale Primary School
Princess Hill Secondary College
Bellarine Secondary College