Teach Us Consent will launch its First Nations specific resources on Tuesday as part of the organisation's $3.5million Promoting Consent Initiative, supported by the federal government.
The resources were developed for young people aged 16-25 to help them get confident with sex, consent and relationships, as part of the National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022-2032.
The campaign materials were made in partnership with First Nations creators through the Aboriginal-owned agency, 33 Creative.
Teach Us Consent said on Tuesday resources are made to "meet young people where they spend their time – online". The resources range from TikTok videos and Instagram posts to online essays and podcast episodes.
The campaign has engaged a group of young Indigenous spokespeople including Tom Forrest (also known as Outback Tom); Brooke Blurton; Matty Mills; Crystal Love Johnson; Will Smith; Enoch Mailangi; and Meissa Mason.
More than 25 highly influential young Australians - from footy players, to comedians, advocates to beauty vloggers – will have vulnerable and open conversations around consent, respectful relationships, media literacy and sexual harm prevention.
The initiative is funded by the Department of Social Services (DSS) as part of The National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children.
Teach Us Consent has translated key materials into six different languages. The resources will be available through IndigiTube - an offline video consumption tool. To support accessibility, easy to read versions of a number of resources will be made available through Teach Us Consent's website.
The Initiative's resources have been created by young people, for young people through collaboration with an established Youth Advisory Group (YAG) comprising 15 diverse young people nationwide, from Queensland's regional town of Yeppoon to metropolitan Melbourne.
Teach Us Consent said YAG members "have been integral from the initiative's inception, providing first-hand insight into preferred platforms, influential voices, and knowledge gaps among their peers". Their involvement extended beyond consultation to active participation – collaboratively defining 40 content topics, editing scripts, writing articles, and even appearing in the materials themselves.
Mr Forrest (AKA Outback Tom), a Yorta Yorta man who grew up in East Kimberley, told National Indigenous Times it is vitally important for young people to learn about consent, sex and relationships.
"Sometimes it can be challenging talking to friends, family members or peers about these topics. I heavily encourage and support finding someone you feel close enough to talk about these things, but it might not always be an option," he said.
"These resources give people an opportunity to learn more about healthy relationships, consent and sex in their own time, and give them a safe space to learn more about these topics.
"Having accessible Resources is important, especially for those people who may not feel comfortable talking about sex, consent and healthy relationships with people in their circle."
Outback Tom said the Teach Us Consent resources will benefit young people who find it challenging to talk about these issues.
"There is nothing to feel shame about when it comes to healthy relationships, sex and consent, but if young people don't feel comfortable talking to their friends, family or peers, these resources are a good start to learn more about the importance of healthy relationships and consent," he said.
"I'm passionate about having open conversations about healthy relationships and consent. It's important to speak to young people about boundaries, healthy connections and consent.
"In the community that I group up in, it can be quite shame job to speak about things like sex, and what happens in relationships. I'm hoping to spread the word and support having open conversations in safe spaces about these topics. This ensures young people are making the best decision for themselves, and keeping themselves in a healthy environment."
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Teach Us Consent founder and chief executive Chanel Contos said the vast majority of sexual violence in this country is preventable.
"These resources aim to stop sexual violence before it happens and do it with young people and the people they look up to. It's a fresh approach to a long-standing problem," she said.
"This initiative is about meeting young people where they're at. We're talking with them, not at them, with the influential people they know and love, and we're doing it all on the platforms they already use."
Ms Contos said emerging research indicates boys and young men feel they don't have many positive role models on social media.
"We're amplifying the voices of some brilliant young people from across the country to bring them into the conversation," she said.
"Teach Us Consent is dedicated to ensuring our resources are for all young people in this country - including First Nations people. We know that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people experience disproportionate rates of gender-based violence, including sexual violence. Target 13 in the National Agreement on Closing the Gap is dedicated to reducing the rate of all forms of family violence against First Nations women and children by at least 50 per cent by 2031.
"That's why having resources made by and for First Nations young people as part of this initiative was non-negotiable. We thank Aboriginal-owned Creative Agency, 33 Creative, for working with us to create these important resources."