Developing cybersafety policies
A list of common cybersafety policies is provided below. Schools can use this list to assist them to ensure adequate policies and procedures are in place to offer a holistic approach to cybersafety.
Acceptable use policies and codes of conduct
ICT security or e-security
Cyberbullying and hostile online behaviour
Links are provided to the policies, procedures and guidelines from relevant federal, state and territory education authorities. The information will assist schools in their development of policies and procedures.
National cybersafety policies
Australian Capital Territory cybersafety policies
New South Wales cybersafety policies
Northern Territory cybersafety policies
South Australian cybersafety policies
Tasmanian cybersafety policies
Queensland cybersafety policies
Victorian cybersafety policies
Western Australian cybersafety policies
As the roles of the education authorities vary from sector to sector not all authorities will provide specific policies as exemplars for schools. Schools should follow the advice of their particular state or territory education department or office in the first instance. Schools may use the policy and procedure templates provided by other states and territories as a basis for further policy and procedure development where appropriate.
Acceptable use policies and Codes of conduct provide guidelines to ensure ICT, including email and mobile phones, is used responsibly and productively within the school environment.
Codes of conduct should provide specific usage guidelines and consequences of breaches.
Consider asking students to sign agreements on what is acceptable use. These agreements could be co-signed by parents, or a copy could be provided to parents, to increase awareness of the expected behaviours and consequences.
ICT security policies seek to safeguard computers against security threats. Specific usage guidelines and consequences of breaches are signed by students and may be co-signed by parents or a copy provided to parents to increase awareness of the expected behaviours and consequences. Policies dealing with ICT security are sometimes included within Acceptable use policies and Codes of conduct.
Cyberbullying policies seek to make explicit acceptable and unacceptable types of online behaviour, expectations of students online and the consequences for engaging in bullying behaviour online. These policies may extend beyond school based online behaviour to behaviour that occurs outside of school hours or the school grounds but which involves or impacts on students from the school.