Community and government recognition of sexuality and gender diversity has increased significantly in recent years, which has led to legislative and policy changes. However, these developments continue to pose challenges for faith-based schools who seek to strike the delicate balance of accommodating the differing needs of students while remaining aligned with their religious beliefs and community expectations.
Watch our webinar recording that explores the intersection of faith, diversity, and inclusion within faith-based educational environments. The session is presented by Practice Leader, Skye Rose, Senior Lawyer, Tal Shmerling and Associate, Abbey Dalton. The team will be available after the webinar conclusion at 2.00pm to answer any questions from attendees.
In this session, Moores will arm schools with the strategies to ensure the safety, wellbeing and empowerment of students within faith-based communities and provide practical guidance on how they can prepare for and address common challenges. In this webinar, Moores will:
- outline key terminology and statistics relevant to sexually and gender diverse students
- outline the legal obligations of schools (including their obligations in relation to discrimination, change and suppression practices, child safety and privacy)
- outline lawful exceptions to discrimination relevant to faith-based schools
- provide practical guidance on navigating complex issues that arise in single-sex and co-educational schools in relation to sexually and gender diverse students (including attendance at camps, use of facilities, parental consent, and navigating opposition from parents, religious bodies, students, and other community members), and
- explore practical case studies to support schools to tackle these issues effectively.
This webinar is relevant to anyone working in a faith-based school across Australia looking to create a safe and inclusive environment for all students, while still acting in accordance with their school’s faith-based ethos. It will have a greater focus on the legal obligations in Victoria, which impose the highest obligations on schools in relation to sexually and gender diverse students.