Chanel Contos’ organisation Teach Us Consent has launched a new media campaign across Australia, aiming to spark further conversation in the community around consent education.
The campaign, which features posters located outdoors in different capital cities and on social media, wants to build awareness about Teach Us Consent’s push for mandatory consent education in schools. It has launched in time for the International Day of Consent on November 30.
“This is our final push to mandate consent education in every school in Australia. We hope this campaign keeps conversations going about rape culture and the role education has in demolishing it,” Chanel Contos said.
“The international day of consent is the 30th of November. At this time, let’s not forget how transformative education can be in creating a respectful, healthy, and harm free Australia.”
The posters, that will go up in capital cities in NSW, Victoria and Queensland, include images of young people and slogans like: “Teach us to demolish rape culture” and “Teach us about healthy relationships and what yes looks like”.
Contos said we need to change the way young people are taught about sex, consent and relationships.
“We can’t teach about sex properly talking about ‘the birds and bees’, we can’t teach consent talking about milkshakes and tacos. Say it how it is and use the opportunity to reduce gender-based violence in our society,” Contos said.
“It’s not just catcalling, it’s sexual harassment. Most of our population doesn’t know that because they were never taught that. Our generation is changing this.”
Since February this year, Contos has been working to change the conversation in Australia about consent. Through her organisation Teach Us Consent, she has lobbied political leaders to implement mandatory, holistic consent education in Australia schools.
Contos first ignited this conversation when she shared her own story on social media as a survivor of sexual assault and started a petition asking the government to reform consent education. She also published thousands of testimonies from young people about their own experiences.
If you or someone you know is impacted by sexual assault, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit 1800RESPECT.org.au. In an emergency, call 000.