NSW school principals in crisis meeting after petition detailed thousands of alleged sexual assaults




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Chanel Contos started the petition calling for schools to teach better sexual education on consent. (Image: Supplied)

More than 100 private school principals have convened for a crisis meeting following a petition detailing thousands of alleged sexual assaults against former students.

Former Kambala student Chanel Contos started the petition last month, because she was “sick of constantly hearing my friends’ experience of sexual abuse”.

Ms Contos has called for a bigger focus on consent in sexual education, for consent to be taught from a younger age and education to be focused on single-sex private schools.

During an online webinar today, NSW Police Sex Crimes Squad boss Sarah Maloney responded to questions from the heads of the Catholic, independent and government schools across the state about sexual violence.

The Association of Independent Schools NSW (AISNSW) organised the meeting with 480 school members, representing 214,000 students.

AISNSW chief executive Geoff Newcombe said it was powerful having Ms Maloney attend.

“I think we both agree it’s time now to draw a line in the sand,” Dr Newcombe said.

“The accusations and allegations will continue … and they should be heard.

“But it’s time now to move forward as well and start to say … we as schools are a critical part of it, and so how are we going to take this forward and begin the job of making a difference?”

The key elements discussed during the meeting were about consent education, protocols on reporting, and the safety, welfare and wellbeing of young people.

The AISNSW will now begin work on a strategy and statement of intent to address sexual violence within NSW schools.

The harrowing accounts shared on the petition page are from girls as young as 13 and have focused on assaults perpetuated predominantly by students at all-male schools.

The accounts detail girls being pressured to perform sexual acts and waking up to being inappropriately touched.

NSW Education Minister Sarah Mitchell today thanked the young women for speaking out about their experiences, noting she had read through the testimonies.

“Can I say for the very brave young women who have come forward to share their stories over the last few weeks, I thank you,” she said.

“Reading some of those accounts is incredibly harrowing but it’s also important that we’re now having an honest and brave conversation about sex education in schools.”

The state’s entire education curriculum was announced to undergo its first overhaul in almost 30 years in 2018.

A new curriculum is expected to roll out in 2024 with Ms Mitchell noting the changes would have a positive impact for future years.

Within the AISNW a high-level unit has also been set up to enhance its support to schools on safety, respectful relationships and consent among students.

The ‘Teach us Consent’ petition has 27,338 signatures with supporting testimonies continuing to be submitted.

Source: Thanks msn.com