St Joseph's College, Echuca

Wellbeing

The world leading ban on social media for minors

 

“This measure is a key component of our work across the online safety space and will enable young people to use the internet in a safer and more positive way.” - Minister for Communications Michelle Rowland MP.

 

Late last week, the Australian Government announced the introduction of legislation to set 16 as the minimum age for access to social media, following a National Cabinet endorsement. This ground-breaking initiative is just one aspect our government is investigating to help mitigate harm to our young people.

 

Taking into consideration the impact of social media, particularly, for those who are under our care, the College has updated its ICT Agreement to now become known as the Acceptable Use of ICT and Digital Citizenship Agreement. The revised agreement includes new provisions that will be highlighted in upcoming newsletters. Our emphasis for this newsletter is Digital Citizenship and Cyberbullying. 

 

All students and their parents/guardians are required to read and sign the College’s ‘Acceptable Use of ICT and Digital Citizenship Agreement’ before being offered the use of a school-provided device at the commencement of Year 7 and Year 10.

 

This agreement covers protocol regarding electronic communication (email), proper care of school resources, (computers, peripherals and software) and use of the internet for communication and research.

 

Breaches of the agreement can result in serious penalties. Parents and students are reminded that the right to use school equipment, including computers, goes hand in hand with responsibilities and that any foolish acts will not be tolerated.

 

Starting in 2025, an annual ICT levy will apply to new devices issued to Year 7 and Year 10 students at St Joseph's College. This levy will cover:

  • a protective case
  • administration
  • annual device health checks
  • the first ‘tier one’ device repair (valued at $200)

Please note, any additional repairs beyond the one included $200 maintenance repair will be the responsibility of the student or their family.

 

 

Digital Citizenship 

A digital citizen refers to a person who has the knowledge and skills to effectively use digital technologies to communicate with others, participate in society, and create and consume digital content. 

Digital citizenship is about confident and positive engagement with digital technologies. By educating students about digital citizenship, they will have the opportunity to develop an understanding about the following concepts: 

  • digital and information literacy 
  • internet safety 
  • privacy and security 
  • cyberbullying, relationships, etiquette and communication 
  • creative credit and copyright 
  • digital footprint

Cyberbullying  

Cyber Bullying is a way of delivering covert psychological bullying. "It uses information and communication technologies to support deliberate, repeated and hostile behaviour, by an individual or group that is intended to harm others.” Bill Belsey 2007 

 

Cyberbullying can be described as any harassment, insults and humiliation that occurs through the electronic mediums such as email, mobile phones, social networking sites, instant messaging programs, chat rooms, AI generated images, websites and through the playing of online games. 

 

College Response

This procedure outlines a structured approach to addressing cyberbullying incidents that affect students within the College’s jurisdiction or involve College-provided devices. The steps prioritise a swift response, parental involvement, adherence to behavioural guidelines, and reporting to authorities when necessary. Here’s a breakdown of each step: 

  1. Immediate Investigation: Ensures all allegations are thoroughly examined to understand the incident’s context and impact on the student. 
  2. Informing Parents/Carers: Keeps families involved and aware, which can be critical in supporting affected students. 
  3. Following the Student Behaviour Procedure: Enforces consistent disciplinary measures aligned with the College’s policies. 
  4. Reporting to Website/App Owner: Notifies the platform, aiming to have harmful content removed or moderated – as required by the eSafety Commissioner. 
  5. Involving the eSafety Commissioner: Leverages additional resources and support, particularly regarding online abuse or harmful content. 
  6. Police Involvement for Serious Cases: A prompt escalation to law enforcement for severe cases can lead to criminal charges or defamation claims, sending a strong message against cyberbullying. 

 

Suzanne Pola

College Leader - Student Wellbeing