Linewize Connect

Many members of our community will be aware that MacKillop Catholic College has commenced the rollout of Linewize Connect to student laptops in Years 7 and 8. The College takes the online safety and wellbeing of our students very seriously, and the implementation of Linewize Connect strengthens our ability to support safe, responsible, and productive use of technology both at school and at home. 

Linewize Connect serves three key purposes: 

1. Online Safety and Content Filtering 

Linewize Connect helps protect students by filtering harmful, inappropriate, or unsafe online content. As the software is installed directly on each student laptop, these protections operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, regardless of where the device is being used. The system is also designed to prevent students from bypassing filtering through the use of VPNs or similar technologies.

2. Student Wellbeing Support 

Linewize Connect can identify indicators that may suggest a student requires additional wellbeing support, allowing the College to provide early intervention where appropriate. Any wellbeing alerts are reviewed only by authorised staff members, and all cases are considered with appropriate human oversight before any action is taken. 

3. Enhanced Classroom Learning Management 

While laptops are powerful tools for learning, they can also be a source of distraction that impacts student engagement and academic progress. Linewize Connect enables teachers to better manage device use during lessons by activating a Focus Mode, which restricts access to selected applications and websites so that students can remain focused on the learning task at hand. 

Families should also be aware that all activity on school-managed devices is recorded and can be reported on through Linewize Connect. This allows staff to view how devices are being used and, where necessary, generate reports detailing activity on a laptop. This information helps teachers and school leaders have informed conversations with students about their digital habits, online behaviour, and the impact these may have on their learning.  

Only One Piece of the Puzzle 

While Linewize Connect is a valuable tool for promoting safe and responsible technology use, technology alone cannot replace the importance of ongoing conversations between young people and the adults who support them. Schools and families share a responsibility to help students develop healthy digital habits and make informed decisions online. Our goal is to equip students with the knowledge, skills, and judgement required to manage their own online safety and wellbeing as they grow into independent adults. 

The eSafety Commissioner Website provides a range of excellent resources for families, including practical advice on how to discuss online safety and guidance on implementing parental controls on home devices. 

If you have any questions about Linewize Connect or its implementation at the College, please contact me at foleary@mackillop.tas.edu.au. I would be happy to assist.