Student Wellbeing

Staying Safe Online: A Guide for Students and Families

The online world is an important part of everyday life for everyone, especially young people. It provides opportunities to learn, communicate, play games, create content and stay connected with friends. However, being online also comes with risks, including cyberbullying, scams, inappropriate content, unwanted contact, privacy breaches and pressure to share personal or intimate information.

For students aged 12-18 and their families, online safety is not about avoiding technology, it is about using it confidently, responsibly and safely.

The Australian eSafety Commissioner provides practical advice for young people and families to help prevent online harm and respond when something goes wrong.

Advice for students

Think before you post or share

Before posting a photo, video, comment or message, consider who might see it and whether you would be comfortable with it being shared more widely.
Remember that even content sent privately can potentially be copied, saved or forwarded.
Avoid sharing personal information such as your home address, passwords, school details, phone number or financial information with people you do not know and trust.

A good rule: If you would not want a teacher, parent, future employer or family member to see it, think carefully before posting it.

Protect your accounts

Use strong, unique passwords and enable two-factor authentication wherever it is available. Avoid sharing passwords with friends or partners, even if you trust them in the moment.
Also check your privacy and security settings regularly. Remember that apps, games and social media platforms can change their settings and features over time.

Be careful about who you trust online

Not everyone online is who they claim to be. Be cautious if someone you have met online asks you to keep your conversations secret, move to another platform, send personal information, share images or meet in person.
If something feels uncomfortable, pressured or wrong, stop communicating and tell a trusted adult. You will not be in trouble for asking for help.

Treat others with respect

What happens online can have a real impact on people offline. Jokes, memes, comments, screenshots and group chats can quickly become harmful.
If you see someone being targeted online, don't join in or share the content. Be an upstander by supporting the person, reporting harmful content and getting help. eSafety recommends collecting evidence (i.e., screenshots), reporting harmful content to the relevant platform and using tools such as mute, hide or block where appropriate.

Be smart about scams and misinformation

Scams can appear in emails, messages, social media, games and websites. Be suspicious of unexpected links, requests for money, ‘too good to be true’ offers, fake competitions and messages creating a sense of urgency.
Before clicking, downloading or responding, stop and check. If you are unsure, ask a parent, carer or another trusted adult.
It is also important to question what you see online. Images, videos, reviews and even conversations can be manipulated or generated using artificial intelligence. Don't automatically assume that something is true simply because it looks convincing.

Know what to do when something goes wrong

If you experience cyberbullying, receive unwanted messages, see harmful content or feel unsafe online:

STOP → SAVE → REPORT → BLOCK → TELL

Stop engaging with the person or content.
Save evidence such as screenshots, usernames, messages or links.
Report the content through the relevant app, game or website.
Block or mute the person if appropriate.
Tell a trusted adult, teacher, parent or carer.

For serious cyberbullying involving someone under 18, eSafety and the police may be able to help when the platform has not resolved the issue. Most importantly, don't deal with it alone.

A note about social media and under-16s

Australian social media age restrictions came into effect on 10 December 2025. Certain social media platforms are required to take reasonable steps to prevent Australians under 16 from having accounts. The restrictions apply to several major platforms, while many standalone gaming and messaging services are not affected.

Families should check the latest information from the eSafety Commissioner rather than relying on assumptions about which platforms are covered.

Advice for parents and carers

Keep the conversation open

One of the most important things parents and carers can do is make sure young people know they can come to you when something goes wrong.

eSafety recommends approaching online safety conversations with an attitude that is open, calm and curious. Young people are more likely to seek help when they know they will be listened to rather than immediately punished or having their device taken away.

Try asking:

"What apps or games are you using at the moment?"
"What do you enjoy about them?"
"What would you do if someone made you uncomfortable online?"
"Do you know how to report or block someone?"
"Is there anything online at the moment that you're worried about?"

Set expectations together

Consider developing a family online safety agreement covering topics such as:

appropriate online behaviour
privacy and passwords
gaming and screen time limits
purchasing and in-app spending
what information can be shared
what to do if something goes wrong
when and how devices are used at home.

As young people mature, these expectations should be reviewed together. eSafety recommends involving children and young people in developing family rules so they understand the reasons behind them.

Know the technology your children use

Parents and carers do not need to be experts in every app or game. However, taking an interest in the platforms young people use can help you understand both the benefits and potential risks.
Explore privacy settings, reporting functions and parental controls where appropriate. Remember that parental controls can provide an additional layer of protection but are not a substitute for conversations, supervision and trust.

Look for changes in behaviour

A significant change in mood, sleep, friendships, school engagement or online behaviour may be a reason to check in with your young person.
If you discover that your young person is experiencing cyberbullying, resist the instinct to immediately remove their access to the internet. eSafety notes that this can sometimes increase feelings of isolation or make young people less likely to disclose problems. Instead, listen, preserve evidence, report the behaviour and work with your young person to decide what support they need.

Online safety is a shared responsibility

Students, parents, carers and schools all have a role to play in creating a safer online environment.

For students, be thoughtful about what you share, protect your accounts, treat others respectfully and speak up when something doesn't feel right.
For parents and carers, stay informed, keep communication open and make sure your child knows that asking for help is always the right choice.

Technology will continue to change, but the fundamentals of online safety remain the same: think critically, protect your privacy, respect others and ask for help when you need it.

The eSafety Commissioner provides current resources for young people, parents and carers, including advice about cyberbullying, gaming, social media, privacy, online abuse and what to do when something goes wrong.

https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents

https://www.esafety.gov.au/young-people

Our message to every student and family is simple: if something goes wrong online, speak up. You are not alone, and asking for help is a sign of good judgement, not weakness.

Scott Cadby, PACFA Reg. Clinical (21605)

Psychotherapist

BA (Psych) MPsychotherapyCouns

College Counsellor and Wellbeing Coordinator

How Students Can Access College Counselling

College Counselling is tailored to each specific student and can be offered one-on-one or in a group context. Support can also last from a ‘one-off’ session to weekly/ongoing appointments.

Students can access counselling at their campus by choosing any of the options below:

Self-refer to Scott Cadby, Wellbeing Coordinator at counselling@stbedes.catholic.edu.au
Drop-in to our Wellbeing Office
Request a referral from their Homeroom/Tutor Group teacher, Year Level/House Coordinator on their behalf
Request a referral from their Parent/Carer on their behalf (either via counselling@stbedes.catholic.edu.au or 9582 5999)