Although discussing healthy relationships was already part of the health curriculum, anything that schools could add would be "really helpful", he said.
"Clearly it's a worry because it's part of the wider issue of bullying in school and inappropriate relationships come into that. I don't think there'd be any shortage of schools putting up their hand to be part of the pilot programme."
No Rotorua schools are involved in the pilot.
School counsellors reported their work involved dealing with abusive relationships among teenagers who faced pressure to have sex, or had alcohol-fuelled abusive encounters, he said.
ACC sexual violence prevention programme manager Sandra Dickson said although the Roastbusters scandal was not the reason why ACC developed Mates & Dates, it prompted the organisation to "move at pace" and prioritise a school-based programme to help prevent sexual violence.
"We were already aware of the lack of a best practice, nationally available school-based programme to help to prevent sexual and dating violence. Roastbusters and other recent high profile incidents reinforced the urgent need for that gap to be filled."
Students involved in the pilot programme would be taught how to have relationships based on respect, negotiation and consent. It would help them to identify inappropriate behaviour and show them how to get help.
Secondary Principals' Association president Tom Parsons said there was no 'one size fits all' programme to suit all schools.
However if the programme was shown to work it could be worth rolling out nationwide with adjustments made to suit each school's unique environment.
Mates & Dates is based on research conducted overseas and in New Zealand.
Research showed 15- to 24-year-olds were most at risk from violence by current and ex-partners.