The new sexuality education curriculum for Queensland primary schools

TLDR

Queensland public schools and teachers often fail to meet obligations to teach sexuality education and reproductive health, creating a gap that can compromise young people's well‑being, life skills, and safety. The authors aim to rectify this deficiency by developing a new Sexual and Reproductive Health Education curriculum and accompanying documents. They audit the existing Human Relationships Education and the new Sexual and Reproductive Health Education curricula and analyze the rationale for integrating sexuality education into Health and Physical Education. The review found that minimal or no sexuality education occurs in Queensland schools.

Abstract

A departmental review of education curricula in Queensland, Australia has found that minimal or no learning about sexuality education takes place. Its public schools and teachers are able to avoid or not fulfil their obligations regarding the teaching of sexuality education and reproductive health to children and young people. This lacuna in schools' duty of care may significantly compromise the well-being, choices, life skills and opportunities for young people as they mature towards adult citizenship, and may even lead to potentially hazardous situations for them. To redress this deficiency, a new curriculum and supporting documents have been developed by Queensland's curriculum authority. This paper audits both the current Human Relationships Education and the new Sexual and Reproductive Health Education curricula. This paper also analyses the rationale for teaching school students about sexuality, relationships and reproduction as an essential part of Health and Physical Education, in light of significant contemporary sexuality education issues and contexts.