Let’s talk about the C word!

Consent is everywhere, in everything we do, in every interaction. It allows us to feel safe, to open up in relationships. Consent is not just something that happens in the bedroom but is fundamental to our human connections.

Yet somehow consent feels tricky, and awkward – we feel ill-equipped. And if we can't consent in life, how can we do it when we have sex?

In this panel discussion, we will explore consent in everyday life and how these conversations and boundaries can be different for everyone. We'll explore the awkwardness of a no, the power of body language and reading the timing for conversations. This isn't a conversation about sex, but about creating meaningful human interactions.

At the end of the event there will be a call to action for people to share their experiences (positive or challenging) of checking for consent with friends, teachers, employers, and others in everyday life.

We're excited to have these speakers on board to join us:

Dr Joy Townsend (Moderator)

Joy is a Sociologist whose area of expertise is in the field of gender and sexualities. Her work centres on the lived experiences of young Australians. Joy is the Founder and CEO of Learning Consent – a leading provider of comprehensive consent education programs for schools and universities around the world.

Anna Cheney (Panellist)

Anna is an intimacy coordinator who collaborates with actors and directors to choreograph intimate moments for theatre and the camera promoting consensual practice so that scenes are believable, repeatable and safe. With over 20 years’ experience in studying human behaviour, as a Registered Nurse (including on film and TV sets) and as a multi award-winning actor on stage and screen, Anna combines her passion for Equity and Inclusion with her love of people and story-telling.

Axel-Nathaniel Rose (Panellist)

Axel is a Ph.D candidate, writer, editor, and teacher. His experience as a queer, transgender, and disabled man informs all that he does, and he believes that a crucial part of activism and social change is the stories we tell. His Ph.D comprises a dissertation on queer people’s engagement with literature through blogging and a novel about the impacts of climate crisis and social media on young queer people. His fiction, journalism, and poetry have been featured in Tharunka magazine, Unsweetened Literary Journal, and Aesthetic, and his plays have been performed by NUTS.

This event is brought to you as part of UNSW's annual festival of celebrating, questioning and exploring every aspect of sex. To learn more, check our website out here.