Girl Speak Overview - Darwin Youth Services

Girl Speak

Girl Speak Program

Girl Speak - Empowering Young Women to Speak Up, Stay Safe and Support Each Other

Girl Speak is an eight-session program that gives young women the tools, confidence, and knowledge to build safe, respectful, and healthy relationships. It’s real, practical, and always delivered in a safe space where everyone’s voice matters.

Run by qualified counsellors, Girl Speak is aligned to the Northern Territory Curriculum and designed so young women can learn, ask questions, and explore tricky topics without judgement. We talk openly about the things that matter most — from healthy relationships to consent, coercion, and recognising the early signs of unhealthy or unsafe behaviours.

What We Cover

Over the eight sessions, we unpack:

Healthy vs. unhealthy relationships
Consent, non-consent, and coercion
Domestic and family violence — what it looks like, and how it affects people and communities
Sexual violence and harassment
Emotional and psychological abuse
Technology-facilitated abuse and online safety
Jealousy, control, and possessiveness
Lateral violence, respect, and building stronger communities

How We Deliver It

Girl Speak isn’t just sitting and listening. Every session is interactive and hands-on. We use:

Custom puzzles that get people talking, made here in the Territory that are used in regional, remote and urban settings.
Myths and Facts cards to bust common misconceptions
Values and Respect card games
Boundary Bingo to make learning about consent and personal space engaging

These activities keep the energy up, make the learning stick, and allow young women to connect with each other while they learn.

Why It Works

Every Girl Speak session is trauma-informed and culturally safe. We meet young women where they’re at, adapt to the group’s needs, and make sure everyone feels supported. This isn’t just about learning, it’s about creating a culture of safety, respect, and empowerment that participants can carry into their friendships, families, and communities.

By the end of the program, young women walk away knowing how to recognise all forms of violence, set healthy boundaries, seek help, and stand up for themselves and others.