High schools at Dubbo will teach students how to identify, prevent and respond to domestic violence, a crime reported to occur in the city at more than twice the NSW rate.
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The change to the personal development, health and physical education (PDHPE) syllabus to include domestic violence prevention for students in years 7 to 10 across the state will take place from the start of 2016.
Prevention of domestic violence minister Pru Goward and education minister Adrian Piccoli made the announcement on Friday, saying it was an important part of the NSW government's whole of government plan to prevent domestic and family violence.
Reported domestic violence-related assaults at Dubbo occurred at 2.2 times the NSW rate in the 12 months to March this year, the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research's latest quarterly report showed. It placed Dubbo at equal-ninth-worst in the state.
The Daily Liberal asked Ms Goward how confident she was the addition to the syllabus would reduce the prevalence of domestic violence at Dubbo.
"It is a tragic fact that domestic violence touches every community," Ms Goward said in response.
"That is why a whole of government and whole of community approach is needed to deliver key reforms that make a difference.
"One approach the NSW government is taking is to update to the mandatory NSW 7-10 PDHPE syllabus. This is an opportunity to work with and educate young people, who are the adults and leaders of tomorrow, to ensure that they know what domestic violence is and how they can identify possible ways to protect themselves and others from domestic and family violence."
The minister said she decided to make the changes after meeting a 14-year-old victim campaigning for education in schools.
"Here was a girl who had lived with it (domestic violence) all her life and actually had never understood that's what it was and it was wrong." Ms Goward said.
"I realised... we do need to work with and engage teenagers who are on the verge of relationships themselves and are the parents and adults of tomorrow."
Interrelate area manager for Dubbo and Orange Anne Heath on Friday said she welcomed any initiative to increase people's knowledge and awareness of domestic violence.
She said domestic violence was so "pervasive" and was statistically "very high" in the central west area meaning children "grow up regarding it as the norm".
She said her understanding of the change was that it was about giving children "a language to discuss domestic violence" and positive relationships they would like for themselves.