Keep Safe Stay Cool is an early intervention program targeting young people between the ages of thirteen and twenty-five years using a peer education model to promote healthy relationships as opposed to domestic violence. Keep Safe Stay Cool utilises a framework of reciprocal human rights to encourage change in young people’s beliefs, attitudes and behaviours regarding interpersonal relationships. The program aims to encourage the understanding of mutual responsibilities with a view to reducing the incidence and tolerance of domestic violence.

After extensive training, which includes information and skill development, Peer Educators of both genders design and present series of interactive sessions to high school classes and youth groups. The Peer Educators work in mixed gender pairs to present to mixed gender classes. Keep Safe Stay Cool is an education program, not a therapeutic program. However, there are indicators that it has value for young people who are dealing with issues of abuse.

Key Elements of Keep Safe Stay Cool

Young people of both genders from varied backgrounds are recruited as Peer Educators.  This brings different perspectives and promotes cooperation rather than challenge.  The complexities of causal factors of domestic violence are addressed in training.  Historic, societal, political, familial, media, gender roles, stereotyping and power issues are addressed.  All facets of healthy relationships and of domestic violence are considered.

• Emotional, social, financial, physical and sexual aspects are examined.

• A range of services are enlisted to help give Peer Educators a broad view of the impact of domestic violence.

• Police, non-government services, health services and children’s services have input in peer educator training.

• Multi-cultural issues of domestic violence and Aboriginal issues of family violence are addressed.

• Service providers and community members from aboriginal and different cultural backgrounds are involved in training.

• Same gender relationships are considered.

• In the framework of societal causal effects gay/lesbian domestic violence issues are discussed in training and gay/lesbian relationships are included in class discussion.

• The program utilises a range of strategies designed in partnership with Peer Educators to disseminate information through schools and youth groups.

• Peer Educators’ ideas and understandings of current youth cultures are incorporated in session plans.

• The program is being evaluated and continuously improved.

• The program develops and includes new learning as feedback is received.