THE VILLAGE
The Village: Supporting Student Wellbeing Together
The Village is our space for keeping everyone informed, connected and supported; whether it’s students, families or staff. In this edition, we’re looking ahead to an important change in the digital world and how we can help young people navigate it with confidence.
New Social Media Age Restrictions – What It Means
From 10 December 2025, new national laws will require many social media platforms to prevent users under 16 from creating or maintaining an account. This change is part of a wider push to protect young people and reduce the pressures that can come with early exposure to online environments.
We’ve spoken earlier in The Village about online safety and shared resources from the eSafety Commissioner, including where families can go for advice, reporting tools, and guidance on supporting young people online. This update builds on that work by giving families and schools a clearer structure to support healthier digital habits.
You can read more in the eSafety Commissioner’s guide for families here:Get-Ready Guide – Social Media Age Restrictions:https://www.esafety.gov.au/young-people/social-media-age-restrictions/get-ready-guide
Connecting Back to Behaviour Change
Earlier in the year, we highlighted a Pop Culture Parenting episode on changing behaviour. A key message from that episode was that behaviour change works best when young people feel supported, connected, and guided not pressured or punished.
The upcoming social media delay echo that philosophy. While the change is required by law, it also provides a natural moment for young people to pause, reset and build healthier online routines with support from the adults around them.
How We’ll Support Students at School
In the lead-up to the change, we’ll be helping students to:
- Understand what the new rules mean and why they’re being introduced
- Explore how social media use affects wellbeing, connection and learning
- Reflect on their own digital habits and practise alternative ways of connecting
- Reinforce our school values—Respect, Resilience, Kindness and Doing Our Best—in online environments
We’ll continue pointing students toward safe online practices and the supports available through the eSafety Commissioner, just as we have in past Village editions.
Links to Supports
eSafety Commissioner Link
🔗 eSafety Commissioner for Parents & Carers
🎧 Podcast: Pop Culture Parenting – “Changing Behaviour”https://open.spotify.com/episode/4M9Lz49XRRt0uIMRVl9e2w?si=bc7ab55bcb024e4f
⏳ Evidence-based discussion starts at: 17 minutes, 15 seconds
Tyson Biffin Assistant Principal
Tyson Biffin Assistant Principal
Tyson Biffin
Assistant Principal - Wellbeing and Inclusion