Cyber-safety Update

Strengthening the Way We Manage Student Images 

At Kinross Wolaroi School, protecting the safety, privacy and wellbeing of our students is a responsibility we take seriously. As technology continues to evolve, schools are increasingly being encouraged to review how student and staff images are stored, managed and shared, particularly in response to the growing risks associated with artificial intelligence, deepfakes and the misuse of online imagery. The eSafety Commissioner has recently highlighted these emerging challenges and encouraged schools to adopt stronger safeguards around image management.  

During Term 3, Kinross Wolaroi School will introduce SchoolBench, a secure, Australian-operated photo management platform designed specifically for schools. Used by hundreds of schools across Australia and New Zealand, SchoolBench enables schools to organise, protect and share images safely while ensuring that parental consent preferences are applied consistently and accurately. 

A key feature of the platform is its use of facial recognition technology to identify students within photographs and automatically apply the consent settings selected by parents or guardians. This allows us to better celebrate student achievement and school life while providing families with greater control over how images of their children may be used across internal communications, school publications and social media channels.  

Importantly, all image and facial recognition data remains under the School's management and security controls, with no personal data shared with third parties.

Parents will be able to review and update their image consent preferences through the Hub, ensuring transparency and choice remain at the centre of the process. 

Further information about SchoolBench, our updated image consent framework and the available consent options will be shared with families in the coming weeks. We believe this initiative represents an important step in balancing the celebration of school life with our ongoing commitment to child safety and responsible digital practices.

More broadly, the introduction of SchoolBench forms part of a wider review of the School’s online safety, privacy and digital communications practices. Kinross Wolaroi School is currently reviewing the latest guidance and recommendations issued by the eSafety Commissioner to ensure our policies and procedures reflect emerging risks and best practice in student protection. This ongoing work will help strengthen the way we manage student data, digital content and online engagement, while continuing to provide families with confidence that the safety and wellbeing of students remain our highest priority.