From Mr Coppin

Raising the Age: Protecting Young Australians Online

In a landmark step to promote youth wellbeing and online safety, the Australian Government is introducing new legislation that will raise the minimum age for access to social media platforms to 16.  This legislation comes into effect on 10 December 2025. This significant policy reform recognises the growing concerns about the impact of social media on children’s mental health and aims to create safer, more age-appropriate digital environments for young Australians.

Under the new laws, platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat and others will be required to verify users’ ages and restrict access for those under 16. The reforms also place stronger obligations on social media companies to protect the privacy and wellbeing of young people, introducing tougher penalties for breaches and misleading age-verification processes.

The Government’s decision reflects a growing consensus among educators, parents and mental health professionals that children should not be exposed too early to the challenges of social media—including cyberbullying, exposure to harmful content, social pressure, and addictive usage patterns. Research continues to highlight the link between early social media use and increased rates of anxiety, depression, and poor self-esteem among children and adolescents.

By setting the minimum age at 16, the Government is taking a proactive approach to help children develop the maturity and resilience needed to engage responsibly online. These changes also signal a cultural shift—encouraging families, schools, and communities to value offline connection, creativity, and play as essential parts of healthy development.

For parents, particularly those in Junior School communities, this is an opportunity to stand firm in supporting these age restrictions, even as children may express curiosity or pressure to join social media early. Upholding the new guidelines sends a powerful message that waiting is not only wise—it’s protective.

Parents can use this moment to:

• Open conversations about digital wellbeing and online safety.
• Model healthy technology habits at home.
• Encourage real-world friendships and activities that build confidence and identity outside of screens.

By working together, families, schools, and policymakers, we can help ensure that when young people do step into the world of social media, they do so with maturity, empathy, and self-awareness. Waiting until 16 is not a restriction, it’s a safeguard that helps set our children up for a lifetime of positive and balanced technology use.

Parents as Partners 

The Junior School teachers are working with determination to finalise Semester 2 2025 Reports.  We anticipate parents of Preparation to Year 6 students to receive their daughter’s report on the penultimate day of Term 4, which is Monday 8 December 2025. 

Data is reviewed and Year 3 to Year 6 Speech Day prizes are announced to the girls in the EJ Watt Student Assembly in Week 8 on Friday afternoon, 5 December 2025. Girls who have been awarded prizes for the 2025 Speech Day will receive a letter regarding arrangements for Speech Day at the assembly. We kindly ask parents to reflect a growth mindset or “yet” mentality with the girls to ensure perspective is maintained.

Reminder: Respectful Online Conduct During Concert and Recital Season

As we move into Concert and Recital Season, we remind parents and carers to be mindful of privacy when capturing special moments.

Please avoid taking or posting photos or recordings of other students without the express permission of their parents or carers. In addition, Kambala is unable to share any photography or videography taken onsite by the school photographer.

Thank you for helping us ensure that every student and family feels respected and comfortable during these important community events.

Year 6 Transition to Year 7 Art Lessons

In Weeks 5 and 6, Kambala’s Year 6 classes will take an exciting step into the world of Senior School Visual Arts through creative workshops with our specialist art teachers. During this experience, students will engage in a hands-on printmaking session that will develop their skills in composition, material use and the technical processes of printmaking. Working alongside Mr Bickford, Ms Lim and Ms La Spina, the girls will be introduced to some of the specialist equipment in our Senior Visual Arts studios. 

This annual initiative offers Year 6 a valuable glimpse into the specialised practices that define the senior Visual Arts program and extend upon their current creative experiences with Mr Story. Through this tactile and process-driven activity, students will begin to understand how creative ideas can evolve from experimentation into refined outcomes. Kambala has always fostered a culture of creativity, and our Junior and Senior school collaboration further acknowledges artmaking as an essential part of each girl's experience. The schedule for each class is as follows:

• 6U – Monday, 10 November 2025
• 6N – Friday, 14 November 2025

• 6S – Tuesday, 18 November 2025

   

We look forward to supporting our Year 6 students as they explore new creative experiences and prepare for their journey into Year 7.

Book and Stationery Orders for current Years 2 - 5 (Years 3 - 6, 2026)

We are pleased to announce a significant enhancement to how book and stationery items will be managed for the 2026 academic year for students entering years 3 - 6 in 2026 (for current Year 6 students' resources - Year 7 2026 - please see notification below). To ensure a seamless start to the year and simplify the process for families, we are transitioning to a new model in partnership with Campion Education.

What This Means for You

• Centralised Ordering: All necessary book and stationery resources will now be ordered directly by the school through Campion Education on your behalf.
• Direct Classroom Delivery: Resources will be delivered directly to your daughter's classroom prior to the start of Term 1, ensuring they are ready for her on the first day of school.
• Payment Streamlining: The cost for these essential resources will be incorporated as part of the cost structure, eliminating a separate payment transaction.
• **PLEASE NOTE - students will be required to supply their own pencil cases for 2026

We are confident that this streamlined approach will make the organisation of resources at the beginning of the year a much smoother and more efficient process for both our families and staff. We trust this change provides greater convenience as we prepare for a successful 2026.

Book and Stationery Orders for current Year 6 (Year 7, 2026)

Campion Education would like to let you know that the Resources List for Year 7, 2026 (current Year 6) is now available to be purchased online by CLICKING HERE and visiting www.campion.com.au

When ordering online, you will need the following ACCESS CODE "FHWC". Please click here for your HOW TO ORDER RESOURCES FLYER.

**PLEASE BE SURE TO SELECT THE CORRECT GRADE YEAR YOUR DAUGHTER WILL ENTER IN 2026!

**PLEASE NOTE - YEAR 7 2026 RESOURCES CANNOT BE DELIVERED TO KAMBALA - YOU MUST DESIGNATE EITHER A HOME OR OFFICE/WORK ADDRESS.

Please place your order by Friday 19 December 2025 in order for books and resources to be delivered to your home or office (any designated address) in time for Term 1 commencement. Placing your order online by the due date is the best way to ensure students will receive all necessary resources in time for the start of the new school year.

A REMINDER TO EXISTING YEAR 6 PARENTS TO ACCESS THE NEW STUDENT INFORMATION TILE ON SUNDIAL FOR ALL YEAR 7 INFORMATION (screenshot below for your reference).

Wishing all students the best for the coming year!

Year 3 2026 (Current Year 2) Term 1 Saturday Sport Information and Registration

Please click here to access all the information in regards to the Year 3 Saturday Sports practices for Term 1 2026.

Please note that the final day for registrations is Friday 28 November 2025.

Number-a-thon

We are excited to announce that girls in the Junior School will be participating in a Number-a-thon this year; the benefits of which are enormous.  The Number-a-thon helps the girls to better remember and embed their learning in number facts, builds mathematical fluency and raises money for students less fortunate than ourselves.  The funds raised will go to St Jude’s School in Tanzania.  Each year Gemma Sisia, the foundress of the school, comes to Kambala to share her inspirational story with the girls.

On Monday of Week 3, every student from Kindergarten to Year 6 will be given a number fact list appropriate for their year level and level of ability. The girls will then be tested on their number fact list over the course of Week 6 (commencing Monday 17 November). Girls’ results in the Number-a-thon will contribute to their House Points. The House with the best overall number fact results will be rewarded with a fun movie lunch at the end of Term 4.

Our girls are asked to find friends or relatives who will be sponsors and record their information and donation on the sponsor sheet. Sponsors can either nominate an amount ‘per correct number fact’ or pledge a donation. Sponsorship money will be due by the end of Week 7 of Term 4 (Friday 28 November). Please return funds raised to your daughter’s class teacher.

Happy calculating!

TERM 4, 2025 EVENTS

We urge our Parents and Carers to visit the next page of this Newsletter to ensure all families are aware of the wonderful and numerous Term 4 Events on offer and record these in t calendars!

Thank you.