Who should teach RSE?

Key messages

• RSE is primarily the responsibility of parents but a shared responsibility with schools and the wider community. 
• Class teachers, who know their students well, are best placed to deliver school-based RSE.
• Community health nurses and guest speakers can be a great addition to comprehensive programs but should not be used in isolation. 
• A whole-school and whole-community approach is best practice.

Shared responsibility

Relationships and sexuality education (RSE) is primarily the responsibility of children's parents and caregivers. It is also the shared schools and the broader community to support this education. Schools require policies, guidelines and programs that support young people to make positive choices about their relationships and sexual health. The broader community includes local services, programs and campaigns. This resource is designed to assist schools to implement an evidence based whole-school and whole-community approach to RSE.¹ 

Teachers

Class teachers, who know their students well, are best placed to deliver school-based RSE lessons. Given the sensitive nature of the topics, and potential for disclosures, it is important that teachers have an understanding of their classroom demographics and their students' previous knowledge and experience. Teachers require training to have sufficient knowledge, skills and understanding of their own values to deliver effective RSE programs.  RSE teaching strategies often differ significantly from other subjects in order to create safe learning spaces for sensitive topics. 

WA Health Curriculum provides guidance on RSE content that teachers should be covering from Pre-Primary to Year 10, however, students in year 11 and 12 also require education on vital RSE topics. 

School nurses

Community health nurses (school nurses) can be a great source of support for school RSE programs. They are often a great source of knowledge and expertise to draw upon. Historically schools have relied very heavily on school nurses delivering one-off puberty talks but this model is no longer best practice. Nurses can be great additions to school RSE programs by offering:

• co-facilitated lessons with the class teachers
• small group work on topics that may require more content knowledge (e.g. menstruation, contraception, etc)
• assistance for students requiring additional support (in class, in small lunch time groups, or one-one-one)
• guest speaker session (to answer 'curly questions' or provide additional information to class lessons).

Guest speakers

Guest speakers can add interest and relevance to school-based RSE programs. However, this strategy should not be used in isolation and should complement other learning opportunities. See important considerations for engaging guest speakers.

Whole school approach 

Best practice RSE extends far past the weekly Health lesson. The quality and impact of RSE is dependent on the whole school environment. School leadership, school rules, in-school practices, policy, support staff, and the broader curriculum all play a critical role in determining the health and wellbeing of all learners.¹

RSE should also be made available to out-of-school young people who are often most vulnerable to misinformation, coercion and exploitation.¹

The World Health Organisation's Health Promoting School Framework provides a framework for schools to use a whole school approach to all health areas.² See Health Promoting School Framework for ways to implement a whole school approach for RSE. 

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Guest speakers

Best practice principles