Year 7-10 students are set to be empowered with the knowledge, understanding and skills to help prevent domestic violence under important new changes to the Personal Development, Health and Physical Education (PDHPE) syllabus.

The changes were announced by Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Pru Goward together with Minister for Education Adrian Piccoli.

The compulsory NSW 7-10 syllabus was updated to explicitly include domestic violence prevention from the start of the first school term in 2016 and was an important part of the NSW Government’s whole-of-government plan to prevent domestic and family violence.

“I have heard first hand that young people want to learn how to recognise and respond to abuse in relationships that may occur in their homes,” Ms Goward said.

“Through this update to the syllabus, schools can provide a significant platform for helping young people to identify, report and protect themselves and others from abuse.”

Minister for Education Adrian Piccoli said that age appropriate education for young people on how to keep themselves and others safe was a core feature of the K-6 and 7-10 PDHPE syllabuses.

“From kindergarten, students learn about respectful relationships, safe and unsafe feelings and how to seek help when needed,” Mr Piccoli said.

“Strengthening the 7-10 syllabus to include specific reference to domestic violence supports existing opportunities for students to learn about positive relationships and leading safe and healthy lives.”

Yvonne Wilson, chief executive of Linking Communities Network, an organisation involved in helping people who have experienced domestic violence, said education programs were extremely important.

“There’s no excuse for violence towards anyone from anyone. Male or female, there’s no excuse for violence to be directed towards anyone else,” Ms Wilson said.

“We’ve been in schools and running respectful relationships education, talking to young people about how to deal with bullying, and how to deal with violence if violence is happening within the home.

“We also run groups for women who are experiencing domestic and family violence.”

Amendments to the 7-10 PDHPE syllabus were approved by the Board of Studies following consultation with a variety of education providers including the Department of Education, Association of Independent Schools NSW and Catholic Education Commission.