Teaching teenagers about domestic violence will have greater presence in the classroom.
From next year, students in years 7 to 10 will learn about domestic violence as part of the compulsory personal development, health and physical education (PDHPE) syllabus.
The existing syllabus teaches students about bullying, and an updated version will aim to strengthen students' understanding of a growing social concern.
Changes were developed in consultation with independent and Catholic schools, teachers, the Australian Council of Health, Physical Education and Recreation NSW and the PDHPE Teachers Association, and were approved by the Board of Studies.
Education Minister Adrian Piccoli said the implementation was age-appropriate.
"From kindergarten, students learn about respectful relationships, safe and unsafe feelings and how to seek help when needed," Mr Piccoli said.
"Strengthening the years 7 to 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."
Pru Goward, the Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, said the changes would enable schools to provide a platform to help youth to identify abuse, to report it, and how and protect themselves and others from abuse.
"Young people want to learn how to recognise and respond to abuse in relationships that may occur in their homes," Ms Goward said.
Sutherland Shire family support network Interrelate supports the move.
Interrelate's area manager Julie Dale said teaching children how to be safe from a young age would increase their ability to be assertive, and to seek support.
But she said students would also benefit from wider community education.
"Our own experience in delivering relationship education for almost 90 years has shown that often teachers find it helpful to have providers with specific expertise in these areas deliver information that is sensitive and difficult to talk about," she said.
"It is about ensuring that we are offering additional layers of support to our teachers and schools to ensure the best outcomes for children."
Will teaching children about domestic violence make a positive difference?