The initiative for the REAL Life education program came from local domestic violence workers in Goulburn Valley and North East Victoria. They expressed an interest in playing a more pro-active role in preventing relationship violence and supporting young people to experience positive rewarding relationships.

The program, outlined and evaluated in the following documents, has been designed to be delivered to Year 8 students and to be incorporated into existing Year 8 personal development curriculum. Ideally programs such as this are supported by school culture, policies, and organisational practices which encourage and promote equality, non-violence and pro-social behaviour.