Peer educators

Home: K to 12: Respect Protect Connect Program: Gender and violence issues

This is an extract from the Respect Protect Connect workshop manual, by Timothy O'Leary and Russell Pratt.

Peer educators can bridge a gap that sometimes exists for some young people between themselves and adults. Peer educators can be used effectively to communicate information and ideas in a language and style closer to that of the young people in the session.

Peer educators are likely to avoid professional jargon, and to include young persons' speech in their communication. Essentially they tell it like it is! (Gulbin, 1996) For this reason, young men may find it easier to disclose to peer-educators after the sessions.

Respect:
Peer educators need training, support and debriefing. It is essential to spend enough time with peer educators to ensure they have a thorough grasp of the information as well as confidence in their ability to communicate. Although peer educators are not mandated to report disclosures of abuse to the Department of Human Services, they have a duty of care to act appropriately when a child is at risk of further abuse.

Protect:
Peer educators may be required to respond to young people disclosing suicidal thoughts and behaviours, or abuse. It's their role to appropriately refer, not rescue. Implement a clear protocol with the peer educators before they begin their work.

Connect:
Let them know you are there to support them.

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Disclaimer Copyright Updated: 21 Sep 2009