Since its inception in 2016, over 1,900 state, independent, religious, and non-government schools have participated in the program.

Recent scandals, including AI-generated explicit images and harmful ranking spreadsheets of students, have highlighted the need for these educational updates.

The Victorian government is launching an updated Respectful Relationships teaching program to combat the influence of toxic masculinity and hate speech, particularly from figures like Andrew Tate.

This initiative is part of a $7.8 million funding boost aimed at addressing the harmful impacts of misogyny on children.

Currently, approximately 370 out of 724 Catholic and independent schools in Victoria have adopted the program, with many still opting for their own curricula.

Education Minister Ben Carroll is encouraging more Catholic and independent schools to join the program by offering support and funding.

The updated curriculum will focus on key topics such as consent, sextortion, and gender-based bullying, equipping students with skills to counter the influence of individuals like Tate.

Carroll acknowledged that unhealthy masculinity is increasingly prevalent in classrooms and online, driven by social media exposure.

Tim Richardson, Parliamentary Secretary for Men’s Behaviour Change, noted that success in promoting behavioral change requires hard work, not the shortcuts promoted by toxic masculinity.

The new educational resources were developed by experts in consultation with teachers, students, and parents, ensuring they are relevant and effective.

The curriculum will particularly target secondary school students, teaching them to recognize hate speech and coercive control online.

Carroll emphasized the importance of providing boys and young men with positive role models to foster healthy behaviors.