All entries on Feminist Legal Clinic’s News Digest Blog are extracts from news articles and other publications, with the source available at the link at the bottom. The content is not originally generated by Feminist Legal Clinic and does not necessarily reflect our views.
A mother is taking legal action against the South Australian government over claims her 14-year-old daughter was exposed to a school presentation referencing bestiality and incest.
The impending lawsuit is being funded by faith-based legal organisation Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) International, which is working with Ms Gaylard’s local Adelaide lawyers.
The hour-long presentation was part of a Respectful Relationships program meant to “promote LGBTQIA+ inclusivity and acceptance” that was delivered to year 9 girls by an external provider in March last year at Renmark High School in regional South Australia.
At the time of the incident, Renmark High School principal Mat Evans apologised for the “inappropriate material”, for not seeking parental consent ahead of the presentation and for breaching the school’s duty of care by failing to have a staff member present in the room.
The Department for Education in South Australia also suspended Headspace Berri from delivering the Respectful Relationships program to public schools.
A spokesperson for Headspace National – a youth mental health foundation funded by the federal Department of Health and Aged Care – acknowledged aspects of the presentation were inappropriate and it had conducted its own review of what was delivered in the presentation and how it had been vetted.
Well, surely one hopes/trusts? that the Department is reviewing the programme and its decision to fund, as well as its funding practices and reviewing processes generally?