The 10 principles of sexual consent

How to provide guidance on sexual consent  

The government has developed a framework to support any organisation working to prevent sexual violence, to promote healthy sexual relationships and sexual consent to young people. 

This includes 10 principles on how to promote consent and healthy sexual relationships. 

1. Put sexual violence and its drivers into context 

Incorporate a broad understanding of sexual violence, its gendered drivers and an intersectional approach when promoting consent and healthy sexual activity and relationships. 

2. Consider your organisation’s broader culture 

Consider and address the drivers of violence across your organisation, school or workplace. 

3. Focus on empowerment, skills and practice 

Empower young people to use affirmative consent, empathy and communication skills in day-to-day situations. 

4. Balance a positive focus on pleasure with risks 

Balance a positive focus on what young people can do to have healthy, pleasurable sexual activities and relationships, with what young people should not do. 

5. Be direct and avoid stereotypes 

Avoid talking about consent and sexual relationships in metaphors and euphemisms and challenge, rather than reinforce harmful gender roles and stereotypes. 

6. Be relevant, age-appropriate and prepare for backlash 

Promote healthy sexual activity, relationships and consent skills in different ways to meet the needs of different audiences, population cohorts and age groups, while preparing and planning for backlash. 

7. Focus on safety 

Prioritise safety, and be inclusive, trauma-informed and offer support. 

8. Tailor to diverse audiences and be culturally safe 

Tailor content to different audiences, show a diversity of experiences and relationships, and prioritise cultural safety. 

9. Build partnerships 

Partner with young people, those with lived experience and experts to design and deliver initiatives. 

10. Measure progress to improve 

Think about how to measure progress and gradually improve an initiative from the outset. 

Additional resources 

The Line is a website for young people that talks about what's ok and what's not when it comes to sex, dating and relationships. The site contains hundreds of articles, quizzes, clips and interviews with and for young people.