Supporting Young People to Understand Affirmative Consent Program (2022 - 2025)
Consent Matters is one of the 13 projects created as part of the Supporting Young People to Understand Affirmative Consent (SYPTUAC) Program. The SYPTUAC program aims to empower and educate young people and their key influencers to strengthen their understanding of affirmative consent and healthy relationships.
Consent Matters
Developed by Sexual Health Victoria
The Consent Matters Program, a collaborative initiative led by Sexual Health Victoria (SHV) and Women’s Health in the South East (WHISE), was established to address the gaps in consent education for young people outside mainstream settings. Online modules and interactive workshops were designed and delivered to youth and community service professionals to equip them with skills and resources for educating young people about affirmative consent, healthy relationships and sexual health.
The program was a success in reaching a substantial number of practitioners, who reported increased knowledge and confidence in addressing young people’s wellbeing. To find out more about our first iteration, please check out our evaluation report.
In 2025, SHV is delivering the Consent Matters - Disability Program. This strengths-based project will take a preventative approach to sexual violence by increasing the confidence of disability support professionals and those supporting young people with a cognitive disability to provide information, support and resources needed for young people to understand and engage in healthy, consensual sex and relationships.
Any professionals who are interested in strengthening their affirmative consent knowledge and expand their toolkit to support young people with cognitive disability, please contact SHV for more details: bookingenquiry@shvic.org.au.
The Man Cave
Is This OK??
A digital affirmative consent program for young people, parents and educators. The program’s first two seasons were streamed live on Twitch. The next season will be available on YouTube for young people to access at their leisure.
Victorian Aboriginal Child and Community Agency
Lubly Consent
Information about affirmative consent for Aboriginal young people aged 14-18 years, as well as youth and family practitioners.
Women’s Health East
Get the Go-Ahead
A set of resources about affirmative consent, co-designed and co-created with a group of Disabled young people.
The Supporting Young People to Understand Affirmative Consent Program is supported by the Victorian Government.
Accessing sexual violence support
If you or someone you know has experienced sexual assault, there are specialist sexual assault services across Victoria that provide free and confidential counselling and advocacy support for people of all ages.
You can find your local service by using the Specialist Sexual Assault Service Map.
If you have experienced a recent sexual assault, you can call the Sexual Assault Crisis Line (SACL) on 1800 806 292.
SACL operates between 5pm - 9am on weeknights and throughout weekends and public holidays. During office hours, the line will divert to your local specialist sexual assault service.
