Ever since Chanel Contos’ first viral petition, which called for earlier and better sexual consent education to be taught in Australian schools, the activist has seen positive change—launching Operation Vest alongside Stacey Maloney, Head of the NSW Sex Crimes squad, and Dr. Joy Townsend, one of Australia's leading consent educators, as well as having sparked a need for the NSW government to address consent education statewide.
The petition, since being posted on February 18, has seen more than 6,000 testimonies of sexual assault from current and former Australian private school students, an alarming number that brings to light just how fractured the consent education system is nationally.
Now, Contos’ educational platform Teach Us Consent has shared new infographics from the data it collected, revealing how many of the testimonies involved those in the private school sector.
“As the government debates consent education in the Public sector, we also demand commitment to drastic reform in the Independent school sector,” an Instagram caption read. “These numbers are from ~4100 analysed testimonies of 6500 on teachusconsent.com.”
Teach Us Consent outlined exactly which of Sydney’s most prestigious private schools were included among the submissions, including Cranbrook (166), Scots College (151), Shore (103), Knox Grammar (90) and Saint Ignatius College (89).
The post claimed the numbers “suggest an entrenched problem with the culture” among these students.
“This culture is not exclusive to these schools, but Australia wide,” it read. “The numbers understate the problem as not all testimonies have been analysed, and not all victims of sexual assault have submitted a testimony.
“These numbers prove we live in a rape culture.”
Another infographic recently posted by the platform shows even more alarming statistics around Australia’s rape crisis, including a recent study that estimated 17 percent of Australian females had been sexually assaulted since the age of 15.
Thanks to Contos’ activism, NSW Parliament was set to debate if earlier and more comprehensive education should be added to school curriculums on June 24, however, it was postponed due to the ongoing spread of COVID-19 in Sydney.
Earlier this year Contos spoke with marie claire Australia, sharing her beliefs that generational differences in understanding concepts like consent and rape culture have resulted in some school executives not grasping the message.
“It’s going to be so hard to tackle because we're not just educating students; we have to educate a whole generation of people who have a patriarchal mindset ingrained in them,” she said. “We need to flip their world upside down by making them aware of the fact we live in a rape culture. Every time they tell their daughter not to wear something provocative, that's perpetuating rape culture, that's putting the onus on girls.”
If you or someone you know needs help or advice, call 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) or visit 1800RESPECT.org.au. If you need help immediately, please call 000.
