Assistant Principal's Report

Helping Our Students Stay Safe Online – A Shared Responsibility 

As young people spend more time online—for learning, entertainment, and staying connected—it's more important than ever that we work together to ensure their safety. At Greensborough College, we’re committed to helping students become safe, respectful and responsible users of technology, and we know this works best when families and schools partner together. 

What We’re Doing at School 

We’ve continued to strengthen our cyber safety education through the Respectful Relationships curriculum and are preparing to launch the Digital Thumbprint program. This initiative will give students practical knowledge about online safety, respectful behaviour, and help-seeking strategies when things go wrong. Our partnership with the Resilience Project also supports young people with strategies to remain safe online. 

We’re also working closely with our Youth Resource Officer (YRO) from the Banyule Proactive Policing unit and other external partners to reinforce these important messages. 

How You Can Support Online Safety at Home 

We know that students’ online lives move fluidly between school and home. That’s why we’re aiming to build a whole-of-community approach to digital wellbeing. 

To support you at home, we’ll be sharing practical tips and resources from the eSafety Commissioner (eSafety.gov.au) through our newsletter, website and social media. These are designed to help you: 

• Talk to your child about safe and respectful online behaviour. 
• Recognise the signs that something may be going wrong. 
• Know what steps to take if your child needs support. 

If you're unsure how to start the conversation, try asking questions like: 

“What games are you playing at the moment?” “Has anyone ever messaged you online that made you feel uncomfortable?” These small questions can lead to big, important conversations. 

What to Do if Something Goes Wrong 

If your child experiences cyberbullying, image-based abuse or sees something harmful online, here are the recommended steps: 

1. Collect evidence – Take screenshots showing what happened and for how long. 
2. Report to the platform – Most services allow you to block or report users. The eSafety Guide on the safety commissioner website can help with this. 
3. If no action is taken, report it to eSafety – They may be able to help remove the content or take further action. 

Remember, young people often need adult support to navigate this process. Let them know you're there to help. 

Looking Ahead to the Holidays 

With the holidays approaching, your child may spend more time online. This is a great opportunity to sit down together and talk about staying safe, being respectful, and what to do if something doesn't feel right. 

The eSafety Commissioner’s website has excellent resources tailored to parents and carers—visit eSafety.gov.au to explore.