A Conversation on Consent with Chanel Contos – Woodleigh School PEP Talk (Parent Education Program)

In 2021 Chanel Contos instigated an online petition calling for young women to come forward if subjected to sexual assault while still at school. The petition subsequently went viral, with thousands of young women signing or sharing stories that, in many cases, were graphic, disturbing and deeply upsetting.

Chanel's petition calls for sex education, particularly consent education, to be taught at a younger age in schools. The observation is that concepts of consent are being introduced too late, with many young people not understanding the boundaries of consent – resulting in sexual assault or rape. This broad and strong call for change has made many schools reassess their sex and life education curriculum to help protect young people across the nation.

Parents also need to start having conversations around consent sooner rather than later, as some teens experience their first sexual encounter well before the subject matter is delivered. It is not enough for parents or carers to assume that your teenager knows or understands what consent means and the implications surrounding it. They need to understand boundaries to respect both themselves and their partners.

In the lead up to International Women's Day, Chanel will join us to share insights into her call for action and offer parents guidance around normalising the topic of consent to ensure all young people experience healthy and respectful relationships.