School responses to managing access to inappropriate content
Schools should seek guidance from their local education authority regarding the use of a content filter or other technological tools to limit student access to inappropriate content.
Establishing a cybersafety team
Establishing a specific cybersafety team can greatly assist in implementing a holistic and consistent approach to cybersafety practices within the school, including how to manage issues concerning student access to or creation of inappropriate content.
The cybersafety team leads cybersafety issues in the school, auditing schools policies and procedures and establishing and embedding new policies and procedures to enhance school-wide cybersafe behaviours. This is explored further in Policies and procedures.
Establishing a cybersafety contact person
It may be useful for schools to establish a cybersafety contact person to whom students can report online concerns. This role should be promoted to staff, students and parents and, ideally, would provide non-judgemental guidance to students and liaise between students and parents on issues concerning student safety and wellbeing. The student welfare officer may fulfil this role. The contact person may be a member of the cybersafety team.
Acceptable use Policies and Codes of Conduct
Schools may choose to implement an Acceptable Use Policy or Code of Conduct which provide guidelines to ensure ICT, including email and mobile phones, are used responsibly and productively within the school environment. The Policies and procedures section of this website provides guidance for schools to create cybersafety policies and provides links to state and territory specific policies and procedures provided by each of the education departments and offices for schools to access and use as a basis for their policy and procedure development.
Educating students
Teacher resources are provided to help students understand the importance of being responsible cybercitizens and making safe and responsible choices about creating, sharing and accessing content.
Educating parents
Establishing a partnership between parents and the school is an important part of dealing holistically and effectively with problems involving access to inappropriate content.
A newsletter article encouraging parents to share any concerns about inappropriate content, with the provision of the details of a cybersafety contact person is a positive way to foster good communication on this issue and manage inappropriate content. The article could also advise parents about how to complain to the ACMA if they come across content that may be prohibited.
Schools can also direct parents to specific cybersafety information in the Parents section of this website.
Internet Safety Awareness Presentations
As part of its Cybersafety Outreach program, the ACMA offers free general internet safety awareness presentations for parents, students and teachers. Each presentation is approximately 60 minutes, excluding question time.
These presentations are easy to understand, thorough, non-technical and informative. They cover a range of issues including:
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the ways children use the internet and emerging technologies
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potential risks faced by children when online such as cyberbullying, identity theft, inappropriate contact and exposure to inappropriate content
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tips and strategies to help children stay safe online.
Book an internet safety awareness presentation.
Professional Development (PD) for Educators
In consultation with key stakeholders and education bodies, the ACMA has developed a free and accredited Cybersafety Outreach—Professional Development for Educators (PD) program. The program is available as a full-day workshop or as 3 x 2 hour sessions and provides teachers with a comprehensive understanding of a modern student’s technology profile, digital literacy, positive online behaviour, personal and peer safety and the school’s and teachers’ legal obligations to minimise and address risks.
Book teacher professional development.