Meaningful Discussions in Melbourne

Master the Art of the Consent

18 abr 2026 12:30 AEST

Captain Melville, 34 Franklin St, Melbourne, VI, AU

Food for Thought Videos and Questions

Watch curated YouTube videos on the topic at:

• 2 Minutes Will Change the Way You Think About Consent
• Tea Consent
• Consent for Kids
• Consent: It's Simple
• FRIES Consent model

Conversation starter questions

1. The tea analogy is beloved — but where does it fall short? What does comparing consent to tea get right, and what complexities does it flatten or ignore?
2. "No means no" vs "yes means yes" — what's the real difference? Is the shift from one standard to the other purely semantic, or does it change how people think and behave?
3. Can consent be truly free when power imbalances exist? Think about boss/employee, teacher/student, or even significant age gaps. Is "consent" in those contexts always genuine?
4. Is silence ever consent? What role does body language, context, and prior relationship play — and where does interpretation become assumption?
5. Should consent be enthusiastic to be valid? Some argue a reluctant but unpressured "okay" is still real consent. Others say anything less than enthusiasm isn't enough. Where do you land?
6. How do we talk about consent in long-term relationships? Does familiarity change the rules — or does it just make it easier to skip conversations we should still be having?
7. What role does social conditioning play in our ability to say no? Many people — especially women — are socialised to prioritise others' comfort. Does that compromise the meaning of their "yes"?
8. Consent isn't just sexual — where else does it show up? Think about sharing someone's story, tagging them in photos, hugging a colleague, or making decisions on someone's behalf. Are we applying the same standards everywhere?
9. Can you ever fully "take back" consent you gave in the past? If someone consented to something years ago but no longer would — how should we think about accountability, forgiveness, and growth?
10. Do you want to ask the group any other questions

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Meaningful Discussions events take place in 11 countries and this will be our 153rd event in Melbourne! :) Please be sure to ARRIVE ON TIME since everyone will be divided into tables of 6 people at the start time. Also, please watch at least one of the Food For Thought videos before you arrive.

This event will allow a thoughtful, respectful and engaging discussion with Food For Thought videos, discussion facilitators at each table and discussion questions provided. So if you're looking for open-minded, friendly and intelligent people, you've come to the right place!

PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING DETAILS:

1. All members are asked to watch at least one of the Food For Thought videos before arrival to stimulate their thoughts and opinions on this subject.
2. Don't be afraid to sign up first for this event since I will cancel the event if less than 5 people sign up (which never happened in ~13 years). If the event is full, please add yourself to the waiting list for the event.
3. You don't need a PayPal account to pay online - look for the option to pay with a credit card when you RSVP. Meaningful Discussions is operated under the Meaningful Events Association which is a not-for-profit society registered in BC, Canada. RSVP fee is a nominal fee to ensure high attendance and as such non-refundable.
4. Your meal is not included in the price of this event but you are encouraged to arrive hungry for us to keep up a good relationship with the venue that hosts our events.

For more information or to attend events online, please visit:

https://www.buddytree.org/

You are required to follow COVID guidelines if any at the venue.