What is Safe Schools?
Safe Schools is an $8m four-year federally funded national program that began in 2013 with bipartisan support. It grew out of a Victorian scheme to create safe and supportive schools for same sex-attracted, gender diverse and intersex young people. Schools can voluntarily join the Safe Schools Coalition in their state, which mostly provides training for teachers and other staff. An eight-part All of Us lesson plan may be taught in part or in full to students at the school’s discretion – the Safe Schools staff do not teach this course.
What are the federally mandated changes to Safe Schools?
After controversy this year, the federal government commissioned the Louden review. It largely supported the content of Safe Schools as educationally sound and robust but made minor suggestions for changes. The government’s changes announced in March went beyond these recommendations, including restricting it to secondary schools, requiring parental consent for students to take part in lessons, and parental bodies to agree to a school’s participation in Safe Schools. Federal funding expires next year and the government has said it will not renew it.
What about Victoria?
Victoria rejected the federal changes and will continue with the original program – it is no longer part of the national coalition. The Australian Capital Territory has said it will also self-fund the original program.
State by state
Victoria
The Andrews Labor government rejected the federal overhaul, and will continue with the original program, forgoing federal funding and contributing $1m to cover costs. The Liberal opposition wants the program scrapped and replaced with an anti-bullying program that avoids a “fringe ideological agenda”.
School involved: 284 school names are listed publicly. From the end of 2017, it will be mandatory for all government schools to be involved. Independent schools can choose to do so.
Australian Capital Territory
Along with Victoria, has rejected federal changes, and announced it will contribute $100,000 to continue the program as it is.
Schools involved: 24, listed publicly.*
New South Wales
The Baird government supports federal reforms, with the premier calling them “sensible and reasonable”, but several Liberal MPs continue to oppose the program, with one calling it a “Trojan horse for far-left extremists”. The Labor opposition supports the program.
Schools involved: 128, names withheld.
South Australia
The Labor government has criticised federal reforms, and called on Canberra to continue funding the program, but has not announced that it will do so itself. The Liberal opposition says it will not continue funding Safe Schools if it wins the next election.
Schools involved: 70, listed publicly.
Queensland
There have been calls for Safe Schools to be mandatory in Queensland schools after the death of a 13-year-old boy in October following years of homophobic bullying. The Palaszczuk Labor government says it will remain voluntary for schools to participate. The Liberal National party opposition this year called for an “urgent” review of the program, saying it had been “hijacked” by activists.
Schools involved: 29, no public register after some schools reportedly harassed.
Western Australia
The Barnett government faces an election in March and has announced it will not continue funding Safe Schools after federal money runs out – schools can fund it themselves out of existing budgets. The Labor opposition says that, if it wins the election, it will provide $350,000 over four years to continue the program for public secondary schools that want it.
Schools involved: 26, publicly listed
Tasmania
The Liberal government has supported the federal reforms and has indicated the program may be overtaken by a state-wide anti-bullying program in schools next year. Labor has criticised the federal reforms.
Schools involved: 20, publicly listed
Northern Territory
Schools involved: none