A Rotary SAFE Families Program for Year 10 Students — Victoria
Towards Respectful Relationships was created by Ginny Giorgio, a former family law lawyer, and Rotary Kingscliff Rotarian. This program has been running for four years in northern NSW and Ginny has given licence to Rotary SAFE Families to deliver her program across Victoria. The program is designed for Year 10 students and runs over eight sessions, combining education, mentoring, and creative film making.
Working in small groups, students explore the difference between respectful and abusive relationships — guided by a team including a Family Violence Police Community Liaison Officer, professional film producer, School Welfare teacher, and Rotary SAFE Families mentors. Each group produces a short film on the topic, building both awareness and practical skills along the way. This allows for students talking to students about respectful relationships.
How It Works
• Students work in small groups across 8 structured sessions
• Groups research, script, act, and produce an original short film on respectful relationships
• Films are judged by fellow students and a panel of professionals
• The program concludes with a Gala Event attended by Police, parents, friends, teachers, students, sponsoring Rotary Club and Rotary SAFE Families to view the films, celebrate students, and present prizes.
The program is funded through Rotary Club sponsorships. This program was recently accepted by RAWCS whereby tax-effective donations can be received through RAWCS (Rotary Australia World Community Service), which can be applied to the sponsoring Rotary Club to pay the film producer costs.
The program is currently running at two schools in Victoria:
• Sophia Mundi Steiner School sponsored by Rotary Hawthorn
• Melbourne Montessori College sponsored by Rotary Brighton North
Rotary Werribee is sponsoring the Grange School, Werribee in Term 3 this year and Rotary Caroline Springs is sponsoring the Lakeview College, Caroline Springs in Term 4 this year.
Get in Touch if you would like to sponsor a school
For more information, visit rotarysafefamilies.org.au or contact: Dorothy Gilmour gilmour.dorothy@gmail.com