LESSONS on how to identify and prevent domestic violence will be taught in schools across NSW from next year.
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Tenterfield teenagers will be some of the first in the nation taught how to recognise domestic violence and seek help, when the issue is incorporated into the school curriculum from next year.
Prevention of Domestic Violence Minister Pru Goward announced the personal development, health and physical education curriculum would incorporate domestic violence education for students in Years 7 to 10.
The state government decision follows the campaigning of a young teenage girl, Rachel, whose mother committed suicide in March after years of suffering abuse.
Soon after her mother’s death, Rachel, 14, began a petition on Change.org, saying: ‘‘I didn’t [sic] know that what happened in my home was different to any other family home, as a child how could I have known any better?’’
It attracted more than 100,000 signatures and led other children affected by domestic violence to contact her, inspiring her to write to Prime Minister Tony Abbott and Premier Mike Baird on May 1 to implore that students be taught about the issue.
‘‘Maybe I could have gotten help and saved my mum,’’ she told the two leaders.
Two months on, Ms Goward, who met with Rachel, said: “I have heard first hand that young people want to learn how to recognise and respond to abuse in relationships that may occur in their homes.’’
“Through this update to the syllabus, schools can provide a significant platform for helping young people to identify, report and protect themselves and others from abuse,’’ she said.
The Board of Studies, Teaching and Education Standards has endorsed the change.
Anti-domestic violence advocates have also called for the issue of family violence specifically to be taught, where the current syllabus provision is for teaching children about ‘‘respectful relationships’’.
Grant Hatch from the NSW Education Department media unit said until the lessons were initiated Tenterfield High School couldn’t comment on the planned changes.