Students in Years 7 to 10 at St Michael’s Collegiate School recently took part in a series of age-appropriate seminars exploring consent, respect, relationships and the increasingly complex influence of the online world.
The sessions were led by Dr Marshall Ballantine-Jones, an educator and researcher specialising in online sexualisation, who works with schools across Australia to help young people understand how social media, graphic imagery, gaming, streaming media and emerging technologies can influence identity, relationships and wellbeing.
For students in Years 7 and 8, the seminar focused on developing a practical understanding of consent, boundaries and respectful interactions.
Students explored how online content and digital platforms can influence expectations around identity, relationships and self-worth, while considering the importance of empathy, respect and being attentive to the needs and experiences of others in healthy relationships.
Through real-world scenarios and guided discussion, students were encouraged to recognise potentially harmful influences, think critically about the messages they encounter online, and develop the language and confidence to respond respectfully to others.
Students in Years 9 and 10 took part in From Chemistry to Connection: Exploring Relationships Online and Beyond. The session examined the emotional and biological dimensions of attraction, affection and connection before moving into a broader discussion about authentic friendships and relationships, both online and offline.
Students considered the influence of social media, mainstream media, graphic imagery and AI relationships, including chatbots, and how these can shape emotions, self-worth and expectations of connection.
The seminar also encouraged students to think critically about online personalities and subcultures, and the messages they may promote about identity, value and belonging.
For parents, helping young people navigate these issues can be challenging as children encounter an increasingly sophisticated digital environment. Providing opportunities for open, age-appropriate conversations can help students develop the knowledge and confidence to make thoughtful decisions.
At Collegiate, these discussions form part of the school’s broader commitment to student wellbeing, respectful relationships and developing confident, thoughtful young people.
The school says students need more than rules or warnings when navigating the digital world. They also need knowledge, language, discernment and trusted adults who are prepared to engage with them honestly and constructively.
By creating space for informed and age-appropriate conversations, Collegiate is supporting students to navigate relationships with confidence, care and self-respect.
The school thanked Dr Ballantine-Jones for visiting and said it looked forward to continuing to work with him on this important area of student wellbeing.
St Michael’s Collegiate was founded by women who believed education could change lives. Their legacy of generosity lives on through […]