The respectED Study: A cluster randomised controlled trial of a school-based intervention to prevent intimate partner and sexual violence among adolescents

Schools assigned to the intervention group will implement the healthy relationships and consent program (respectED) in health education classes in Term 3 or Term 4 of 2025. The program involves five 40-minute lessons, delivered one week apart. Each lesson comprises an online cartoon component completed individually by students, followed by teacher-facilitated activities (e.g., class discussions, quizzes, role plays). There are also reflective activities and quizzes embedded in the cartoons to ensure student comprehension, critical thinking and engagement, and factsheets are provided at the end of each lesson that reinforce key content. All materials are developed/co-designed for this program and study specifically. The program content covers key topics related to healthy relationships and consent, including respect, boundaries, emotional awareness, coercive control, bullying, gossip, digital abuse, and safe online behaviour. It aims to challenge harmful norms and attitudes, promote positive relationship skills, and increase emotional literacy. Through engaging cartoon storylines and interactive activities, students learn to recognise signs of unhealthy relationships, communicate effectively, and practice setting boundaries. The program also addresses common issues faced by adolescents, such as peer pressure, online coercion, and navigating romantic and platonic relationships. Students and teachers access the intervention materials online via the respectED website. Teachers are provided with curriculum outlines, lesson summaries and implementation guides. No teacher training is required for the delivery of the program, teachers will be given an implementation plan and onboarding documents. They will also be able to seek support from trial staff and trial psychologist. To track program fidelity, teachers will be asked to complete logbooks to document their implementation of the respectED program (i.e. timing, activities delivered, technical problems, other implementation details). Website analytics will provide objective data on the dose and timing of intervention delivery.

Schools assigned to the intervention group will implement the healthy relationships and consent program (respectED) in health education classes in Term 1 or Term 2 of 2026. The program involves five 40-minute lessons, delivered one week apart. Each lesson comprises an online cartoon component completed individually by students, followed by teacher-facilitated activities (e.g., class discussions, quizzes, role plays). There are also reflective activities and quizzes embedded in the cartoons to ensure student comprehension, critical thinking and engagement, and factsheets are provided at the end of each lesson that reinforce key content. All materials are developed/co-designed for this program and study specifically. The program content covers key topics related to healthy relationships and consent, including respect, boundaries, emotional awareness, coercive control, bullying, gossip, digital abuse, and safe online behaviour. It aims to challenge harmful norms and attitudes, promote positive relationship skills, and increase emotional literacy. Through engaging cartoon storylines and interactive activities, students learn to recognise signs of unhealthy relationships, communicate effectively, and practice setting boundaries. The program also addresses common issues faced by adolescents, such as peer pressure, online coercion, and navigating romantic and platonic relationships. Students and teachers access the intervention materials online via the respectED website. Teachers are provided with curriculum outlines, lesson summaries and implementation guides. No teacher training is required for the delivery of the program, teachers will be given an implementation plan and onboarding documents. They will also be able to seek support from trial staff and trial psychologist. To track program fidelity, teachers will be asked to complete logbooks to document their implementation of the respectED program (i.e. timing, activities delivered, technical problems, other implementation details). Website analytics will provide objective data on the dose and timing of intervention delivery.