Respect and Connect now taking bookings for 2026
25 September 2025
Respect and Connect, Relationships Australia Victoria’s (RAV) healthy relationships and mental wellbeing program for schools, is now taking bookings for 2026.
Respect and Connect is a 4-session, school-based primary prevention program that RAV developed and delivers to promote healthy, respectful relationships, improve mental wellbeing and prevent future gender-based violence. Having been delivered for more than a decade since it was originally launched in 2014 under the name ‘I like, like you’ (ILLY), the program has reached over 13,000 students across Victoria. We continue to evaluate and evolve the program, informed by youth-led evaluation and feedback, and evidence-informed innovation.
The program uses interactive, evidence-informed activities to build emotional intelligence, foster healthy relationships, promote gender equality, and strengthen communication and conflict resolution skills. It is delivered by qualified mental health-trained facilitators who model respectful behaviours and support student wellbeing in real time.
We’re also pleased to share a new easily accessible report to provide an overview of the evidence base and impact of the program, available to read below.
The report demonstrates improvements in students’ awareness of healthy relationships, empathy, emotional regulation, and help-seeking behaviours as shown through evaluations between 2019 and 2024. It demonstrates that Respect and Connect is a brief, targeted and impactful program that plays a vital role in promoting wellbeing and preventing gender-based violence. We know that strengthening school communities and empowering young people with the skills to build respectful, safe, and inclusive relationships, contributes to lasting cultural change and a future where all individuals can thrive.
If you’d like to find out more and get your school involved, click the button below to get started.