On the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women (November 25), the not-for-profit organisation Social Futures takes pride in delivering the Love Bites program to Mid North Coast schools – the program helps young people understand the value of respectful relationships.
“Love Bites is a respectful relationships education program for young people aged 15 to 17 years and provides young people with a safe environment to discuss and explore respectful relationships,” Social Futures Family Connect and Support manager Fiona Halligan said.
Love Bites has been in a Mid North Coast secondary schools for many years.
“We know that young people can make choices for themselves, and this program supports them to develop respectful relationship skills and recognise those early ‘red flags’ that can lead to unhealthy relationships,” Ms Halligan said.
“We want to equip young people to have the information to make informed choices so that their future relationships are free from violence and abuse.”
Ms Halligan says going into schools with the program, gives young people the opportunity for frank and honest conversations around healthy relationships.
“It is run as two interactive workshops,” she said. “One on relationship violence, and one on sex and relationships, followed by a creative workshop that gives students time to express what they have learned.
“No one should have to live in fear from those who say they love us. There is no place for violence or coercive control within relationships but there are many different forms of domestic violence and sometimes it can be hard to recognise at first.
‘’The program helps young people to explore the different forms of violence and what they may look like, so they can recognise the behaviours early.
“On this International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women let’s remember how important it is that we all have the right to live from abuse and violence.”
Social Futures delivers the Family Connect in schools program across schools on the Mid North Coast and North Coast. Family Connect in schools helps children, young people and families connect with the right support at the right time including:
• parenting challenges
• financial stress
• substance use
• family breakdown
• housing issues
• mental health
• domestic and family violence
• NDIS
• finding culturally appropriate supports
If you need further support please call:1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) 24/7, Kids Helpline- 1800 55 1800 (24/7).
To contact Family Support and Connect phone 1800 327 679 or go to this link: https://socialfutures.org.au/service/fcs/
