Statement of evidence

Teachers are best placed to deliver programs that promote health, safety and wellbeing. Teachers know the curriculum, their students, their learning and support needs and their communities. Teachers should be trained to deliver sexuality and sexual health education using interactive and participatory methods.

In some instances, principals may choose to draw on community resources, an external provider or a guest presenter with specific expertise to supplement the school’s sexuality and sexual health education program.

Principals need to consider the expertise and approaches of external providers or individuals carefully and make decisions about the use of these groups in an informed way. The principal and organising teacher should assess the material and delivery of the external provider before the provider is engaged.

External providers must be familiar with stage-appropriate sexuality and sexual health education content, the school’s local context and school policies and practices. Services provided by external providers must be relevant to students’ needs and be integrated into the school’s sexuality and sexual health education program.

The department’s guidelines for engaging external providers for curriculum implementation help principals determine the appropriateness of external providers for their school context.