Child Safety

eSmart schools - ​Helping schools improve cybersafety and deal with cyberbullying

We are pleased to announce that Holy Family School has begun the process of being accredited as an eSmart school. 

eSmart Schools is an initiative of the Alannah and Madeline Foundation and provides schools with a framework to create a safe cyber environment for students by assisting schools to develop a culture that promotes the safe, smart and responsible use of technology. 

The eSmart framework consists of six domains:

• effective school organisation
• school plans, policies and procedures
• the respectful and caring school community
• effective teacher practices
• an eSmart curriculum
• partnerships with parents and the local community.

The framework integrates cyber safety with the school’s existing knowledge and practices about student wellbeing and child safety.

eSmart supports students to embrace the benefits of technology while reducing their exposure to and improving their ability to respond appropriately to cyber risks, such as cyberbullying, online sexual predation, identity theft and fraud. eSmart provides a set of tools for:

• principals—how to tackle bullying and cyberbullying
• teachers—training, lesson plans and activities for students
• parents—how to see signs and get help.

Suzanne Deefholts

Child Safety Officer