Respect at Uni Week – Five resources to help you understand consent and why it matters

Consent isn’t just about saying yes or no—it’s about respect, communication, and boundaries. This Respect at Uni Week, check out these five key resources to better understand consent in real life.

Consent is more than just a checkbox—it’s a conversation, an ongoing agreement, and a fundamental part of any respectful relationship. But with so much misinformation out there, it’s important to have the right tools to navigate these conversations with confidence and comfort.

As part of Respect at Uni Week 2025 (17-21 March), we’re highlighting five essential resources that break down consent in a way that’s clear, practical, and easy to apply in real life. Whether you’re new to the topic or looking to deepen your understanding, these tools will help you recognize what consent truly means—and why it matters.

1. What is consent? – A short video explainer

Taking responsibility to ensure that you have consent is essential in all our relationships, whether they are sexual or not. This animated video provides a concise and engaging explanation of consent, emphasising that it must be a mutual, informed, and enthusiastic agreement.

2. Healthy relationships and consent – Office of Youth resources

The Office for Youth’s page on healthy relationships and consent outlines fundamental concepts of consent, including their five core concepts of consent:

Free and voluntary
Clear and informed
Active and communicated
Ongoing and mutual
Able and capable

It also includes resources that discuss the importance of mutual respect and communication in relationships.

3. Affirmative consent (and the "spoiling the mood" myth)

If you or someone else has ever said, "if I ask for consent it will ruin the mood" this one is for you. This article from The Conversation dispels the myth that asking for consent spoils the mood and demonstrates how consent can (and should) be a natural and integral part of interactions. Affirmative consent is actively and willingly agreeing to engage in activities, without coercion – and it's essential.

4. Practical guidance on having conversations about consent

The Line offers six effective ways to approach and initiate conversations about consent. These include being honest, respectful, attentive, and ensuring all parties feel comfortable, safe and understood.

5. How Consent is More Than Just a Question and an Answer – TedX Talk video

This TedX Talk delves into how consent involves more than just asking a question and getting an answer. In the video, registered psychotherapist and author of Real Talk About Sex and Consent, Cheryl Bradshaw, explains how consent is irrevocably tied to safety, and how sometimes "yes" actually means "no," because the question should never have been asked in the first place.

Warning: This video includes reference to sexual harm and assault. Some readers may find this emotionally distressing. If you are affected, please seek support from 1800RESPECT and/or RMIT Safer Community.

Safer Community

At RMIT, we are committed to respect, equality, and inclusion across campuses, online spaces, and communities, reinforcing the importance of safety and dignity for all. 

If you experience any concerning, unwanted, uncomfortable or threatening behaviour, please reach out to Safer Community. You can access guidance, support, and formal reporting options, ensuring you feel heard, valued, and empowered.

Contact Safer Community

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