Professional organisations have continued to voice their support for the embattled safe schools Coalition anti-bullying initiative.
Western Australia’s Youth Advisory Council, the State School Teachers Union of WA and the Australian Education Union (AEU) have all voiced support for the program.
The delegates at the AEU’s national conference passed a motion condemning the Turnbull government for placing the program under review.
The AEU said it viewed the decision as; “a direct capitulation to the conservative and ignorant voices in the parliament and broader community who seek to demonise their work and young LGBTIQ people.”
Western Australia’s Youth Advisory Council has also publicly voiced support for the program describing it as a vital program which ensures safe, inclusive and engaging school environments for all young people.
“We believe that teachers and young people need to be armed with the tools and knowledge to respond to homophobia, bullying, and discrimination and to be able to support the development of healthy sexuality and gender identifiaction in all young people.” said CEO Craig Comrie.
WA’s peak body for young people said access to the program was essential to combating the high rates of mental health issues, attempted suicides and self harm.
Mr Comrie said the the council had received positive feedback from participating schools, parents and young people about the programs resources and approach.
“We trust that our school leaders in WA choose to run programs that are in the best interests of the children and young people in their communities and we believe that the Safe Schools model needs to be an option for them.” Mr Comrie said.
Last week Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull ordered a review of the program after several backbench MP’s argued that the program’s main goal was not reducing bullying but converting students to accepting an LGBTIQ ideology.
Subsequently National’s MP George Christensen spoke in parliament arguing that the program was similar to a pedophile grooming an intended victim. Mr Christensen said the program encouraged students to go to a series of weblinks where they may eventually access sadomasochistic content, information about sex toys and addresses of adult sex clubs.
The review of the program is being carried out by Western Australian professors Bill Louden and Donna Cross. The results of their investigation are due in mid March. The Prime Minister has committed to making their findings public.
OIP Staff, Image: stock image – Yay Micro
