ACC’s school-based healthy relationships pilot programme November 2014 Copyright (c) ACC

Mates & Dates is one of the first initiatives out of ACC’s new sexual violence primary prevention programme ACC already plays a key role supporting people who have experienced sexual abuse or assault…primary prevention is a new area of focus in Injury Prevention 2 Copyright (c) ACC Overview

Why we developed Mates & Dates 3 Copyright (c) ACC

15 – 24 year olds are most at risk from violence from current and ex partners 1 in 5 female and 1 in 10 male secondary students experience unwanted sexual contact /unwanted sexual acts Most (57%) tell no-one 50% of women will be re-victimised 4 Copyright (c) ACC Why we developed Mates & Dates

multi-year healthy relationships programme for all years 9-13 fully aligned with the New Zealand Curriculum available to all secondary schools aligned with best practice. 5 Copyright (c) ACC There is currently no:

ACC wanted to address those gaps We also wanted to see a whole school approach integrated into: curriculum, teaching and learning school policy, practices, culture and environment. 6 Copyright (c) ACC

What we wanted from the programme 7 Copyright (c) ACC

We wanted a programme: informed by evidence on risk factors and protective factors focused on changing behaviour, not raising awareness centred on teaching negotiation, consent, respect and non- violence skills. 8 Copyright (c) ACC

We wanted a programme: with quality content addressing antecedents to violence interactive and participatory teaching methods matching stages of change and developmental needs. 9 Copyright (c) ACC

We wanted a programme: to teach strengths-based skills to change attitudes and behaviour to respond appropriately to disclosures with sufficient ‘dosage’ to produce change taught by well-trained and supported specialist facilitators. 10 Copyright (c) ACC

We wanted a programme: that was relevant, inclusive and culturally-sensitive informed by knowledge of target group and local contexts to help to prevent sexual and dating violence. 11 Copyright (c) ACC

We wanted to be able to demonstrate: attitude and behaviour change over the long-term what young people are doing differently, rather than what they know, as a result of attending Mates & Dates classes. 12 Copyright (c) ACC

If aligned with best practice, research shows that working with young people is one of most effective ways of preventing sexual and dating violence 13 Copyright (c) ACC

Who’s been involved? 14 Copyright (c) ACC

Who’s been involved? Specialist programme developer Georgia Knowles led a review of existing programmes and helped to develop content We held focus groups with young people, parents, teachers and other professionals who work with young people We consulted with education sector agencies 15 Copyright (c) ACC

We drew on evidence-based programmes CASA House Sexual Assault Prevention Programme for Secondary Schools (AU) The Sex & Ethics Program (NZ) Kidpower Teenpower Fullpower Trust NZ Gender, Sexism and Social Activism: A Youth Workshop That’s not cool (USA) A Thin Line (USA) Cybersmart (AU) Who Are You? (NZ) This is Abuse (UK) Rape Crisis & Family Planning programmes 16 Copyright (c) ACC

What the focus groups told us 17 Copyright (c) ACC

What young people told us 19 Copyright (c) ACC “They just showed a creepy old video.” “They try to tame it down but kids need real info.” “I got most of the info from my older sisters.” “What’s consent?” “We need life skills, how to identify what is good.” “Communication skills – things are often misinterpreted.” “ACC gives it credibility, more likely my parents will consent.” “It’s like immunisation. If some kids don’t get it, it fucks it up for the rest of us.” “It has to be more than 1 or 2 sessions. It should be in every year” “Someone we can relate to.” “It’s awkward to go from sex-ed to maths with the same teacher.” “It’s important to talk about pornography.” “They tried to make it jokey but then it was too awkward to ask questions.” “They try to tame it down but kids need real info.”

What parents told us “Their expectations are set by things that are not real life.” “Consequences – they don’t think things through – like snap chat.” “Kids have a new normal driven by social media.” “Most teachers are not good at this. I would want my son to say it was awesome.” “It needs to be in their language. Teachers can talk in that way.” “I just wish it could be compulsory.” “To have the confidence not to participate…” “How to identify when they are being manipulated.” “How to respond if they see something wrong…” “Give them context, show them porn is not real, that people don’t actually have sex like that…” “Boys send dick pix to girls, and girls save them to use as blackmail.” Copyright (c) ACC 20

What teachers and other professionals told us 20 Copyright (c) ACC “Kids are talking to strangers online because they are lonely and sad…” “There are such big gaps that our kids are learning about sex from porn…” “If you don’t have curriculum alignment schools will find it hard to fit in…” “Health Curriculum is not strong enough to give the skills they need…” “(Teach them) to report things. There is a view around here that ‘I was pissed and cant really remember so it doesn’t matter’ …” “We need access to consistent materials. It’s important that the teacher, counsellor and nurse are saying the same things” “(Include) how to end a relationship. Breakdown of relationship seems to trigger the worst fall out and increase suicide risk…” “Boys and girls are feeling pressured to do the things they see (in porn) and its never talked about so they never know it’s not real…” “Our kids are seeing a lot of dysfunctional relationships…”

We also worked alongside an Advisory Group Copyright (c) ACC 24

Introducing - the programme Copyright (c) ACC 22

Mates & Dates will help to prevent sexual and dating violence by teaching young people healthy relationship skills and behaviours they can carry on throughout their lives 23 Copyright (c) ACC

Whole School Approach Health and Physical Education learning area and NZ Curriculum key competencies Learning objectives and assessment options ‘Whole school approach’ with policies, guidelines, checklists and cultural safety specific to the school Includes information to support parents 24 Copyright (c) ACC

It teaches young people: how to have healthy relationships – from friendships to whānau to dating what consent is – how to seek it and give it how to recognise pressure, coercion and inappropriate behaviour how to get help, and how and when to safety intervene in situations that could lead to harm. 25 Copyright (c) ACC

Mates & Dates is: multi-year across all years 9-13 developmentally and age appropriate intended to build strengths-based skills year on year five sessions over five weeks (best practice dosage) a mix of interactive activities – not lectures taught by specialist facilitators, trained by ACC, with teachers present. 26 Copyright (c) ACC

Five content themes Healthy relationships Skills and consent Identity, gender and sexuality When things go wrong Keeping safe together 27 Copyright (c) ACC

The pilot Copyright (c) ACC 28

The pilot Piloted in eight secondary schools around the country in Term 3 Mix of different school types, locations and demographics Now being evaluated by Lighthouse Consulting Results due in December 29 Copyright (c) ACC

How will we know if it worked? Process evaluation (interviews, observation, focus groups) will show if the programme structure worked for young people, facilitators, schools and parents Impact evaluation (pre and post programme survey) will show if the programme changed attitudes and behavioural intent Case studies will identify critical success factors 30 Copyright (c) ACC

Next steps Copyright (c) ACC 31

It’s a challenging time for young people to be growing into adulthood…we hope Mates & Dates will give them the skills and tools they need to make that transition safely and to become happy, healthy individuals Copyright (c) ACC 32

Questions? Copyright (c) ACC 33