Child Safe & Wellbeing

Child Safety Focus — Staying Safe Online

As part of our commitment to the Child Safe Standards, this week we’re focusing on Standard 9: Physical and online environments promote safety and wellbeing while minimising the opportunity for harm.

The online world is a wonderful place for learning, creativity and connection but for most primary-aged children, it’s not a private space. Think of it like a public park: safe to enjoy when supervised, risky when unsupervised.

Families and schools: working together

We all play a role in helping children build healthy, safe online habits. Children are not entitled to unrestricted internet use, they are still learning, and need adults to guide and protect them just as they would in any public place.

Here are some practical ways families can help children stay safe online:

• Keep devices in shared areas: Bedrooms and closed doors make supervision harder.
• Be curious about what your child is doing online: Ask them to show you their favourite games, channels or apps.
• Set clear boundaries: No online chatting with people they don’t know in real life, no sharing personal details or photos, and devices switched off at an agreed time each night.
• Know the apps and games: Learn how to use parental controls, privacy settings and content filters — and model how to use technology responsibly.
• Encourage open conversation: Make sure your child knows they can come to you if something online makes them feel uncomfortable or confused.

More Connection - More Conversation - More Guidance

The Child Safe Standards remind us that safety doesn’t stop at the school gate, it includes the digital spaces children spend time in every day. By staying involved, setting boundaries and keeping communication open, families help create the safe, supportive online environments our children deserve.

Together, we can ensure our children enjoy the benefits of being online - safely, confidently, and with the support of the adults who care for them most.

Peta Overbury

Deputy Principal (Teaching and Learning)