Mobile Phones 

A reminder that the Department of Education has in place a mobile phone ban that requires students who bring mobiles phones to school to have them switched off and securely put away during school hours.

The department is requiring all schools to ensure this ban is in place and enforced from the start of the 2024 school year. The ban applies equally to all government schools right across the state.

This helps ensure that school is a learning environment free from unnecessary distractions and disruptions. 

By ensuring mobile phones are kept away at recess and lunch times, students can interact with each other face-to-face, without the distractions and social pressures that mobile phones can cause.

We ask for the support of all our families, staff and students in continuing to support the implementation of this policy in our school. All students have a locker allocated to them where it can be stored during the school day. Students will be allocated their 2024 locker on their first day at school.

School process

Students who are found using their mobile phones will be asked to take their phone to the front office to hand in. There is a staged response from the school that can be seen below. Students can collect their phone 10 minutes after the end of the school day on the first occasion. 

The purpose of holding a family meeting after the third confiscation is to discuss supports and strategies for the student in managing their mobile phone use.

There is further follow up and escalation for students who do not hand their phone in when asked by a member of staff.

School mobile phone policy: A copy of our school’s local mobile phone policy, which implements the government’s mobile policy in line with our local context, is available here: https://nhs-vic.compass.education/Communicate/SchoolDocumentation.aspx

Further information

Exceptions: For a small number of students with particular health needs, an exception to the policy may be granted. Please contact the relevant Sub School if you would like to discuss this.

Emergencies: In the event of an emergency or if you need to immediately contact your child, we ask that families contact the school office who will pass on a message as required. 

Parent support: The Mobile phones in schools webpage provides links to resources for families to help them balance their children’s time using mobile phones.