Hugh Schuitemaker, Murray Pioneer
Families are being informed about contents of the upcoming 2025 sex education program at Renmark High School (RHS), which is already working with one of the three approved service providers named by the State Government in recent days.
The 2024 controversy – which saw year 9 RHS students exposed to the concepts of bestiality and incest without prior parental knowledge – surfaced again when Education Minister Blair Boyer introduced what the Government has described as “stronger safeguards” around sexual health education in public schools.
Life Ed SA, Elephant Ed and Shine SA are the “approved providers” to deliver the program, with the latter already working with Renmark High.
RHS principal Mat Evans said the early contact with Shine SA was part of “significant engagement work” the school had undertaken over the past year, as a result of the 2024 incident.
“ShineSA (is) providing resources and training to teachers this term prior to the delivery of the sexual health program,” Mr Evans told The Murray Pioneer this week.
“Additionally, an ‘information and guidelines’ letter has been sent to families of year 7-10 students outlining the Health and Physical Education curriculum and expectations for the year.
“Closer to term 2 a more detailed letter will be sent to families, listing topics to be covered in the program, plus a parent information night will be held in term 1 with teachers and Shine SA staff in attendance.”
Mr Boyer said the Government’s “new approach” was aimed squarely at preventing a repeat of the 2024 incident.
“What happened in Renmark High School wasn’t acceptable, and while this was an isolated incident I want to ensure it can’t happen again,” Mr Boyer said.
“The approved providers have gone through a rigorous process to be approved, which can give parents and students the confidence that the sexual health education in public schools is quality, based on evidence, and the nationally consistent Australian Curriculum is delivered.”
An outside speaker engaged by Headspace delivered the controversial hour-long 2024 session, but Mr Boyer said “the provider who delivered at Renmark High School did not apply” again in 2025.
Four providers made unsuccessful bids to deliver this year’s program.
Chaffey Liberal MP Tim Whetstone, who said the distress caused by such incidents “cannot be understated” was among those calling for more stringent selection conditions.
“It is crucial to establish and adhere to policies and procedures to ensure that this type of incident does not occur again,” Mr Whetstone said.
Mr Boyer said parents can “opt out” of their children attending the sexual health education sessions.
‘Let parents choose,’ says SA MP
A South Australian MP says her “parental primacy” Bill – introduced to state parliament last year – would prevent a repeat of the Renmark High School controversy.
Describing the classroom session that included discussion of incest and bestiality as “a travesty”, One Nation MLC Sarah Game said her Bill would – among other measures – require all SA public schools to consult with parents before such lessons were delivered.
“This Bill reasserts the traditional role of parents in the moral, ethical and social development of their children,” Dr Game said.
“Schools need to stay in their lane: this is the message I am hearing from constituents.
“I want parents to be involved every step of the way, and those pushing their political ideology and agenda to get out of the way.”
Dr Game’s Education and Children’s Services (Parental Primacy) Amendment Bill also removes “gender fluidity” from the curriculum in SA public schools.
“This Bill is unapologetically on the side of parents,” she said, “protecting their rights and their longstanding role that helped build this country.”
This article appeared in the Murray Pioneer, 12 February 2025.
