The Federal Government has outlined $77.6 million that will be provided to public and non-government schools for a range of evidenced-based, age appropriate and expert-developed programs.

NSW will receive the bulk of the funding, with more than $25 million set aside for the state over five years.

Victoria will be allocated $18.3 million to deliver the consent classes, followed by $14.3 million for Queensland, $8.9 million for Western Australia and $5.7 million for South Australian schools.

Tasmania will get $2 million for the programs, while the ACT and the Northern Territory will receive more than $1 million each.

Education Minister Jason Clare said the programs would help to foster positive attitudes towards consent from an early age.

“One in five women and one in 16 men in Australia have experienced sexual violence since the age of 15. Sexual violence is a national shame,” he said.

“A range of approaches are needed, and there is a role to play in the classroom to make sure that young people develop healthy relationships.

“This investment is important in making sure we help our youngest Australians, in particular boys and men, to have healthy, respectful relationships.”

Along with facilitating the rolling out of consent education, the funding is to be used to develop partnerships between schools and organisations in the field and provide professional development for teachers.

The first round of the funding kicked off in June.

It comes following the Federal Government year-long roll out of its national consent campaign in May, covered by EducationHQ, aimed at clearing up lingering confusion about the issue.

That $40 million campaign is aimed at encouraging adults to check their own understanding about consent before they discuss it with each other and young people.

At the launch of the campaign, Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth said research shows both adults and young people understand the importance of the matter and that sex without consent is wrong.

“However, for many there is confusion around what consent means in a practical sense,” she said in Adelaide.

Stats on the Government’s Stop It At The Start website (since 2016 promoting positive attitudes and behaviours on respectful relationships and gender equality among young people) reveal that one-in-two women and one-in-four men have experienced sexual harassment during their lifetime.

A third of teenagers aged 18-19 had experienced at least one form of intimate partner violence in the last 12 months, and almost 10 per cent had experienced sexual abuse by someone they were dating.

Assistant Minister for the Prevention of Family Violence Justine Elliot said getting clear messages through to young people was critical to achieving a cultural shift. 

“There’s a lot of contradictory messages and myths around consent, so it’s vital that we provide clarity and consistency on the messaging,” Elliot said.

The campaign uses research involving more than 2600 Australians and is based on consultation with a panel of sexual violence and consent experts, including Teach Us Consent campaigner Chanel Contos and Lizette Twisleton, head of engagement at No To Violence, an organisation that specialises in effective evidence-informed engagement with men.

(with AAP)

1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)

National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028