A South Australian mother has initiated legal proceedings in the Federal Court, claiming her teenage daughter was severely traumatised by a school sex education presentation that allegedly discussed bestiality and incest.
Presentation Details and Alleged Content
Nicki Gaylard removed her three children from Renmark High School in March 2024 after her 14-year-old daughter, Courtney, and other Year Nine students attended a session run by the external provider Headspace Berri. The hour-long presentation was part of a Respectful Relationships programme intended to foster LGBTQIA+ inclusivity and acceptance.
According to Ms Gaylard, the session was not supervised by teachers and inappropriately covered topics including bestiality and 'sisterly love, brotherly love'. She alleges that when a pupil asked what bestiality meant, the presenter stated, 'it means having sex with animals, but don't Google it'.
The students were also reportedly shown a photograph of an individual who had undergone gender-transition surgery. Ms Gaylard, a mother of six, told The Australian that the experience prematurely ended her daughter's childhood, prompting difficult questions about familial love.
Family Impact and Legal Action
'Why were they putting ideas in her head, making her question why she loves her siblings?' Ms Gaylard said. The incident had an immediate and distressing effect on family life, with Courtney reportedly saying upon returning home, 'Mum, I don't want to look at the dogs anymore'.
Ms Gaylard has filed a lawsuit against the South Australian Department for Education. She further claims that Headspace Berri has repeatedly refused requests to provide access to the presentation's content, leading her to question why material deemed unsuitable for adults was shown to children.
Official Responses and Consequences
The SA Education Department condemned the alleged presentation, calling it 'unacceptable' and confirming it was an isolated incident. A spokesperson stated that measures had been implemented to prevent a recurrence.
As a direct result, the department has suspended Headspace Berri from delivering the programme in public schools. Headspace National has conducted a review into FocusOne Health, which operates the Berri service.
A spokesperson for Headspace National acknowledged that while the presentation aimed to promote inclusivity and highlight historical discrimination faced by the LGBTIQA+ community, 'there were aspects of the presentation that were not appropriate for young people'.
