The Impact of Your Support: Stories from the Classroom

Q: What does a typical week look like for you?

There aren’t any typical weeks—they’re all different, which I love! But my days usually begin pretty early, often with a long drive to reach the schools where I deliver the Talk About It program. Some weeks, I might spend a whole week at one school, building deeper connections with the students. Other weeks, I’m at a different school each day, adapting to new environments and new faces.

Q: You must get to travel a lot then?

I do. I’ve seen some incredible parts of the country. The travel isn’t always easy—sometimes it’s a quick 20-minute drive, but other days, it can be over two hours each way. I’ve even travelled as far as Dajarra, which is about a 2-hour drive from Mt Isa, and about 1,900 km away from my home in Brisbane.

Q: What makes your role as a Talk About It Educator so impactful?

It goes far beyond just delivering a lesson—it’s about creating a safe space and taking the time for children to explore sensitive topics like puberty, consent, body safety, and body image. This is what makes Life Education lessons different from just another classroom lesson.

Q: Why is it important for children to have these lessons at an early age?

I think having these kinds of age-appropriate lessons early in life will have a flow-on effect as they grow. If we normalise speaking openly about our bodies and consent, and these conversations continue throughout their schooling, I believe we will see decreases in sexual violence, abuse, and assault. We’ll have more people who feel empowered to speak up and look out for each other.

Q: What is it like to teach children about puberty?

It’s always interesting… In one of my recent visits, I was teaching a group of Year 5 students about puberty and body changes. At first, there were nervous giggles as you start using the correct names for body parts… but by the time we got to the detailed anatomy, the kids became really interested. They start to become fascinated with how their bodies work, and they feel comfortable asking questions and discussing topics they might never feel comfortable asking their parents or teacher.

Q: I bet there must be some memorable moments that come out of teaching a subject like that…

Definitely! I remember one student, after learning the proper terms for human anatomy, connecting it with what he knew about cow and bull reproduction from his life on the farm. It was such a beautiful “AHA!” moment, where his world at home connected with the lesson in the classroom and his understanding of life.

Q: You mentioned that body image often comes up in Talk About It lessons?

Yes, body image is another topic that we are addressing more and more in our lessons. In a recent visit, a student raised her hand and asked, “How do I lose weight?” I was struck by the question from a perfectly healthy-looking 10-year-old. I exchanged a glance with the class’s regular teacher—the sympathy on her face told me everything, and it was heartbreaking.

Q: How do you approach sensitive questions like that?

Children are exposed to so much misinformation on social media, and this student mentioned advice she had seen on TikTok. I gently explained that her worth isn’t tied to her body size, and we talked about the importance of positive self-talk, explaining that much of what they see online simply isn’t true. It’s so hard to validate their concerns while also telling them that social media is usually all nonsense. At 10 years old, this isn’t something they should be worried about!

Q: How does today’s approach to these topics compare with past generations?

In our own and our parents’ generations, these subjects were very hush-hush. We didn’t talk about someone being violent with their partner or yelling at each other—that was considered the family’s business. But by creating safe spaces to talk about these topics, we help people avoid making bad decisions that hurt others. And if something is happening at home, children are more likely to feel comfortable talking about it and asking for help.

Q: Do you have anything you would like to say to the members of our Kids Protect Team?

Yes, of course! I would want to say just a huge thank you. I get to see the impact these lessons are having on thousands of kids day-after-day, and your support is making all of that change possible. It’s such a dream to be able to deliver health education to kids, and it makes me excited for the future.