Cybersafety and Responsible Use of Digital Technologies

Resources

The following resources are made available to schools to assist schools to engage with digital technology in a safe and responsible way.

Acceptable Use Agreement templates

The Department has provided these Acceptable Use Agreement (AUA) templates to assist schools to develop student agreements around the acceptable use of the internet, online services and digital technologies. Each template includes references and provides ideas for schools that are implementing 1-to-1 programs.

The AUA must be accurate, communicated across the community and reviewed regularly. Sending a copy of the AUA home or publishing it on the school website will assist parents to support their child's appropriate internet use.

Primary schools

Acceptable use agreement for primary schools - guidelines and template. For Years 1-4:

• Acceptable use agreement for primary schools – guidelines and template (PDF)
• Acceptable use agreement for primary schools – guidelines and template (DOCX)

Upper primary and secondary schools

Acceptable use agreement for upper primary and secondary schools - guidelines and template:

• Acceptable use agreement for upper primary and secondary schools – guidelines and template (PDF)
• Acceptable use agreement for upper primary and secondary schools – guidelines and template (DOCX)

Cybersafety resources

The Department’s Bully Stoppers toolkit provides dedicated resources on cybersafety and cyberbullying. Bully Stoppers also offers cyberbullying advice sheets for primary and secondary students, and promotional materials that schools can use to teach their community about cyberbullying prevention.

The eSmart and the eSafety Commissioner websites provide access to advice and support, information, current research, teaching guides, lesson plans and resources to help schools improve cybersafety and reduce cyberbullying.

For teachers

• Bully Stoppers: Classrooms and Cybersafety – Department of Education and Training website – Advice for teachers on teaching students to be cybersafe
• eSmart Schools – eSmart Schools is a behaviour-change initiative in over 2, 200 schools across Australia
• eSafety Commissioner: eSafety education educator resources

For principals

• Bully Stoppers: schools and cybersafety – Advice for principals on their duty of care responsibilities, and what can be done at the school level

For students

• Kids Help Line – free, private and confidential 24/7 phone and online counselling service for young people aged 5 to 25
• Young People Online – eSafety Commissioner website. Information to help you stay safe online
• Help – Counselling and Support Online – eSafety Commissioner website

For parents

Parents and carers are their child's first role model when it comes to online behaviour.

• eSafety Commissioner Advice for Parents
• Parentline VIC
• Help – Counselling and Support Online (eSafety Commissioner website)

The following fact sheet may assist in encouraging the safe and respectful use of social media and to provide tips to parents for being a positive role model: Social media & your school

Responding to online incidents

The Department has developed a step-by-step guide for schools, which provides practical steps and actions to respond to an online incident of concern:

• Step-by-Step Guide: Responding to online incidents affecting students (DOCX)
• Step-by-Step Guide: Responding to online incidents affecting students (PDF)

Trusted eSafety provider program

Trusted eSafety Providers are quality online safety education providers who have had their online safety content endorsed by eSafety. Schools wishing to engage an online safety education expert to present to their school community, can choose a registered provider through the Trusted eSafety provider program.