Consent lessons will be MANDATORY in schools across Australia

Education on consent will become mandatory in every Australian school after a landmark ruling by state and federal ministers.

Federal Senator Jonathon Duniam on Thursday confirm education officials would meet in April to finalise a new curriculum which includes consent education.  

Teachers will give children from prep to Year 12 age-appropriate lessons about the importance of gaining permission, power imbalances and coercion.

Former Sydney private school student Chanel Contos has pushed for the change and launched a petition called Teach Us Consent – which advocates for earlier and improved sex education.

She helped design the proposal for the curriculum, which will be implemented from 2023 onwards. 

Former Sydney private school student Chanel Contos, 22, (pictured) started a petition when she realised last year she and her friend were both sexually assaulted by the same person as teenagers

Her petition sparked almost 3,000 testimonies from women who experienced sexual abuse or misconduct at school. 

While the alarming stories hailed from all sorts of institutions, several of Australia’s top same-sex schools’ names were repeatedly mentioned – including Scots College, Cranbrook, Sydney Grammar, Waverley College, Kambala, Monte Sant Angelo and Pymble Ladies’ College. 

She claimed Kambala gave her a ‘great consent education but they gave it too late’.

Ms Contos, who claims she was sexually assaulted by a schoolboy when she was 13, will meet with Prime Minister Scott Morrison next week. 

Federal Education Minister Alan Tudge last year said he admires the courage of Ms Contos and others who have shared stories after being encouraged by her petition.   

He said the curriculum would include information about respectful relationships, consent and sexual abuse.

Several of Australia’s top same-sex schools’ were repeatedly mentioned among the disturbing testimonies, including Scots College (pictured), Cranbrook, Sydney Grammar, Waverley College, Kambala, Monte Sant Angelo and Pymble Ladies’ College

Ms Contos said Kambala High School (pictured) gave her a ‘great consent education but they gave it too late’

‘This is an issue for the entire community to do better at,’ Mr Tudge said.

The government came under immense pressure over the treatment of women after former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins alleged she was raped by a colleague in a minister’s office.

Ms Higgins coming forward triggered national debate about sexual assault and the workplace culture inside Parliament House.