“The iRespect program has been truly transformative for our students at Palmerston College 7-9 Campus. Many of the students referred to the program were at high risk of disengaging from school, yet 100% of them reported finding it helpful and even recommended it to their peers. The impact of the I Respect program goes beyond the sessions, as multiple students have sought further individualised counselling support after feeling safe enough to disclose personal experiences—something they may never have done otherwise. This program has provided a crucial support system for our most vulnerable students. With our highly at-risk middle school cohort, we would love to see I Respect expanded to reach more students with greater frequency. As the Department of Education mandates Respectful Relationships programs in all schools by 2026, we are proud to have iRespect leading this work at Palmerston College and beyond.”

“I am pleased to express my strong support for the iRespect program, which has had a transformative impact on our students since its introduction at Palmerston College in Term 1, 2024. The program has fostered a safer and more inclusive school environment by providing valuable resources and support to students, increasing their understanding of healthy relationships, respect, and empathy. As a result, students feel more confident in seeking help and supporting their peers. Given the success of the program, we expanded its delivery to both our 7-9 and 10-12 campuses in Term 2, and we plan to continue its implementation every term through 2025. We believe that extending the iRespect program to other schools and communities will create a culture of respect and non-violence, empowering more young people to challenge harmful behaviours. We fully endorse the iRespect program and its potential for continued success in creating safer, more supportive environments for young people."

"I am pleased to support the I Respect Healthy Relationship Program, which has been successfully delivered at Palmerston College over Terms 1, 2, 3, and 4 in 2024. The Clontarf Foundation, which aims to improve the education, life skills, and employment prospects of young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men, has been fortunate to collaborate with Darwin Youth Services in engaging our young men in this impactful program. The program has provided a safe space for important conversations on relevant topics, and we have seen the students mature and grow in their understanding of Domestic and Family Violence, and healthy relationships. Feedback from both the students and their families has been overwhelmingly positive, with families expressing gratitude for the opportunity to have their sons participate in such valuable sessions. As this program reaches more young men, I am confident it will equip them with the skills and knowledge to build long-lasting, healthy relationships, positively impacting our community for years to come.”

In recognition of the needs of our staff in their roles and the presenting needs of the young people they work with, it has been identified that, as a community, we need a long-term intervention plan. It is recognised from research (Ottawa Charter), that to tackle Domestic Violence (DV)in our young people, the intervention education needs to be taught in a contextually relevant and culturally appropriate manner. The school is a boarding school with 59 enrolments. Students attend from the communities across Tiwi. They present behaviours that interfere with their learning, and that are reflective of traumatic experience, sexualised behaviour, emotional dysregulation, drug usage, and anxiety related to a fear of failing. To support our young people to build their understanding of what is morally correct and to develop a resilience that enables them to recognise and manage the different types of controlling behaviours, the continuation of the DV program is necessary. The program developed by Sarah Austin from Darwin Youth Services in collaboration with significant Elders from Tiwi islands is critical to the youth on the island. Tiwi College recognises that this journey requires regular and ongoing exposure for our young people, to the language and the strategies for managing DV situations. Into the future Marius P.. will work alongside Sarah and her staff to deliver culturally appropriate sessions that support our young people’s understanding. We actively support Darwin Youth Services in Delivering this very needed and important program at Tiwi College on Melville Island. We are looking forward to ensuring that our young people, and the future generations of Tiwi people can live safely and respectfully via early education with prevention in the Domestic and Family Violence space.