Commitment to Child Safety

Safeguarding Children in the Digital Age: Glen Education’s Updated Technology Policy

By Basil Paul, Business Systems and Technology Manager from the Glen Education IT Department

The updates to Glen Education’s policy documents shows commitment to child safety in digital environments. These changes align with both internal strategic goals and national reforms. 

Strengthened Child Safety Measures in Technology Use:

1. Supervised Technology Engagement

All technology use by children must be supervised by qualified educators. This ensures that digital tools are integrated into structured learning experiences while safeguarding children from inappropriate content or misuse. 

2. Screen Time Regulation

Educators are required to monitor and regulate screen time based on age-specific guidelines. For example, children aged 2–5 should have no more than one hour of screen time per day, including at home. This aligns with recommendations from the American Academy of Paediatrics and the Australian Government. To align with these guidelines and to avoid extended passive viewing, educators will limit the time children spend passively viewing the screen without their direction to approximately five minutes. This supports purposeful use and maintains engagement without overexposure. 

3. Safe Online Practices

The policy promotes a culture of respect, responsibility, and safety when using technology. Children and staff are encouraged to model digital citizenship, and educators are trained to foster safe online behaviours

4. Restricted Use of Personal Devices by staff

Personal devices may only be used for medical or accessibility purposes and must be kept out of children’s reach. All photography and video recording of children must be done using service-issued devices, in line with the new National Model Code.

5. Incident Reporting and Confidentiality

Any suspected breaches—such as unauthorised data disclosures or inappropriate online activity—must be reported confidentially to IT and management. Glen Education commits to swift investigation and remediation 

Aligning with Broader Child Safety Frameworks

6. Child Safe Standards Action Plan

Child Safe Standards - We are embedding child safety into procurement, contractor engagement, and digital footprint protection. This includes empowering children to consent to digital media use and ensuring third-party compliance with child safety policies.

7. National Reforms and Sector Guidance

Externally, the Australian Children’s Education & Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) has introduced new child-safe practices for electronic device use in early childhood settings. These include:

• Prohibiting personal devices for photographing children.
• Mandating service-issued devices.
• Enforcing strict controls on image storage and sharing.

Safeguarding Children: How Our Customer Relations Team Protects Sensitive Information

By Melissa Lewis, Customer Relations Manager

Ensuring child-safe practices when communicating with families or sharing sensitive data is essential for safeguarding children and maintaining trust with families, and one we take very seriously.  Below are some key steps the Customer Relations Team, and Mel Lewis Customer Relations Manager take to ensure child safety:

1. Confidentiality and Data Protection

• Data Security: All sensitive information (e.g. a child's health details) is securely stored within our IT enrolment platform EnrolNow, with access restricted to authorised staff only.
• Limit Sharing: We only share sensitive data with staff who need it. Before sharing data outside of our organisation, we confirm the identity of the person requesting the data.

2. Clear Consent Processes

• Obtain Written Consent: We ensure that written consent is obtained from parents or guardians before collecting, using, or sharing any sensitive information about a child.
• Regular Review of Consent: Ensure that parents or guardians are periodically reminded about consent, particularly regarding social media, and that they have the option to update, or withdraw consent as needed.

3. Staff Training

• Child Protection Training: All customer relations staff involved in enrolment and communication with families have undergone child protection training this year to understand their legal and ethical responsibilities regarding the safety and confidentiality of children.
• Confidential Communication Practices: All customer relations staff are trained in how to communicate securely and confidentially - verbal and written communications. This includes avoiding discussing sensitive matters in public areas or over unsecured channels.

4. Secure Communication Channels

• Use Secure Platforms: When families are sharing sensitive data with the customer relations team we use a secure platform (EnrolNow) rather than unsecured channels like text messages or social media.
• Review Communication Practices: Periodically assess how sensitive information is communicated and ensure staff follow best practices for confidentiality and child safety.

By implementing these practices, the customer relations team greatly minimises risks to children's safety and upholds professional and ethical standards in our interactions with families and the handling of sensitive data.