Assistant Principal's Report

Helping Our Students Stay Safe Online – A Shared Responsibility 

Technology plays an important role in the lives of our young people. It helps them learn, connect with others, access information and express themselves. While technology offers many benefits, it also presents challenges that require students, families and schools to work together to ensure young people remain safe, respectful and responsible online. 

At Greensborough College, supporting students to navigate the online world safely is a key part of our wellbeing and inclusion work. Throughout the year, students participate in learning through our Respectful Relationships curriculum, The Resilience Project and the Digital Thumbprint program. These programs help students develop the skills to manage online relationships, recognise unsafe situations, think critically about digital content and seek help when needed. 

This year, Digital Thumbprint has also explored the opportunities and risks associated with Artificial Intelligence (AI). Students have been encouraged to think carefully about how AI tools can be used ethically, responsibly and safely, while understanding the importance of privacy, critical thinking and digital citizenship. 

We continue to work closely with our Youth Resource Officer (YRO) and external agencies to reinforce key cyber safety messages and ensure students know where to seek support if they encounter difficulties online. 

How Families Can Help 

Research consistently shows that the most effective online safety strategy is maintaining open and ongoing conversations with young people. Taking an interest in your child's online world helps build trust and creates opportunities for them to seek support when they need it. 

Some simple questions to start a conversation might include: 

• What apps, games or websites are you enjoying at the moment? • Who do you usually interact with online? • Have you ever seen something online that made you feel uncomfortable or upset? • What would you do if someone was unkind to you online? 

These conversations do not need to be formal or lengthy. Regular, casual discussions can have a significant impact on a young person's confidence to speak up when something goes wrong. 

If Something Goes Wrong 

If your child experiences cyberbullying, inappropriate contact, image-based abuse or other online concerns: 

1. Save evidence by taking screenshots and recording relevant information. 
2. Block and report the behaviour through the platform or service being used. 
3. Seek support from the school if the issue is affecting your child's wellbeing or relationships. 

4. Report serious concerns to the eSafety Commissioner, who can assist with removing harmful content and providing further guidance.

    

Supporting Digital Wellbeing 

As we move further into the year, we encourage families to continue discussing online safety, respectful behaviour and healthy technology habits at home. The eSafety Commissioner provides a range of excellent resources for parents and carers, including guides on social media, gaming, cyberbullying and online safety for young people of all ages. 

By working together, we can help our students build the knowledge, confidence and resilience they need to thrive both online and offline.