Are you a teacher?
Do you work in a school?
Do you work on a project that links with schools?

The information on this page is designed to support you in challenging homophobia and transphobia in schools, and to help make a whole-school approach to supporting sexual diversity a reality in Victoria.

Rights and Responsibilities

All schools have a legal responsibility towards same sex attracted and transgender students, and all students have a right to feel safe and be treated fairly.

The Equal Opportunity Act 1995 made it unlawful to discriminate or sexually harass in the following areas of public life: education, employment, provision and receipt of goods and services, sport, accommodation, clubs and club members, local government and disposal of land. Schools are covered by the Act because they educate children, employ people (as teachers, office staff, aides, etc), provides goods and services (canteen, parent interviews, after school programs, etc).

Schools should be aware that preventing discrimination and harassment against same sex attracted and transgender young people in schools is not a choice.

Victorian Dept of Education and Early Childhood Development
In October 2008 the Victorian Department of Education sent a policy document called 'Supporting Sexual Diversity in Schools' to every primary and secondary school principal in the state. The document gives basic advice and guidance to schools on how to combat homophobia and where to find more information and support.

As a follow up to this document, GLHV has produced a checklist that schools can use as a starting point to assess how well they are doing in supporting sexual diversity.

The booklet is here:
www.eduweb.vic.gov.au/edulibrary/public/teachlearn/student/supportsexual...

The checklist is here: www.glhv.org.au/files/SexualDiversityChecklist.pdf

Resources for respecting diversity in sexuality education can be found here: www.education.vic.gov.au/studentlearning/teachingresources/health/sexual...

There are also curriculum guidelines for a whole-school approach to same sex attraction and gender diversity here: www.education.vic.gov.au/studentlearning/curriculum/preptoyear10/guideli...

Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission
VEOHRC can provide information and training on homophobia and discrimination in regard to the Equal Opportunity Act. Their website also includes curriculum material for teachers on human rights in Australia as well as information for school leaders, students and families.

www.humanrightscommission.vic.gov.au/safe%20schools/Introduction/

Teaching Resources

Celebrating Diversity in Schools
Celebrating Diversity provides a large range of resources for teachers and anyone working with young people to help make schools, and other youth settings safer, more supportive and more inclusive places for same sex attracted and transgender young people and staff.

www.celebratingdiversity.org.au

Learn to Include
A project developed in NSW and relevant to Prep to Grade 2 classes across Victoria. Includes discussion on the diversity of families.

www.hotkey.net.au/~learn_to_include/

Challenging Homophobic Language
Challenging homophobic language in schools doesn't have to be time-consuming or difficult. This excellent guide, produced by Stonewall UK, is aimed at helping create an environment where all young people can learn free from discrimination. The document is attached below.

Safe Schools Coalition
The Safe Schools Coalition, based in Washington State USA, is an international public-private partnership in support of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender youth, that is working to help schools - at home and all over the world - become safe places where every family can belong, where every educator can teach, and where every child can learn, regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation. Their website contains a range of useful resources - check it out!

www.safeschoolscoalition.org/insidehome.html

Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network
GLSEN works with policy makers, community leaders, and students on the urgent need to address anti-LGBT behaviour and bias in schools in the USA. The run a number of excellent campaigns and provide a range of resources that you can access online.

www.glsen.org/cgi-bin/iowa/all/educator/index.html

No Outsiders
The 'No Outsiders' research project in the UK supports primary teachers in challenging homophobia and heteronormativity within their own schools and classrooms from September 2006 to December 2008. The website contains a particularly useful list of books and films suitable for use in both primary and secondary school classrooms.
www.nooutsiders.sunderland.ac.uk/teachres/books-and-films/

Gay and Lesbian Health Victoria
Includes a clearinghouse of Australian and international resources and reports including curriculum and school-based material.

www.glhv.org.au

Gender Questioning Booklet
A useful booklet aimed at people aged 16-25 who are questioning their gender, or their friends, families or teachers. The pdf is attached below.

Research and Other Resources

Transphobic Bullying: Could you deal with it in your school?
A booklet produced for schools in the UK by GIRES (Gender Identity Research and Education Society) to help deal with transphobic bullying. A lot of it is quite medicalised, but you might find some of the specific advice around schools useful.

http://www.gires.org.uk/assets/Schools/TransphobicBullying-print.pdf

'More conversations with queer young people: To be read aloud'
M Crowhurst, 2009
Full pdf is here: http://researchbank.rmit.edu.au/view/rmit:1838

The School Report
A report from Stonewall UK into the experiences of young gay people in Britain's schools. The data is taken from a study in 2006 that showed how two thirds of same sex attracted young people had experienced bullying at school. The report also gives 10 key recommendations for how schools can better support lesbian, gay and bisexual students.
The full pdf is attached below.
Also see www.stonewall.org.uk/education_for_all/

Referring young people to groups
If you are working with young people who are interested in getting involved in activities and meeting other same sex attracted or transgender young people please check our 'find a youth group' page to find the nearest group in your area. Or contact Roz on (03) 9285 5131 for more info.

Further Support

If you would like further support, Rainbow Network Victoria offers a range of training opportunities, including tailored support for your school. We also provide an e-bulletin to our members to make sure you get the latest news and information.
Membership is free so what don't you join today?
Join here! www.rainbownetwork.net.au/membership

Page updated: 22nd January 2010