Wellbeing News
Supporting Young People to Stay Safe Online
High school is often the time when many young people get access to social media. Parents and carers usually provide their children with mobile devices when they start high school to support their independence. Managing the online behaviour of young people is one of the foremost challenges experienced by parents and carers in 2024. While technology provides us with extraordinary powers to connect and explore the world like never before, online technologies can also be an unsafe and unregulated environment for many young people.
One issue of concern for parents is the prevalence of cyberbullying. Mainly, cyberbullying takes place outside of school hours on social media sites, in online game chats, within apps, or any other online or electronic service or platform. It can include offensive posts, comments, texts, messages, chats, livestreams, memes, images, videos, and emails.
Cyberbullying or technology misuse is increasingly an issue for schools as parents look to schools for support. The misuse of technology, primarily conducted outside of school hours, creates student conflict and wellbeing concerns, which affect the experience of students when at school.
The school’s role in promoting safe online behaviour is primarily to work in partnership with families to educate students on the respectful and appropriate use of technology as digital citizens. Schools are also in a position to support students with the challenges they face through counselling, referrals to external agencies, or other strategies as appropriate.
At Nossal High School, we educate students and families in the following way:
- Learning about respectful relationships through the Nossal Time Program, focusing on cyberbullying and digital citizenship
- Wellbeing incursions/ Proactive Programs (such as Susan McLean Lecture, Project Rockit and Wellbeing Days)
- Year-level assembly presentations
- Providing counselling through Student Services or with the Student Learning & Heads of House
- Parent Information Sessions (and presentations and support group meetings through Student Services), such as sub-school information nights
- Articles in newsletter
Responding promptly to concerns raised by parents/carers by providing advice regarding potential actions they can take to navigate the online space at home, Nossal High School takes disrespectful or threatening behaviour extremely seriously and recognises its responsibility in providing a safe and secure learning environment for all students; this commitment is codified in the school’s Bullying Prevention Policy, the Mobile Phone Policy and ICT Acceptable Use Policy.
Nossal High School is committed to educating members of the school community about digital safety and supporting students and families when concerns are raised. The school also maintains a relationship with the Department of Education, the Southern Victoria Region, the E-Safety commissioner, Susan Mclean (Cybersolutions) https://www.esafety.gov.au/women/being-social/social-media and the Police. We work closely with these authorities when compromising online material is reported to us. Based on the advice of experts such as Susan McLean and the school’s Police Youth Resource Officer, the top three tips for parents and carers to support their children to be responsible digital citizens include:
- Be aware of what apps your child is using and ensure that you are aware of how these apps work and what the risks are. Also, ensure that you know how to block and report inappropriate content.
- Request access to your child’s social media accounts and ensure you know the passwords. This functions to establish trust, even if parents and carers may use the passwords to check on their child’s social media use infrequently. Also, don’t assume that the social media accounts that your child shares with you are their only accounts.
- Where possible, don’t allow devices in bedrooms. Most unsafe online behaviour happens when devices are permitted in bedrooms. Parents and carers could support their child by role-modelling this ‘no technology in bedrooms’ rule. It is imperative to create an atmosphere that enables your child to be comfortable entering into conversations about their online behaviour.
Some resources that can support you with speaking with your child about their online presence include:
https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents/issues-and-advice/screen-time
https://headspace.org.au/explore-topics/for-young-people/bullying/
https://www.esafety.gov.au/report
Self-care and cold weather:
With the onset of colder weather, it is easy to huddle inside in the warmth. But for our mental and physical health, it is important to rug up appropriately, get outside and stay on top of your exercise needs.
If you need motivation to get outside and move your body, students and staff can check the City of Casey activities - https://www.casey.vic.gov.au/casey-girls-can