quick-escape

Feeling unsafe? Find support services   emergency? call 000

Research

Our research

Violence against women and children affects everybody. It impacts on the health, wellbeing and safety of a significant proportion of Australians throughout all states and territories and places an enormous burden on the nation’s economy across family and community services, health and hospitals, income-support and criminal justice systems.

KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER

News and events

ANROWS hosts events as part of its knowledge transfer and exchange work, including public lectures, workshops and research launches. Details of upcoming ANROWS activities and news are available from the list on the right.

ANROWS

About ANROWS

ANROWS was established by the Commonwealth and all state and territory governments of Australia to produce, disseminate and assist in applying evidence for policy and practice addressing violence against women and children.

KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER

Resources

To support the take-up of evidence, ANROWS offers a range of resources developed from research to support practitioners and policy-makers in delivering evidence-based interventions.

SUMMARY REPORT

Summary of findings: A social network analysis and implementation study of an intervention designed to advance social and emotional learning and respectful relationships in secondary schools

This report provides a summary of the main findings and implications of the report A social network analysis and implementation study of an intervention designed to advance social and emotional learning and respectful relationships in secondary schools

Schools play an important part in a whole-of-society approach to preventing, and ending, gender inequality and gender-based violence (GBV). Respectful relationships education (RRE) is a key facet of prevention efforts within schools.

This research, funded as part of the ANROWS 4AP research program, has generated critical new insights into the impacts of RRE programs on students and student relationships, as well as what is needed to implement them effectively.

The research found that overall, both students and teachers found the program useful. The program saw a reduction in bullying and sexual bullying amongst students, and when taught faithfully, saw students improve in their regard for the rights of others and capacity for empathetic engagement.

The study also found that many teachers were unable to teach the program as it was intended. Factors influencing teacher capacity, confidence and comfort cut across all levels of the educational ecosystem: communities (for example, parent or community resistance to RRE); education systems (such as provision of teaching resources and guidance); schools (for example, alignment with school vision and mission); and classrooms/teachers (for example, concerns over teaching what was perceived to be sensitive content).

The research also includes important findings about the gendered nature of student relationships within the classroom, as well as the influence of those relationships on attitudes towards gender equality and GBV.

 

Authors

EMERITUS PROFESSOR HELEN CAHILL
Chief Investigator, University of Melbourne

DR DEAN LUSHER  
Co-Chief Investigator, SNA Toolbox

ANNE FARRELLY  
Research Fellow, University of Melbourne

NATALIE CALLEJA
Research Fellow, University of Melbourne

DR PENG WANG
Co-Chief Investigator, SNA Toolbox

DR ALI HASSANI
Research Fellow, SNA Toolbox


Suggested citation

Cahill, H., Lusher, D., Farrelly, A., Calleja, N., Wang, P., & Hassani, A. (2023). Summary of findings: A social network analysis and implementation study of an intervention designed to advance social and emotional learning and respectful relationships in secondary schools (ANROWS Insights, 04/2023). ANROWS.

Back to top