Specialist News
Safer Internet Week: Helping Our Children Thrive Online
In Week 3, we recognised Safer Internet Week — an important opportunity to reflect on how we can help our children use technology safely, responsibly and positively.
At school, students learned that being safe online is not just about rules — it’s about respect, responsibility and care for others, values connected to those of our school.
In the junior years, we used stories to help students understand online safety concepts in an age appropriate way. One of our favourites is Chicken Clicking by Jeanne Willis. 
In the story, Chick clicks “yes” to everything online — sharing personal details, accepting strangers and ignoring warning signs — until she ends up in a dangerous situation. The message, “Before you click… ask a trusted adult!”
Through stories like this, students learn:
- Not everything online is safe or true
- Personal information is valuable
- It’s important to talk to a trusted adult if something feels wrong
- Kindness and respect matter online just as much as offline
For older students, we extend these conversations to include:
- Digital footprints
- Privacy settings
- Online gaming safety
- Group chats and social media behaviour
- The permanence of online posts
New Australian Laws Around Social Media
You may or may not be aware of the changes to Australian laws regarding children’s access to social media that came into effect on 10 December 2025.
The Australian Government introduced legislation aimed at:
- Raising the minimum age for social media access to 16 years
- Placing greater responsibility on social media companies to verify age
- Strengthening protections for children from harmful content
- Reducing risks linked to cyberbullying and online exploitation
Platforms included in these laws and that many children access include: YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat and others.
As a school, we encourage families to:
- Check the age requirements of apps before allowing access
- Use parental controls and privacy settings
- Keep devices in shared family spaces
- Delay social media use where possible
- Maintain open, ongoing conversations about online experiences