Navigating the complex landscape of consent, respectful relationships and sexuality education, Respect Collective offers schools a comprehensive, teacher-friendly platform that transforms sensitive classroom discussions into engaging learning experiences.
Teaching consent and respectful relationships education is no longer optional, but for many schools, it remains a significant challenge. Teachers often lack the time, training, or confidence to deliver these lessons effectively, and traditional resources can feel outdated or disconnected from students’ real-world experiences.
That’s where Respect Collective comes in. Co-founded by Dr Tessa Opie and Ms Kerrin Bradfield, Respect Collective is an innovative, ready-to-use comprehensive relationships and sexuality education (RSE) platform designed to support teachers with structured lessons, professional development, and a trusted program mapped to the Australian Health & Physical Education Curriculum (v9).
“Teachers recognise the importance of these topics but often feel unprepared to deliver them,” says Dr Opie. “We’ve created a platform that removes the stress and guesswork, so they can focus on teaching.”
With more than 70 interactive lessons spanning Years 7 to 12, Respect Collective covers topics such as consent, healthy relationships, sexuality, bystander intervention, and digital safety. The platform’s interactive elements – including quizzes, games, and multimedia resources – have transformed traditionally challenging subject matter into engaging learning experiences.
“It’s become a trusted source,” Ms Bradfield adds, “helping educators navigate complex topics they weren’t trained to address.”
Students are responding positively to this approach, engaging in conversations that feel relevant to their lived experiences. By using real-life scenarios, interactive activities, and media analysis, the program creates space for young people to explore complex issues in a way that is meaningful and empowering.
“It actually makes sense now. We talk about things that happen in young people’s lives, not just random examples that don’t apply to us,” a Year 11 student says.
The platform’s trauma-informed approach is particularly crucial when addressing topics like consent, respect, and harm prevention. It ensures that all students, regardless of their background or experiences, feel safe to participate in discussions and seek support when needed.
“We’ve put in thousands of hours reviewing resources, activities, lesson plans and conversation starters and distilled it for educators. It saves time, and reduces the stress that teachers were experiencing around delivering RSE,” Dr Opie says.
Unlike traditional one-size-fits-all programs, schools have the flexibility to subscribe to the full curriculum or specific year levels that align with their needs. Lessons can also be adapted to reflect a school’s values and ethos or learner ability, ensuring they fit within the broader educational framework.
In addition to structured lesson content, teachers have access to a virtual staffroom, expert-led webinars, and real-world case studies, creating a professional learning community that enhances their confidence and ability to deliver effective RSE.
Schools across Australia are already integrating these lessons into a range of subjects outside of HPE.
“We’ve seen schools use our lessons in Legal Studies, Civics, and even English classes,” says Dr Opie. “It’s a truly cross-disciplinary tool.”
Unlike costly incursions or one-off external presenters, Respect Collective provides ongoing, sustainable access to high-quality RSE at a fraction of the price.
Schools no longer need to rely on expensive external facilitators for a limited number of sessions—teachers are equipped with everything they need to deliver impactful, ongoing education in-house. There is also complete transparency in the lessons, so school leadership knows what is being delivered by staff they already know and trust. This is especially beneficial when it comes to addressing parent concerns over lessons in this space.
One of the most significant barriers to effective RSE is teacher confidence. Many educators receive little to no training in delivering sexuality education, leaving them to navigate complex topics with limited support.
“Respect Collective takes the pressure off me to be the expert in everything. The content is clear, engaging, and well-structured, so I can focus on facilitating meaningful discussions. I’ve seen students open up in ways they never have before,” a Year 9 teacher says.
Respect Collective addresses this gap by providing step-by-step guided lessons that require no additional preparation. Teachers can also access on-demand professional development, covering critical areas such as trauma-informed teaching, inclusive language, and best practices for facilitating sensitive conversations.
“For teachers to make judgment calls on resources and presenters without training in the area can be incredibly difficult and time-consuming” Ms Bradfield says. “We’ve done the hard work of reviewing and refining the content so teachers don’t have to.”
As government mandates around consent and respectful relationships education continue to expand, schools need scalable, sustainable solutions that support both educators and students. Respect Collective is already being adopted by governing bodies, such as the Association of Independent Schools of the ACT, which subscribes on behalf of its member schools.
“Schools are looking for an approach that is flexible, evidence-based, and easy to implement,” Dr Opie says. “Respect Collective meets those needs.”
More information
Schools interested in learning more can book a walkthrough demonstration to see the platform in action and explore how it can be tailored to their needs. More information is available at respectcollective.com.au
More reading: Funding to support respectful relationships education in schools
