“Upholding children’s right to a safe and truthful education based on biological facts.”
- Drag Queen Storytime and The Safeguarding QuestionWhile researching lawfare in Australia, I came across the long-running legal battle involving Lyle Shelton. In 2020, Shelton publicly criticised a Drag Queen Storytime event at a Brisbane City Council library. He described the performers — Johnny Valkyrie (known as… Read more: Drag Queen Storytime and The Safeguarding Question
- Who Decides the Books in Your Child’s Classroom? The Role of Working It OutA recent Right to Information request (RTI 076–2025/26) has provided new insight into how the Tasmanian Department for Education, Children and Young People (DECYP) selects and recommends books for use in schools under the Supporting Sexuality, Sex and Gender Diversity… Read more: Who Decides the Books in Your Child’s Classroom? The Role of Working It Out
- Why Parents are Kept in the Dark About Tasmania School ProgramsWhat we learnt from RTI Request 076–2025/26 Working It Out and Growing Up Program Parents have a right to know what their children are being taught at school—especially when lessons touch on sensitive topics such as sexuality, gender identity, and… Read more: Why Parents are Kept in the Dark About Tasmania School Programs
- Working It Out: What is Happening in Tasmanian Schools? Recent information from multiple sources — including Working It Out Inc.’s own public statements — confirms that the organisation is actively involved in Tasmanian schools, providing “affirmation planning” for trans and gender-diverse students, assisting schools to develop “inclusive curriculum content,”… Read more: Working It Out: What is Happening in Tasmanian Schools?
- Parents are the First Line of Defence in Safeguarding ChildrenParents are not bystanders in child protection — they are the first line of defence against harm. The National Principles for Child Safe Organisations, endorsed by all Australian governments, make this clear: families hold the primary responsibility for their children’s… Read more: Parents are the First Line of Defence in Safeguarding Children
- Behind Closed Doors: Family Planning Tasmania and the Hidden CurriculumThis is a quick summary of the blog post titled ‘Keeping Secrets from Parents: Family Planning Tasmania is an Active Participant.’ We have also included a downloadable word document containing all the important questions parents should ask. What it’s about:… Read more: Behind Closed Doors: Family Planning Tasmania and the Hidden Curriculum
- Concerns About the Growing Up Program (GUP) in Tasmanian Schools – Parents Speak UpWomen Speak Tasmania has received a number of messages from parents across the state expressing concern about the Growing Up Program (GUP), which is delivered by Family Planning Tasmania (FPT) in public schools. Parents have raised issues relating to transparency,… Read more: Concerns About the Growing Up Program (GUP) in Tasmanian Schools – Parents Speak Up
- Language, Inclusion, and Policy in Tasmanian SchoolsA review of current frameworks and their classroom impact In recent years, the Tasmanian Department for Education, Children and Young People has introduced several policies aimed at fostering inclusion for students who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex or… Read more: Language, Inclusion, and Policy in Tasmanian Schools
- Who Decides What Children Are Taught? The Growing Up Program and Parental Rights in TasmaniaIn recent months, a debate has emerged in Tasmania about what primary-school children are being taught regarding bodies, relationships, and gender. At the centre of the discussion is the state’s “Growing Up Program” (GUP), a relationships and protective-behaviours curriculum delivered… Read more: Who Decides What Children Are Taught? The Growing Up Program and Parental Rights in Tasmania
- Gender Ideology Propaganda in Tasmanian LibrariesOn 26 June 2025, Women Speak Tasmania raised serious concerns about a disturbing trend in our public institutions. Books promoting gender ideology are being made freely available in the children’s sections of Tasmanian libraries — endorsed and supported under so-called… Read more: Gender Ideology Propaganda in Tasmanian Libraries
- Advocating for Transparency in Children’s Education: The Growing Up ProgramIn June 2025, Women Speak Tasmania reached out to Family Planning Tasmania (FPT) to request detailed information about the Growing Up Program (GUP), a sexuality and protective behaviours program delivered in Tasmanian primary schools. Our inquiry focused on understanding how… Read more: Advocating for Transparency in Children’s Education: The Growing Up Program
- Take Pride Out of SchoolsThe Tasmanian Department for Education, Children and Young People (DECYP) recently shared a celebratory post about attending the Pride Parade, highlighting their commitment to “creating a safe and supportive environment for children, young people and their families.” On the surface,… Read more: Take Pride Out of Schools
- Comments on the Tasmanian DECYP Respectful Relationship Education Y7-10 & Y11-12Recently, concerned educators and parents have raised alarms about the content of the Respectful Relationships Education (RRE) Years 11–12 document. While its stated aim is to prevent domestic violence and promote healthy relationships, the material contains highly sensitive content on… Read more: Comments on the Tasmanian DECYP Respectful Relationship Education Y7-10 & Y11-12
- Comments on the Tasmanian DECYP Respectful Relationships Education Foundation–Year 6The Tasmanian Department of Education, Children and Young People (DECYP) has developed a Respectful Relationships Education package for children from Foundation through Year 6. On first glance, the program looks positive—focusing on kindness, empathy, inclusion and teaching children how to… Read more: Comments on the Tasmanian DECYP Respectful Relationships Education Foundation–Year 6
- Comments on the Tasmanian DECYP Respectful Relationships and Consent in the Early YearsThe Respectful Relationships and Consent in the Early Years document contains some useful material for teachers. However, a close reading – along with an examination of the links embedded within it – shows that the resource is underpinned by gender… Read more: Comments on the Tasmanian DECYP Respectful Relationships and Consent in the Early Years
- A Critique of Welcome to Sex: Why This Book is Inappropriate for ChildrenThe publication of Welcome to Sex has sparked controversy across Australia, and with good reason. Marketed as a “fun and inclusive” guide for young people, the book has been placed in the children’s and young teen sections of major bookstores.… Read more: A Critique of Welcome to Sex: Why This Book is Inappropriate for Children
- Gender Ideology Indoctrination in Tasmanian Schools – Case StudiesParents across Tasmania are raising serious concerns about the content being delivered to children in schools. Recent reports suggest that some educational materials are embedding “gender ideology” into the curriculum, leaving families worried about the appropriateness and influence of these… Read more: Gender Ideology Indoctrination in Tasmanian Schools – Case Studies
- Advocating for Girls: WST’s Submission to the Inquiry into Discrimination & BullyingWomen Speak Tasmania is a non-profit dedicated to protecting the rights of women and girls—has welcomed the Tasmanian Government’s inquiry into discrimination and bullying in schools. We hope that our submission points to a deeply worrying trend: the infusion of… Read more: Advocating for Girls: WST’s Submission to the Inquiry into Discrimination & Bullying
- Safer Student Bathrooms in Tasmania: A Step Forward, But Are There Hidden Risks?What is the Safer Student Bathrooms Program? The Tasmanian Government’s Safer Student Bathrooms Program was announced in the 2021 election commitments. Launched with the goal of making school toilets safer, reduce bullying, and improve student wellbeing. Backed by a $6.3… Read more: Safer Student Bathrooms in Tasmania: A Step Forward, But Are There Hidden Risks?
- Leaked Training Materials: A Closer LookWomen Speak Tasmania (WST) has uncovered concerning information regarding the content of teacher training programs delivered in Tasmanian schools. These programs, provided by the Department for Education, Children and Young People in collaboration with the political lobby group Working It… Read more: Leaked Training Materials: A Closer Look
- Safeguarding Children in Tasmanian Schools: The Urgent Need for ReformRecently members of Women Speak Tasmania wrote a letter to Tasmanian Education Minister, Jo Palmer, to make her aware to the increasing risks posed to children in Tasmanian schools by the teaching and implementation of gender ideology. Recent policies and… Read more: Safeguarding Children in Tasmanian Schools: The Urgent Need for Reform
- Tasmania’s Department of Education Tells Schools to Ignore Safeguarding ReportIn July 2023, Tasmanian schools received an important report: Asleep at the Wheel – An Examination of Gender and Safeguarding in Schools by Policy Exchange. The report highlighted serious safeguarding failures in UK schools, where contested gender ideology has been… Read more: Tasmania’s Department of Education Tells Schools to Ignore Safeguarding Report
- Should Young Children Be Exposed to Gender Ideology in Storybooks?Introducing Teddy is a children’s picture book published in 2016, written by Jessica Walton and illustrated by Dougal MacPherson. It is aimed at very young readers, typically aged 4–8, and is often described as a gentle, affirming story about friendship,… Read more: Should Young Children Be Exposed to Gender Ideology in Storybooks?