Students in Years 7 to 10 recently took part in a series of age-appropriate seminars with Dr Marshall Ballantine-Jones, exploring consent, respect, relationships and the complex influence of the online world.
A leading educator and researcher in the area of online sexualisation, Dr Ballantine-Jones works with schools across Australia to help young people better understand the impact of social media, graphic imagery, gaming, streaming media and emerging technologies on identity, relationships and wellbeing.
For students in Years 7 and 8, the seminar focused on building practical understanding of consent, boundaries and respectful interactions. Students explored how online content and digital platforms can distort expectations around identity, relationships and self-worth, while also considering the role of empathy, respect and other-person-centredness in healthy relationships.
Through real-world scenarios and guided discussion, students were encouraged to recognise unhelpful or 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. This 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 disruptive influence of social media, mainstream media, graphic images 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, subcultures and the messages they may promote about value, identity and belonging.
At Collegiate, these conversations form part of our broader commitment to student wellbeing, respectful relationships and the development of confident, thoughtful young people. In an increasingly complex digital landscape, students need more than rules or warnings. They 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 continues to support students to navigate relationships with confidence, care and self-respect.
We thank Dr Ballantine-Jones for taking the time to visit our school, and we look forward to continuing to work with him around this very important topic.
Read more about Dr Ballantine-Jones here.
