Agents For Change (ATOM Study Guide)

Agents For Change is a podcast series featuring ordinary Australians talking about what science might be able to tell us about preventing the perpetration of violence against women. The podcast provides insights from research to challenge societal norms and practices, and encourages community dialogue about what needs to change to create a world free from violence. It offers a safe, welcoming and relatable way to explore what is often a difficult and confronting topic.

The series comprises a preview episode which sets the scene, and which outlines the four main drivers of gendered violence. Each subsequent episode explores each of these drivers in greater detail:

1. Agents vs Excuses: Condoning of violence against women
2. Agents vs Control: Men’s control of decision-making and limits to women’s independence in public and private life
3. Agents vs Stereotypes: Rigid gender stereotyping and dominant forms of masculinity
4. Agents vs Man Box: Male peer relations and cultures of masculinity that emphasise aggression, dominance and control

Agents For Change was produced with funding from The Australian Government Department of Social Services through White Ribbon Australia and supported by Shellharbour City Council and Beyond Empathy.

Curriculum Links:

Agents For Change is recommended for secondary students. It is particularly relevant to the Health and Physical Education curriculum, notably with reference to the ‘Identities and change’ and ‘Interacting with others’ outcomes.

In Science, the podcast presents an opportunity to explore the ‘Science as a human endeavour’ strand.

At senior levels, the Agents For Change podcast can support teaching and learning in Psychology, in particular in the context of identity and group behaviour.

The podcasts are also relevant to the teaching of English, Media Arts and cross-curriculum projects which explore gender roles. They can be used as a resource to address the Australian Curriculum General Capability – Ethical Understanding, Critical and Personal and Social Capability.

Listen to the podcast via Spreakr here.