The 10 principles at a glance
The Government has developed a framework to support any organisation working to prevent sexual violence, to promote healthy sexual relationships and sexual consent to young people.
The Commonwealth Consent Policy Framework: Promoting healthy sexual relationships and consent among young people includes 10 principles on how to promote consent and healthy sexual relationships.
1. Put sexual violence and its drivers into context
Incorporate a broad understanding of sexual violence, its gendered drivers and an intersectional approach when promoting consent and healthy sexual activity and relationships.
2. Consider your organisation’s broader culture
Consider and address the drivers of violence across your organisation, school or workplace.
3. Focus on empowerment, skills and practice
Empower young people to use affirmative consent, empathy and communication skills in day-to-day situations.
4. Balance a positive focus on pleasure with risks
Balance a positive focus on what young people can do to have healthy, pleasurable sexual activities and relationships, with what young people should not do.
5. Be direct and avoid stereotypes
Avoid talking about consent and sexual relationships in metaphors and euphemisms and challenge, rather than reinforce harmful gender roles and stereotypes.
6. Be relevant, age-appropriate and prepare for backlash
Promote healthy sexual activity, relationships and consent skills in different ways to meet the needs of different audiences, population cohorts and age groups, while preparing and planning for backlash.
7. Focus on safety
Prioritise safety, and be inclusive, trauma-informed and offer support.
8. Tailor to diverse audiences and be culturally safe
Tailor content to different audiences, show a diversity of experiences and relationships, and prioritise cultural safety.
9. Build partnerships
Partner with young people, those with lived experience and experts to design and deliver initiatives.
10. Measure progress to improve
Think about how to measure progress and gradually improve an initiative from the outset.
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