New South Wales cybersafety policies
This section provides links to information about the cybersafety policies and procedures provided by the New South Wales (NSW) education authorities.
NSW Department of Education and Training
NSW Department of Education and Training
Approach to cybersafety
The NSW Department of Education and Training recognises that technology plays an important role in engaging students in education. However, the Department also acknowledges the inherent risks of young people having access to a range of sites, particularly where such access is not carefully monitored.
It is important to educate young people and teacher/parents on responsible technology use and equip them with the skills to keep safe. Schools and families must work together to ensure that students know that bullying by any means is not acceptable and that young people use technology appropriately and can resolve conflict without violence.
The Department has policies, programs and supports in place to help raise awareness and counter inappropriate use of technology.
ICT Security policies
The Department has filter protection on internet and email services in schools.
In order to ensure that NSW Departmental Internet and email services are safe and suitable for students, filters are always used when students are browsing the web from Departmental sites. All emails sent through the Department’s email system are protected through the Department’s filtering service. Email containing inappropriate text is blocked from being dispatched. All free, unauthenticated email services are blocked for all students.
As a further protection for students, a new Internet filtering system ‘SmartFilter’ was introduced to all schools in 2007. The ‘SmartFilter’ system operates by categorising web sites and then blocking or allowing them for different scholastic year groups. Additionally, the Department has now put in place the Google ‘SafeSearch’ strict filter to help to block web pages containing both explicit text and explicit images and to help maximise online learning and teaching opportunities for all staff and students.
The Department provides advice and support to parents related to the use of technology. An example is via parent information sheets and education program such as the Click Technology Guide for Parents. See the website addresses:
http://www.schools.nsw.edu.au/studentsupport/behaviourpgrms/antibullying/index.php
http://www.schools.nsw.edu.au/news/technology/index.php
Acceptable use policies and Codes of conduct
School principals, school education directors and regional directors have been provided with Memorandums and Legal Issues Bulletins. These are for internal use only, and it is not appropriate to make the contents of each available to the general public. It is appropriate to make the broad descriptions below available. Student Welfare Consultants located at Department local regional offices can provide further information.
The following website address provides contact details for regional offices: https://www.det.nsw.edu.au/contactus/index.htm
Related Memorandums and Legal Issues Bulletins
- Memorandum Use of Mobile Telephones, Portable Computer Games, MP3 Players/iPods, Cameras and Similar Devices in Schools by Students. This Memorandum contains a sample ‘acceptable use policy’ to assist in the review of school’s policies and procedures for mobile telephones and other devices.
- Legal Issues Bulletin Number 35 The use of Mobile Phones, Portable Computer Games, Tape Recorders and Cameras In Schools and TAFE NSW Institutes
- Legal Issues Bulletin Number 42 Legal issues arising for staff subject to cyber bullying and related behaviour
The Legal Services web pages on the Department’s Intranet provides information for school personnel on cyber-bullying:
Cyber bullying–Offensive school related material on websites.
Cyberbullying
Student Welfare Policy (1996)
Provides a framework for school communities to review student welfare, determine key issues for action and develop and implement student welfare actions and initiatives.
A copy of the policy and plan can be accessed from the website address:
https://www.det.nsw.edu.au/policies/student_serv/student_welfare/stude_welf/PD20020052.shtml?level
Student Discipline in Government Schools Policy (2005
)
and related Anti-bullying Plan for Schools and Suspension and Expulsion of School Students Procedures
The Department provides clear guidelines for Government schools to counter bullying behaviour. All New South Wales Government schools are required to have an Anti-bullying Plan as part of their School Discipline Policy. In accordance with this policy, teachers, students and parents are provided with strategies to identify report and deal with bullying behaviours.
Teachers, students and parents have been provided with anti-bullying procedures that indicate strategies to identify and deal with bullying and includes forms of psychological bullying e.g. spreading rumours, dirty looks, hiding or damaging possessions, malicious SMS and email messages, inappropriate use of camera phones.
It is a requirement of the Anti-bullying Plan that the Plan be reviewed on a regular basis, so that all members of the school community are aware of and remain committed to it. Strategies to review the school Anti-bullying Plan include:
- gathering and analysing all relevant information on the nature and extent of bullying, harassment and victimisation, including data that highlights patterns and trends, such as suspension data
- evaluating the extent to which the school’s Anti-bullying Plan has been effective in addressing bullying, harassment and victimisation and promoting a safe and secure environment.
Principals are able to place students on suspension for up to 20 days for behaviour that threatens the safety and well-being of other students or staff. This includes bullying linked to discrimination and harassment associated with factors such as, race, sex, homosexuality, physical appearance, disability or a range of other issues.
Values in New South Wales Public Schools (2004)
Schools are encouraged to implement strategies, as consistent with other supporting policies and guidelines including Values in New South Wales Public Schools (2004) which identifies nine core values including respect which a common to a range of religious and secular worldviews. This statement recognises that public schools reinforce the key foundations of an egalitarian, fair and democratic society that accepts diversity and fosters a ‘fair go for all’.
The approach to values education underpins every area of school life in public schools and avoids the containment of the teaching of values to one off programs, often additional to the curriculum, or focusing on only one area of teaching or school activity.
The NSW Department of Education’s approach to values education can be found at the website address: http://www.schools.nsw.edu.au/studentsupport/studentwellbeing/index.php
Films, Videos, DVDs and Computer Games in Schools: Procedures for Use Procedures (2007)
This memorandum provides direction to staff with regard to the use of films and computer games classified by the Commonwealth Office of Film and Literature Classification. See the website address:
https://www.det.nsw.edu.au/policies/curriculum/schools/cont_issue/implementation_2_PD20020045.shtml?level
Online Communication Services: Acceptable Usage for School Students (2006)
This document defines the policy for school students of the NSW Department of Education and Training for the appropriate and acceptable use of internet and online communication services provided by the Department. See the website address:
https://www.det.nsw.edu.au/policies/general_man/general/accep_use/PD20020046.shtml?level
TAFE policies include the following.
Online Communication Services - Acceptable Usage - TAFE NSW (2007)
This document specifies the standards for the acceptable use of TAFE NSW internet services and collaboration and communication tools by TAFE NSW staff, students and users who may be authorised from time to time to use these services. See the website address:
https://www.det.nsw.edu.au/policies/technology/internet/tafe_usage/PD20070363.shtml?level
Online Communication Services - Code of Expected User Behaviour - TAFE NSW
This document specifies the standards for the acceptable use of TAFE NSW online communication services as defined in the Online Communication Services - Acceptable Usage Policy–TAFE NSW. See the website address:
https://www.det.nsw.edu.au/policies/technology/internet/tafe_usage/implementation_1_PD20070363.shtml?level
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