A whole-school approach

Strong leadership and commitment are fundamental for embedding Respectful Relationships Education (RRE) through a whole-school approach, ensuring that wellbeing and school excellence are at the heart of school culture, policies and practice.

A whole-school universal strategies approach integrates RRE into everything the school does, from learning programs to wellbeing initiatives, policies and school events. Excellence is achieved by:

• embedding preventative and proactive strategies in curriculum
• prioritising early intervention
• embracing diversity and inclusion.

This collective vision relies on leadership to clarify purpose for the broader school community.

Defining leadership for Respectful Relationships Education

Leadership in this context means that school leaders, principals and RRE committees champion RRE as a key priority, not just within classroom curriculum but across all facets of school life. This involves setting clear expectations and fostering a positive shared vision for respectful interactions among students and staff.

Leaders:

• actively promote professional learning
• encourage open dialogue about equality and consent
• engage with evidence-based frameworks to guide action.

Key leadership actions

Key leadership actions and their impact on school culture and excellence include:

• Prioritise respectful relationships – elevates wellbeing as a central value.
• Provide ongoing staff learning and development – builds confidence and effectiveness.
• Engage with whole school frameworks – ensures strategic, sustainable approaches.
• Champion continuous improvement – fosters proactive, adaptive learning.
• Promote partnerships – extends resources and expertise.

Commitment in practice

School commitment is demonstrated through the allocation of resources, ongoing professional learning and strong support networks. Leaders ensure all staff are confident and supported to deliver age-appropriate, evidence-based RRE through the curriculum that addresses real-world issues and meets the needs of student cohorts. Commitment is visible when RRE is modelled and reinforced during interactions across the whole school, not only during scheduled lessons.

Embedding sustainable change

School leaders drive change by cultivating accountability, modelling positive behaviours and championing ongoing evaluation and improvement. They build partnerships within and beyond the school, facilitating connections with experts and leveraging community resources for sustainability. In NSW, these efforts are supported through alignment with the:

• School Excellence Framework
• Wellbeing framework for schools.

They guide schools to document, evaluate and refine their approaches to respectful relationships and wellbeing.

Strong leadership and sustained commitment ensure RRE becomes a shared responsibility and a foundation for achieving school excellence in NSW public schools. The resource Achieving School Excellence in Wellbeing and Inclusion supports schools to provide evidence of school achievement in wellbeing and inclusion.