NSW LABOR has called on the state government to urgently fund an early intervention program in schools that discusses healthy relationships, consent and domestic violence.
Shadow Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence Trish Doyle said the NSW Budget Estimates inquiry heard on Tuesday that a program called Love Bites was ready to be rolled out to more schools, but did not have the $250,000 in core funding it needed to expand.
A former Sydney student has started a petition calling for better consent education in private schools, after reports of sexual assaults by male peers.
Ms Doyle said the program was a primary prevention measure that aimed to change attitudes and stop violence against women before it began.
"Some local communities are holding fundraisers to fund this excellent program," she said.
"Why is the government absolving responsibility for primary prevention programs such as this one? Schools have a role to play in preventing violence in our community."
