Western Australia introduces new consent lessons for students

School students in Western Australia will be given updated lessons on consent and healthy relationships.

The curriculum change aims to equip students with "age-appropriate knowledge and skills" in a bid to reduce sexual violence, the WA government said.

Pre-primary to Year 10 students will benefit, Education and Training Minister Sue Ellery and Women's Interests Minister Simone McGurk said.

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Ellery said such lessons are currently taught "ad hoc" in Western Australian schools but students have said they want a clear way to respond to real-life situations.

"These changes are designed to equip students and their families with age-appropriate knowledge and skills to understand the concept of consent and what healthy, respectful relationships look like in everyday settings and real-life scenarios," she said.

The "age-appropriate and progressive lessons" in WA will start before primary school.

Topics for the youngest children will include "keeping safe" and "saying no".

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McGurk said she was proud of the move.

"Evidence shows that early education is a powerful tool in reducing sexual violence which we know can have lifelong consequences," she said.

The Department of Education said it will support public school teachers to implement the new content.

A draft version of the new consent curriculum has been published by the School Curriculum and Standards Authority and is open for comment.