The Safe Schools Coalition has helped teachers support students dealing with gender and sexuality issues, but left schools entirely in control of what resources they used, the head of the anti-bullying coalition in Canberra said.
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It was also "very unlikely" a teacher would point a student to the breast-binding or penis-tucking information on the separate Minus18 website which has been a factor in the controversial debate, and federal review, into the coalition, Tim Bavinton said.
Mr Bavinton, executive director of the coalition's ACT service provider, Sexual Health and Family Planning ACT, said the program aimed at preventing bullying of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex students and their families had been welcomed.
"What both classroom teachers and those in welfare roles say is they are feeling very much more confident because they have some good resources and good training now," he said.
"[But] we are almost never in the classroom as the Safe Schools Coalition ACT, and we have only come to speak to specific student groups when asked."
It was up to member schools to decide if resources, such as the new All of Us program, which could be used for eight classroom lessons, suited the student and community needs.
The view has been backed by Narrabundah College principal Kerrie Grundy, who said there had been no change to the curriculum due to the coalition, 12 months after the school became one of the ACT's first to sign on.
"It has supported what were already doing, given the sorts of courses we offer and the sorts of discussions we have in classrooms, which are frank and open and students feel comfortable to voice their opinions," she said.
Ms Grundy said the coalition had provided opportunity for some students to be involved in two initiatives last year, including having two students attend a symposium in Sydney on inclusive environments, which had given LGBTI issues a higher profile.
Twenty-four ACT schools have signed up with the coalition.
Mr Bavinton, a former school teacher and a father of two, said the coalition encouraged schools to talk to parents and invite them into the discussion about the program.
"In general, all professionals who support young people recognise that parents and family are a critical support for most, but for some they aren't, and I wouldn't want to see access to information and support restricted in those circumstances where family cannot or will not be supportive of their child. The welfare of the child should always be the first focus," he said.
An ACT Education directorate spokeswoman said where a young person may have gender-questioning issues, "the school would expect its staff to always work with the young person to have a safe conversation with their parents".
Greens senator Robert Simms tabled two separate petitions with a combined 71,000 signatures in support of the Safe Schools Coalition in the Senate on Thursday night. A petition by conservative Liberal senator Cory Bernardi with 9500 signatures helped push Malcolm Turnbull to order a review into the coalition's materials, with the review findings due to be given to the government by mid-March.
ACT members of the Safe Schools Coalition
Alfred Deakin High School
Amaroo School
Campbell High School
Canberra Girls' Grammar School
Canberra High School
Caroline Chisholm School
Dickson College
Florey Primary School
Gold Creek School
Gungahlin College
Hawker College
Hughes Primary School
Lanyon High School
Lyneham High School
Majura Primary School
Melba Copland Secondary School
Melrose High School
Namadgi School
Narrabundah College
Telopea Park School
The Canberra College
The Woden School
University of Canberra High School Kaleen
Wanniassa School
