Who we are
Safe Schools Coalition Australia is a national network of organisations working with schools to create safer and more inclusive environments for same sex attracted, intersex and gender diverse students, staff and families.
The Foundation for Young Australians (FYA) is the national convenor of Safe Schools Coalition Australia and has partnered with experienced organisations across the country to provide direct support for schools. Visit Contact Us for information on partner organisations.
Safe Schools Coalition Australia has assisted hundreds of schools across the country in their efforts to actively promote safety and inclusion for the benefit of the whole school community. This includes working in partnership with government and independent schools, schools in diverse geographic locations, and faith-based schools.
In joining up as a member and accessing free support from Safe Schools Coalition Australia, principals and their schools are taking positive steps to ensure they have the information and help they need to respond to homophobic and transphobic behaviour and create more inclusive school policies and practices. Read more about what we do.
Safe Schools Coalition Australia receives funding from the Australian Government Department of Education and Training. It builds on work by Safe Schools Coalition Victoria since 2010, funded by the Victorian Government. Safe Schools Coalition Victoria was originally a joint initiative of FYA and Gay and Lesbian Health Victoria.
Why school communities access support
All students have a right to feel safe and belong as part of the school community. This is vital for student learning and enables all young people to have a fair go in their education.
Australian schools value the health and well-being of students and agree that bullying of any kind is harmful and should not be accepted. Across religions and cultures there is a shared belief in the right of people to be safe, happy and healthy and to be treated with dignity and respect.
Research tells us that thousands of young people across Australia experience homophobic and transphobic behaviour, discrimination and isolation in schools. These experiences have serious consequences for their health and wellbeing and academic achievement.
School communities recognise that there is an urgent need to do more and reach out to Safe Schools Coalition Australia to assist school staff with specific information, ideas and skills.
Safe Schools Coalition Australia acknowledges the traditional owners and custodians of all country throughout Australia and their continuing connection to land, waters and community. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, elders and cultures.
We commit to working with and supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who may experience the compounding effects of racism, homophobia and transphobia and who all have a right to be safe, supported and celebrated in all their identities.