THE landmark mandate to include consent education in the Australian curriculum has passed in Parliament this week.

This is a historic win for not only young people across Australia, but for campaigns including Chanel Contos’ ‘Teach Us Consent’ campaign, which has been the largest advocating petition for this mandate.

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Launching in 2020, the petition gained over 44,000 signatures and more than 6,700 testimonies of sexual assault. Sexual, domestic and family violence support organisation Full Stop Australia welcomes the decision to include age-appropriate sexual consent education in all Australian schools from kindergarten to Year Ten.

Full Stop Australia chief executive officer Hayley Foster was overcome by the news that all federal and state education ministers unanimously agreed to incorporate sexual consent within the curriculum.

“This is a generational change that will equip young people with proper knowledge around sexual consent at each level of their education.

“We know from our sexual violence helpline that teenagers are not only the highest risk group of experiencing sexual violence, but also perpetrating it,” Ms Foster said.

This mandate comes after twelve months of dedicated campaigning by Full Stop Australia Ambassador Chanel Contos and the passionate advocacy of young people throughout Australia.

“Consent education will mean we can stop it before it starts.

“This is about educating our young people but also changing societal norms and expectations before they have their first intimate encounter.”

Ms Foster said the leadership displayed by Ms Contos is awe-inspiring.

“Ms Contos has been the fire stick that has skilfully harnessed public sentiment to achieve this significant reform that many advocates have long been striving for,” Ms Foster said.

The education on consent will be made mandatory in all Australian schools from 2023, following the state and federal ministers’ unanimous decision.

Education Ministers are due to meet in April to finalise the new curriculum.

By Tara CAMPBELL