Promising Practice Programs

Respect Relate Stop Rape

Agency Ruby Gaea Darwin Centre Against Rape
PO Box 42082
Casuarina
Northern Territory
0811
Website N/A
Contact Naomi Brennan (Coordinator)
PHONE: (08) 8945 0155
FAX: (08) 8945 2783
EMAIL: rubygaea@octa4.net.au
Start date Commenced
End date On-Going
Program type Community awareness/education
Geographical area Northern Territory: Casuarina Local community
Target group Young women and men - school years 9-10
Description Respect Relate Stop Rape is a four-session school-based program that empowers young people to break the silence around sexual violence.
It gives participants the knowledge and skills to better understand sexual violence and to stay safe.
It is designed to be run with Year 9 and 10 students in schools, by two outside facilitators. The students are divided into same-sex groups for the first three sessions, with mixed boys and girls group for the final session.

Program Aims:
  • To support young people to break the silence that surrounds sexual violence
  • To raise young people's awareness and understanding of the social context of sexual violence
  • To help young people to recognise sexual violence and promote the values and skills to help stay safe, and
  • To promote support structures so young people can get help when they need it.

Program objectives:
  • To create a climate of trust and empowerment
  • To encourage participation from students
  • To develop student understanding of what sexual violence is and its long and short-term effects
  • To provide strategies for recognising sexual violence and develop skills in building healthy relationships, keeping safe and accessing appropriate support, and
  • To provide referrals for getting information, help and support.
Good practice examples The program uses the traditional tools of social deconstruction and gives them a contemporary relevance.
The success of the program relies on the young people feeling safe and supported.
It aims to create an environment where young people are free to examine and to challenge the relationship between gender, power and violence.

This program also demonstrates Good Practice in the following ways:
  • Takes account of contemporary research and practice developments in the field of sexual assault.
  • Positions diversity as key to the development, understanding and delivery of good practice models.
  • Contributes to improving systems' responses to sexual assault, and is directed at preventing sexual assault.
  • Includes processes of accountability and evaluation.
Based on existing program No
Philosophical framework The program is grounded in feminist philosophy and informed by feminist practice. Inherent to the program's design is the idea that feminist philosophy and practice is vitally relevant to young men and women.
Research informing program N/A
Publications N/A
Evaluation The program was evaluated using external, action research. The method used was a written evaluation following attendance delivery. Feedback on each session was given from students and from facilitators.

The original program was 12 months in development, extensively researched and delivered.  In 2003 it was independently evaluated by a Youth Worker using action research in consultation with facilitators who delivered the program, participating schools, teachers and students.  Data gathered was used to inform the redesign of the program to what it is today. 

Evaluation is ongoing and reflective to ensure it meets the needs of the target group.
Funding Northern Territory Department of Health and Community Services

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