Schools across Australia are now eligible for the federally-funded respectful relationships grant. And here’s some more good news: that funding can be used for Peer Support. This means you can access the program and its modules, which includes a range of topics to support healthy relationships.
The Australian Government has allocated $77.6 million to support the delivery of Consent and Respectful Relationships Education (CRRE) in schools from 2024 to 2028. This initiative aims to foster healthy, respectful relationships among students and is a key component of Australia’s plan to end violence against women and children.
According to Jonathon Peatfield, CEO of Life Ed NSW/ACT, this funding presents an opportunity for schools to enhance their wellbeing programs.
“This grant helps schools access programs that are evidence-based, curriculum-aligned, and ready to go,” he says. “The Peer Support Program is one of the most practical ways to bring respectful relationships education into your school. It’s not a one-off lesson, but part of a broader culture change.”
What is the Respectful Relationships grant?
The grant supports schools to deliver age-appropriate, evidence-based learning about consent and respectful relationships. It’s part of the government’s broader strategy to tackle gender-based violence, and it recognises that schools are a powerful setting for prevention and early intervention.
The funding available to all Australian schools and can be used to cover the cost of approved programs, professional learning for teachers, or curriculum-aligned teaching materials. This includes Peer Support.
“It’s about giving young people the skills they need to relate to others with kindness, confidence and boundaries,” says Peatfield. “Respectful relationships are about how students treat their peers, how they work in teams, how they resolve conflict, how they understand empathy and fairness. These are life skills.”
How does the Peer Support Program fit in?
Peer Support has been used in schools for over 50 years to build positive school culture. It focuses on peer-led learning, with older students supporting younger ones in structured, small-group activities. It’s a model that builds leadership, empathy and belonging across year levels.
The modules available through Peer Support Australia align directly with the CRRE goals. For high schools, the Best Version of Me module encourages students to explore their personal values, boundaries, and ways to build respectful relationships with others. For primary schools, modules like Stronger Together and Living Positively support foundational skills in empathy, inclusion and emotional regulation.
“Peer-led programs are powerful because they shift the dynamic,” says Peatfield. “When a Year 9 student is guiding Year 7s through a conversation about values or relationships, that message lands differently. It helps both cohorts in different ways, and it builds relationships that play out in the classroom and playground.”
Schools can use the CRRE grant to implement and deliver the Peer Support Program, giving access to training, and module materials.
Why does Respectful Relationships grant matter?
Reports of gendered violence and online harm are rising, and students are navigating increasingly complex social environments, both in real life and online.
“Schools don’t just teach literacy and numeracy,” says Peatfield. “They’re shaping how young people see themselves, how they treat others, and how they resolve differences. This kind of education is just as critical.”
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