The Pride & Prejudice educational package was developed following interest in the program from both educators and the youth sector. Deakin University and the City of Greater Geelong obtained funding through VicHealth’s Rural Sexual Diversity Grant Scheme to create a formally evaluated educational package that was relevant, appropriate and adaptable to secondary school settings. In the early stages, the program would not have been successfully piloted without the additional support - financially and beyond - of the School Focused Youth Service initiative. Moonee Valley Youth Services later would play a vital role in supporting, completing and expanding the initial project.

The original program was developed by Daniel Witthaus, a project worker with the City of Greater Geelong Youth Services. Supporting gay and lesbian young people, Daniel observed that they were experiencing abuse and harassment in their everyday school lives. Further discussions with local workers and teachers highlighted that homophobia in schools was indeed a reality, and an unacceptable one at that.

Pride & Prejudice was developed in response to communities who see the well-being of all students as an overwhelming priority. The experience of teachers and workers is that schools are concerned with sexual diversity and homophobia, yet feel it falls outside of their skill base and experience. Teachers and workers typically respond that they would readily address these issues, however lack adequate training and preparation to challenge and support students dealing with these issues.

Anecdotal and formal evaluation of the program has identified that both heterosexual and non-heterosexual students believe that issues of sexual diversity and homophobia directly impact on their school experience, and that school initiatives are welcomed and required to address these adequately.

About Daniel - The Developer

Feedback - What do students, teachers and workers say?

Frequently asked questions about Pride & Prejudice