Empowering Change: Rethinking Bystander Intervention in College Communities
Tracks
Stream 2
| Tuesday, August 6, 2024 |
| 11:45 AM - 12:30 PM |
| Crystal 2 |
Overview
Lauren Ryznar, University of New South Wales
Details
In 2022, the University of New South Wales (UNSW) Colleges partnered with Learning Consent to pioneer "Consent Conversations," a groundbreaking approach to consent education in Australia. Despite ongoing refinement for the Fresher Cohort in 2023 and Returning residents in 2024, student feedback highlighted a skills gap in bystander intervention within communal living environments, where diverse backgrounds and contextual realities intersect.
UNSW Colleges, partnering with Learning Consent, are spearheading a customised Bystander Intervention program tailored for residential students. Acknowledging the imperative to empower students with tools for fostering safe relationships,our initiative addresses a spectrum of issues including sexist jokes, offensive language, objectification, hazing, online bullying, and cancel culture. We aim to cultivate meaningful conversations beyond sexual consent, and equip students with the knowledge and skills to intervene effectively and sensitively.
Currently in the planning stages, our pilot program is set to commence in June 2024, initially targeting student leaders. Drawing inspiration from the immersive format of Consent Conversations, the program will adopt a forum theatre style, enabling interactive exploration of diverse strategies for addressing common problems, accompanied by facilitated discussions. Content development will be informed by extensive student consultation to ensure authenticity and relevance, culminating in the creation of realistic scenarios during the scriptwriting phase. Feedback from the pilot phase will inform further refinements, with the ultimate goal of extending the training to all UNSW Colleges by 2025.
We look forward to sharing our journey and insights gleaned from this innovative initiative. Our workshop will offer attendees an in-depth exploration of the rationale behind the UNSW/Learning Consent Bystander Intervention workshops, featuring video footage showcasing highlights, discussions on the challenges/opportunities within university consent education, and an analysis of student feedback from the pilot. Join us as we strive to create safer and more inclusive campus environments through proactive and empowering education initiatives.
Speaker
Miss Lauren Ryznar
Dean Of Philip Baxter College
UNSW
Empowering Change: Rethinking Bystander Intervention in College Communities
Abstract Overview
In 2022, the University of New South Wales (UNSW) Colleges partnered with Learning Consent to pioneer "Consent Conversations," a groundbreaking approach to consent education in Australia. Despite ongoing refinement for the Fresher Cohort in 2023 and Returning residents in 2024, student feedback highlighted a skills gap in bystander intervention within communal living environments, where diverse backgrounds and contextual realities intersect.
UNSW Colleges, partnering with Learning Consent, are spearheading a customised Bystander Intervention program tailored for residential students. Acknowledging the imperative to empower students with tools for fostering safe relationships,our initiative addresses a spectrum of issues including sexist jokes, offensive language, objectification, hazing, online bullying, and cancel culture. We aim to cultivate meaningful conversations beyond sexual consent, and equip students with the knowledge and skills to intervene effectively and sensitively.
Currently in the planning stages, our pilot program is set to commence in June 2024, initially targeting student leaders. Drawing inspiration from the immersive format of Consent Conversations, the program will adopt a forum theatre style, enabling interactive exploration of diverse strategies for addressing common problems, accompanied by facilitated discussions. Content development will be informed by extensive student consultation to ensure authenticity and relevance, culminating in the creation of realistic scenarios during the scriptwriting phase. Feedback from the pilot phase will inform further refinements, with the ultimate goal of extending the training to all UNSW Colleges by 2025.
We look forward to sharing our journey and insights gleaned from this innovative initiative. Our workshop will offer attendees an in-depth exploration of the rationale behind the UNSW/Learning Consent Bystander Intervention workshops, featuring video footage showcasing highlights, discussions on the challenges/opportunities within university consent education, and an analysis of student feedback from the pilot. Join us as we strive to create safer and more inclusive campus environments through proactive and empowering education initiatives.
UNSW Colleges, partnering with Learning Consent, are spearheading a customised Bystander Intervention program tailored for residential students. Acknowledging the imperative to empower students with tools for fostering safe relationships,our initiative addresses a spectrum of issues including sexist jokes, offensive language, objectification, hazing, online bullying, and cancel culture. We aim to cultivate meaningful conversations beyond sexual consent, and equip students with the knowledge and skills to intervene effectively and sensitively.
Currently in the planning stages, our pilot program is set to commence in June 2024, initially targeting student leaders. Drawing inspiration from the immersive format of Consent Conversations, the program will adopt a forum theatre style, enabling interactive exploration of diverse strategies for addressing common problems, accompanied by facilitated discussions. Content development will be informed by extensive student consultation to ensure authenticity and relevance, culminating in the creation of realistic scenarios during the scriptwriting phase. Feedback from the pilot phase will inform further refinements, with the ultimate goal of extending the training to all UNSW Colleges by 2025.
We look forward to sharing our journey and insights gleaned from this innovative initiative. Our workshop will offer attendees an in-depth exploration of the rationale behind the UNSW/Learning Consent Bystander Intervention workshops, featuring video footage showcasing highlights, discussions on the challenges/opportunities within university consent education, and an analysis of student feedback from the pilot. Join us as we strive to create safer and more inclusive campus environments through proactive and empowering education initiatives.
Biography
Lauren is the Dean of Philip Baxter College at the University of New South Wales, Sydney. Her journey began in Dance Education in Scotland, including roles with the Royal Academy of Dance, Scottish Qualifications Authority and the International Baccalaureate Organisation.
Her career took a transformative turn when she ventured into pastoral care as Head of House and Houseparent at a boarding school in South Korea. This experience ignited her passion for supporting the holistic development of students, leading her to transition seamlessly into tertiary education upon moving to Australia.
With a focus on fostering well-rounded, whole-person education, Lauren is deeply committed to creating inclusive learning environments where every student can thrive academically, socially, and personally.
