When someone shares an experience of family or sexual violence, how we respond matters. A thoughtful and supportive response can support a person to feel believed, be respected, and able to seek further support if they wish.

This workshop supports participants to feel more prepared and confident if a colleague, student, client, or community member shares an experience of harm. The session explores some of the responses for both the survivor sharing and the listener, and offers practical guidance for listeners in staying calm, present, and supportive.

Participants are supported to center language and strategies that prioritise safety, choice, and respect, while understanding the boundaries of their role. The workshop is interactive and reflective, with structured opportunities to practise supportive responses in a collaborative learning environment.

Participants are introduced to a clear and practical response based framework for listening without judgement, validating someone’s experience, and connecting them with appropriate support.

Learning Objectives

By the end of the session, participants will be able to:

• Identify family and sexual violence, including less visible forms
• Understand the gendered and power-based drivers of violence
• Recognise indicators of harm and signs that someone may be seeking support
• Respond in a considered and supportive way within the boundaries of their role
• Know what to say, what to avoid saying, and where to refer for further support
• Reflect on their own role, limits, and strategies for looking after yourself

Who This Workshop Is For

This training is suitable for anyone who works or volunteers with people, including educators, health and community workers, employers, managers, sporting leaders, and community volunteers.

Delivery

Delivered as a single 4.5-hour session with breaks included. Content can be tailored to reflect your organisational context and referral pathways.

Speak. Take Action. Notice. Disrupt. Active bystander to violence training for safer communities and workplaces

STAND is an interactive training program that supports participants to recognise and address behaviours that contribute to harm, discrimination, harassment and violence in our community and workplaces. The workshop builds practical skills that promote respect, accountability, and care in everyday environments.

STAND training aims to empower participants to build the skills and confidence to become an active bystander, to notice harmful behaviours and take safe, practical action to prevent harm and support others.

The STAND training is interactive, encouraging open discussions and reflection, with opportunity to practise active bystander strategies and skills in a group setting. This training explores how active bystander action can challenge harmful norms, foster shared action and build safer, more respectful communities.

STAND is suitable for workplaces, schools, sporting clubs, and community groups.

We offer two different STAND programs, one for organisations and workplaces (5 hour session) and one for community groups (2.5hour session).

Organisational Training – 5 hour workshop

This session is designed for staff teams and organisations seeking deeper learning and culture building to create safer more inclusive workplaces. Delivered as a single 5-hour workshop with breaks included, it allows time for meaningful discussion and skill development.

Participants explore:

• What harmful behaviours can look like in everyday environments
• How to recognise early signs of harm
• Safe and practical active bystander strategies
• Ways organisations can strengthen cultures of respect and safety

The session is interactive and supportive, with opportunities to practise responding to realistic scenarios in a structured learning environment.

Community Workshops – 2.5-hour workshop

This session introduces key active bystander concepts and practical strategies that participants can use in everyday life. It helps build skills to promote inclusivity and respectful culture, making it ideal for community groups, sports clubs and local events.

Participants are supported to:

• Notice behaviours that may cause harm
• Build confidence to respond confidently
• Understand simple actions that contribute to safer communities

Outcomes

By the end of STAND training, participants report increased confidence to recognise

Conversations about consent and body safety are important at every age and stage. Our education packages and workshops support children and young people to explore these topics in ways that are safe, respectful, and developmentally appropriate.

Workshops aim to build shared language, understanding, and confidence. They also recognise the important role adults play in creating safe and supportive environments.

Workshops can be delivered in primary and secondary schools and are outlined below. Tailored workshops for youth groups, community organisations, and sporting clubs can be developed upon request.

For Children and Young People

Our core program is delivered directly to children and young people, with sessions tailored to different age groups from school age through to young adults up to 25 years.

Each workshop is adapted to the developmental stage of the group. Participants are supported to:

• Understand consent and respectful relationships
• Communicate personal boundaries
• Recognise body autonomy
• Know where to seek support if they ever need it

Workshops are typically delivered over an hour or a teaching session.

Schools may choose to deliver sessions across multiple year levels or focus on a specific year level as part of an annual approach. As part of these workshops we are able to offer a session to education staff and encourage schools to support the delivery of a session for parents and caregivers.

Sessions for Education Staff

These sessions support educators to build confidence in teaching consent and body safety, and in responding to student questions or experiences in a supportive and appropriate way.

These sessions explore:

• Creating safe learning environments
• Responding to disclosures within professional role boundaries
• Strengthening referral pathways
• Reinforcing shared language across the school community

Staff sessions are typically one hour.

Sessions for Parents and Caregivers

We offer sessions for parents and caregivers, delivered online or in person. These sessions support families to continue conversations at home and include:

• Practical tools for discussing body safety
• Ways to talk about consent in everyday situations
• Information about available support services
• Time for questions and discussion

Flexible Delivery Options The program is most impactful when the wider school community is involved, however, for many reasons this is not always possible. We are able to explore with your school the level of engagement that suits your needs.

Note – For Early Education Options – please refer to our Rhythm and Respect program. 

Early Learning Body Safety and Consent Program – limited free sessions available for 2026*

Rhythm & Respect is an early learning program that supports young children to begin learning about body safety, consent, and respectful relationships in developmentally appropriate ways.

The program uses music, storytelling, and interactive activities to create a calm and engaging environment. Sessions are grounded in trauma-informed practice and focus on building shared language that supports children, educators, and families.

Rhythm & Respect forms part of CAV’s broader Consent and Body Safety Education offering, supporting continuity of learning as children transition into school settings.

For Children Aged 3 to 5

Facilitated workshops support children to explore:

• Body autonomy
• Feelings and emotions
• Asking for help
• Respectful interactions

Language is gentle and age appropriate. Groups of up to 15 children are preferred, with sessions lasting one hour.

For Educators and Families

Early childhood educators are warmly encouraged to attend sessions and meet with facilitators prior to the sessions. This helps build shared language that can be reinforced through everyday routines and conversations.

To support families, a short information video is provided before the session to explain the approach and offer guidance for continuing conversations at home.

If questions or concerns arise, educators and families can access confidential secondary consultations with CAV’s therapeutic team for guidance and support.

Watch our promo Video: here

*CAV is self funding a limited number of free sessions per early education setting in the Ovens Murray region for 2026. Contact us to learn more. 

Interactive education sessions designed to strengthen conversations about consent, respect, and inclusive culture across all sporting codes.

Sporting clubs play an important role in shaping values, leadership, and behaviour both on and off the field. This session recognises that influence and supports clubs to strengthen cultures that center inclusivity, accountability, and respect.

Sessions bring together players, coaches, mentors, volunteers, and club leaders in an interactive learning environment. Content is adapted to each club and encourages reflection, discussion, and practical actions that promote inclusive and respectful environments.

Sessions explore:

• What respect and culture look like in your club
• Accountability, empathy, and shared responsibility
• Supporting young people to speak up and access support
• Conversations about consent and boundaries within all types of relationships

Sessions can be delivered as a stand-alone workshop or as part of broader prevention and education initiatives.

Tackling Consent is a free, values-led education initiative supporting football and netball clubs across the Ovens and Murray region.

Designed for young people aged 12 to 17 and their mentors, the program works with the whole club community, including coaches, committees, and volunteers. It promotes safe, inclusive, and respectful sporting environments both on and off the field.

The 2026 season program is delivered in partnership with La Trobe University and contributes to research exploring the impact of consent education in community sport.

The program includes:

• Interactive workshops
• Club-based initiatives delivered across the season
• Practical resources to support lasting culture change

Learn more and view the full program details here

Sometimes a school, workplace, sporting club, or community group requires a session that does not fit within a set program. Community Conversations are flexible, tailored education sessions designed to support learning, reflection, and shared understanding around safety, respect, and well-being.

Sessions are shaped in collaboration with you and may include topics such as:

• Consent, respect, and healthy boundaries
• Understanding family and sexual violence
• Accessing support for yourself or someone you care about
• Referral pathways and local services
• Building safer and more inclusive environments

Sessions can range from short overviews to extended workshops and provide a supportive starting point for meaningful conversations. Community Conversations are suitable for staff teams, parents and caregivers, sporting clubs, community groups, and local organisations.

Connecting with CAV

CAV can also join an existing staff meeting, parent gathering, or community group session to provide a brief overview of who we are, what we do, and how to connect with our services. These short sessions typically include a 15 minute introduction followed by 15 minutes for questions and discussion, offering a simple and supportive way to learn about local support options.

These introductory visits are free of charge when held within working hours.

Providing feedback on our presentations help us to improve and evaluate our programs.