Red Flag is a FREE presentation to High Schools in the Illawarra Region.
Supported Accommodation and Homelessness Services Shoalhaven Illawarra (SAHSSI) is a not-for-profit Specialist Homeless Service operating in the Illawarra and Shoalhaven regions. We provide homelessness and domestic and family violence services to women and their children.
SAHSSI operates three women’s refuges and two domestic violence crisis accommodation sites as well providing outreach support to women in other accommodation. As part of our work in the early intervention and prevention space, SAHSSI delivers a program called Red Flags in local high schools.
Red Flags is a 45 minute presentation that educates young people and teachers on Domestic and Family Violence & Technology Safety
The program is open to male and female students in the Illawarra and we encourage teachers to attend to provide support to the students. SAHSSI emphasis that while current statistics show that DFV victims are primarily female, DFV occurs in all relationships.
Red Flag is a FREE 45-minute presentation that educates young people and teachers on Domestic Violence & Technology Safety and is open to years 7-12. The presentation is designed by domestic and family violence specialists, a school counsellor and a school psychologist, and is open to male and female students. SAHSSI encourage teachers to attend to provide support to the students. SAHSSI emphasis that while current statistics show that DFV victims are primarily female, DFV occurs in all relationships.
Each year SAHSSI supports over 1500 women (including women with children) across the Illawarra and Shoalhaven. More than 60% of our clients are experiencing domestic and family abuse.
Domestic and Family Violence causes physical and emotional harm to young people in many different ways:
- ongoing anxiety and depression
- difficulty concentrating
- low self-esteem and self harm
- use drugs and alcohol
- engage in risk taking behaviours
- being aggressive with school friends and teachers
- have difficulty forming positive relationships
Topics covered include:
· What is domestic violence?
· The cycle of domestic violence
· Red Flags / early learning signs in a relationship
· How to get help for yourself
· Technology Safety
· How to help a friend experiencing violence while keeping yourself safe
· How young people can make a difference regarding this societal issue
· Services that can help
Before the presentation
SAHSSI will discuss what works best for the school such as group sizes, resources and content. This information can be sensitive to young people therefore a teacher or school Counsellor must be present throughout the session to offer support.
We will require a projector and laptop with USB access (although we can bring our own laptop where required).
We will also seek consent from each school to take photos of the presentation.
Presentation Structure
We will encourage students to participate (ask and answer questions) throughout the presentation and share real life client stories where the information is de-identified .
Staff deliver the workshop using language that is appropriate to young people.
A disclaimer is given at the start of the presentation to give students the opportunity to step out of the room if the content is upsetting.
After the presentation
We have a very easy feedback forms ready for the students and teachers to fill in. Feedback is appreciated.
If the school requires additional resources please speak to the staff
SAHSSI looks forward to building relationships with each school and educating young people on this important issue.
