Year 10 Health & PE · Health and Physical Education · 12m read

Respectful Relationships, Consent and Online Safety

Respect is the foundation of every relationship — in person and online. This topic covers consent, warning signs and staying safe digitally.

Learning objective: Analyse respectful relationships, consent and safe behaviour online.

By the end of this lesson you can:

• I can identify healthy and unhealthy relationship behaviours.
• I can explain affirmative consent.
• I can respond to online risks.

Consent is a green light that can turn red. Consent must be a clear, enthusiastic green light — freely given, informed, and able to change to red at any time.

Respectful Relationships, Consent and Online Safety

HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS:
• Respect, trust, honesty, equality, communication, independence.

WARNING SIGNS:
• Controlling behaviour, jealousy, pressure, put-downs, monitoring phones, isolation from friends.

CONSENT:
• Freely and voluntarily given, informed, ongoing and can be withdrawn at any time.
• Victoria uses an affirmative consent model — a person must say or do something to check for consent.
• No consent if someone is asleep, unconscious, heavily affected by alcohol or drugs, or pressured.

ONLINE SAFETY:
• Image-based abuse is illegal; report to the eSafety Commissioner.
• Privacy settings, think before sharing, block and report harassment.

| Consent is | Consent is not |
|---|---|
| Freely given | Pressured or coerced |
| Enthusiastic | Silence or no response |
| Ongoing, reversible | One-time permanent |
| Informed | Based on deception |
| Given by someone capable | Given while asleep or very intoxicated |

Key ideas at a glance

• Respectful relationships: Equality and trust.
• Online safety: Privacy settings, think before sharing.
• Image-based abuse is illegal: Report to eSafety.
• Bystander action: Safe intervention.

Worked example (Medium)

Someone shares a private image of a classmate without consent. What should happen?

1. Law. Image-based abuse is illegal.
2. Action. Do not share; support the person; tell a trusted adult.
3. Report. Report to the platform and the eSafety Commissioner.

Answer: Don't share, support, tell an adult and report to eSafety.

Worked example (Medium)

Someone receives an unwanted intimate image. What steps?

1. Don't share. Stop spread.
2. Report. Platform and eSafety.
3. Tell. Trusted adult.
4. Support. Counselling services.

Answer: Don't share, report, tell an adult, seek support.

Common mistakes

• Thinking silence equals consent Consent must be clearly communicated. Fix: Look for an active "yes".

Practice questions

1. Consent can be withdrawn:

   1. Never once given
   2. At any time
   3. Only in writing
   4. Only before starting

   (1 marks)

2. Give two signs of a controlling relationship.

   (2 marks)

3. Consent can be withdrawn:

   1. Never
   2. At any time
   3. Only before
   4. Only in writing

   (1 marks)

4. Describe two signs of a respectful relationship.

   (2 marks)

Summary

• Healthy relationships rest on respect and equality.
• Affirmative consent.
• Report online abuse to eSafety.
• Consent is free, enthusiastic, ongoing.