Deputy Principal

Dignity of the Human Person – Online and In Person

This week, I offer you the message to our students at our College assembly on Thursday 5th June 2025. I reinforced our expectations around appropriate boundaries for the use of online platforms and mobile phones and how we expect the authentic and aspiring women of Mt A to tend to their digital footprint. This news item is a timely reminder of the importance of respectful relationships, responsible behaviour, and the values we are all called to live by. 

The speech to students is provided below. I ask our families to talk and talk often with their young people about what they are seeing/discussing in their group chats. Distressingly, there is no ‘opt in’ or ‘opt out’ when pulled into one across most popular platforms. Knowing a trusted adult is close by may ensure they speak up to you when they feel they need to.

Respectful relationships education is a vital part of your education. It teaches us how to build healthy, safe, and respectful connections with each other whether in person, in the community or online. At its core, it reminds us that everyone has the right to feel valued and treated with dignity. These are not just ideals; they are our expectations.

I am not standing here to say that all social media is bad. I am standing here to remind you of how powerful it is, and at times, the power of its toxic pull.

Recently, a troubling incident reported in the media highlighted the dangers of misusing online platforms. Unfortunately, this is not just an isolated incident but one that is reported far too often in the media. A group of students from a Brisbane school were involved in sharing inappropriate, illegal, and degrading content via Snapchat. This situation serves as a powerful reminder of how quickly things can spiral when respect and human dignity are not upheld online. 

Sharing images of others without consent breaches our College rules and the law. The Office of the E-Safety Commissioner advises that shares, or threatens to share, a sexual or sexualised image or video of a child (this includes ‘nudes’), whether it was produced by the child or someone else, such images and videos are child sexual exploitation material. This becomes a police matter. The Commissioner offers the following advice when considering sharing photos and videos:

1. Ask before sharing — if you take a photo or video with someone else in it, ask if it’s OK to share. If they say no, then respect their decision. If they say yes, and then ask you later to take it down, you should take it down.

2. Think carefully before you share an image or video — once you share something online it is very difficult - practically impossible - to take it back. It could be shared or copied by someone else. Our recommendation is to not share any photos that may show the person in the photo or video in a compromised way – especially if the person in the photo is you.

3. Don’t share anything you wouldn’t want people to see in 5 years — that video of you singing or dancing is cute now, but will it be cute in 5 years?

4. Check what you are sharing — A photo or video should not have anything in it that could show where you live or the school you go to. Does it show the front of your house or street? Are you in your school uniform? 

5. Don’t share or forward something embarrassing — if someone sends you a photo or video that you know would be embarrassing for the person in it, don’t forward it on or share it with others.

This is a helpful link for young people from the Office of the eSafety Commissioner to do your research and find out more:  Young People | eSafety Commissioner

This is not just a speech about reminding our students to avoid trouble. It is a reminder and a call about choosing to be better. At Mt Alvernia College, we are called to live our Franciscan values of Joy, Courage, Respect and Service in all areas of life. That includes:

• Speaking and acting with respect towards others, regardless of the setting
• Using social media responsibly and never sharing or engaging with harmful or illegal content
• Standing up for those who are mistreated or excluded
• Reporting to a responsible adult behaviour that is unsafe, inappropriate, illegal, or harmful—whether it happens in person or online

Being aspiring, authentic and audacious means more than just avoiding mistakes. It means actively choosing kindness, integrity, and courage. It means being someone others can trust and look up to.  

What to do when you don’t know what to do: If you have observed or witnessed something online through your social media group communication channels that you believe is harmful to you or someone else, speak to a trusted adult about your concerns and what should happen next.  The Child Protection Officers at Mount Alvernia College are Ms Jensen, myself and our two College Counsellors – Ms Kimberley Greene and Ms Amber Bleakley - and can also help you navigate things.  The Educational Wellbeing Tile on MyMtA has a number of internal and external resources that may also help you understand both your rights and obligations as a digital citizen.

As a community, we can continue to have a culture where dignity of the human is not just spoken about but lived every day through our actions. 

Every blessing

Ms Michelle Licina

Deputy Principal Student Development and Wellbeing (Acting)