Community News
Social Media Safety
Parents and carers play an important role in supporting their children to be safe online and on social media. You can help your children safely navigate their digital world and educate them to avoid harmful online experiences. You can explore websites, games, apps and social media together and set some rules and boundaries.
Your support and guidance can give your children the knowledge to make sound decisions online and confidence to ask for help when they need it. It is also important to stay informed about online safety.
The Department of Education recognises this important issue and has developed fact sheets about supports to help keep students safe online and what to do if they are involved in an online incident.
The fact sheets contain links to evidence-based information on supporting positive and safe online experiences, signs a child or young person might need support, what to do if something unsafe happens online, and where to reach out to for more support. To access the fact sheets, refer to the Safe Socials webpage. The fact sheets are available in 19 community languages.
If you have any queries about this information, you can contact the department by email: bullystoppers@education.vic.gov.au.
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Survey - Social Media Age Limits
A message from Luba Grigorovitch, MP
Consultation is now open on the new national laws around age limits for social media.
Parents have told us they’re worried about their kids using social media, but they feel powerless to push back against the tech giants.
That’s why our Labor Government will work with the Commonwealth to introduce age limits, so kids aren’t using social media before they’re ready.
An online survey will give parents, teachers, young people and the general public the opportunity to share their experiences and concerns about social media use.
Social media is a reality of modern life, and we need to make sure young people have the tools to navigate it safely.
Findings from this consultation process will then shape a new social media safety program.
Safe Socials will be delivered in schools as a resource for students, teachers and families about how to navigate social media.
The survey engage.vic.gov.au/safesocials will be open until November 1.
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Financial Assistance for Families
The Brotherhood of St. Laurence’s mission is to work for an Australia free of Poverty.
Given the cost-of-living challenges at the moment, many families are doing it very tough and could use some help.
The Brotherhood of St. Laurence has provided the following financial resources for families, including:
- The Saver Plus Program
- State Schools Relief (contact the school to request this support)
- Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund (contact the school for an application form)
- Computerbank
Saver Plus is proud to be able to support the families of Victoria University Secondary College.
Our Saver Plus contacts are Aminder Dhillon and Fiona Adams.
Aminder’s contact details are Aminder.Dhillon@bsl.org.au 0407 948 506
Fiona’s contact details are Fiona.Adams@bsl.org.au 0482 161 578
The great team at Brotherhood of St Laurence is dedicated to the ongoing support of families and both Aminder and Fiona will be available to answer queries about Saver Plus.
Program Manager Sue Farzi will also be available for any queries or concerns.
Sue’s contact details are Sue.Farzi@bsl.org.au 0482 181 561
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