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Legislative Council - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2025-11-13 Daily Xml
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Sex Education

In reply to the Hon. S.L. GAME ().26 June 2025).

The Hon. E.S. BOURKE (Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Minister for Autism): I have been advised:

The Department for Education has clear and transparent processes in place, including guidance for government schools around classification, copyright, and parental consent.

Government schools assess any external curriculum content before delivery to students. Our teachers exercise their professional judgment to ensure the use of external resources are age-appropriate, curriculum-aligned and evidence-informed.

Classification of educational resources is governed by extensive legislation, including the National Classification Code and the Classification (Publications, Films and Computer Games) Act 1995 (Cth), which work to protect children from harmful material and ensure resource classification reflects community standards.

The delivery of sexual health education in the curriculum is not sexualisation. Sexual health education provides young people with accurate, age-appropriate information about relationships, sexuality and reproductive and sexual health, which is critical for their wellbeing and to navigate their changing worlds.

The department encourages parent engagement in their child's learning and to build strong connections with their child's school. This means our parents know what their child is learning at school, find ways to bring school learning into the home, and help teachers to know and understand their child. Strong partnerships between schools, parents and families are essential for children to be successful in their learning.

Research shows that the majority of Australian parents:

endorse schools to address a diverse range of relationships and sexual health related topics

recognise the importance of school-based sexual health education programs

strive to provide their children with the knowledge and skills to make informed choices

say that school-based programs made it easier to talk about sexual health at home.

Where a parent wishes to remove their child from instruction in sex education, the department has clear and transparent processes in place, including information for schools around parental consent. As per regulation 33 of the Education and Children's Services Regulations 2020 (SA), parents and carers may request that their child be exempted from sex education by providing written notice to the school principal.

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