Women’s Officer Sarina Godden responds to the national debate about consent education, respectful relationships and harmful online content.
A statement from Sarina Godden, 2026 Women’s Officer
Consent advocate and Teach Us Consent CEO Chanel Contos recently used her National Press Club address to call for stronger action on social media algorithms that expose young people to misogynistic and harmful content.
At the same time, Nationals Leader Matt Canavan criticised Respectful Relationships education in schools, arguing the “feminisation” of education was contributing to young men turning to toxic manosphere content online. Opposition Leader Angus Taylor subsequently said consent education was important, but raised concerns about teachers pushing “political agendas” in classrooms.
As your Women’s Officer, I strongly reject the idea that teaching young people about consent, respect and healthy relationships is the problem.
Consent education is part of the solution.
At a time when young people can be exposed to misogynistic content online without actively seeking it out, we should be strengthening conversations about consent, respect and healthy relationships — not undermining them.
Blaming teachers or women for young men’s engagement with toxic online content shifts attention away from the role of social media platforms and the algorithms that can actively promote harmful material.
Young people deserve better.
La Trobe Student Union supports comprehensive education about consent and respectful relationships and efforts to make online spaces safer for young people.
Sarina Godden
2026 Women’s Officer
La Trobe Student Union