From Alison Dietrich

As we approach the end of the 2025 school year, I want to take a moment to reflect on what has been a deeply meaningful and rewarding first year as Deputy Principal Wellbeing at St Augustine’s College.

It has been a privilege to walk alongside our students, staff and families as we’ve continued strengthening our collective commitment to creating a safe, supportive and inclusive school community. From the daily conversations in the yard and classrooms, to more complex wellbeing interventions behind the scenes, I’ve been consistently inspired by the care, professionalism and heart of our staff and the resilience of our students.

Changes to Social Media Age Restrictions

From 10th December 2025, social media age restrictions will be introduced in Australia to help protect young Australians.

Under these new rules, social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, X (Twitter) and YouTube will be required to take reasonable steps to stop children under 16 from creating or keeping an account.

The changes aim to reduce the pressures and risks that come with social media use, including exposure to harmful content and design features that encourage excessive screen time.

This is not a ban, but rather a delay to social media use until the age of 16. There will be no penalities for parents or young people, however, social media companies may face consequences if they fail to comply. 

You can find the latest information on the eSafety website: www.esafety.gov.au

The eSafety Commissioner has also prepared an eight-step guide and action plan to help families prepare for the transition. Find out more at the eSafety Get-ready Guide for under-16s.

You can also reach out to your child’s TA for support on how we can help at school.

Recently, Senior Constable Shane Roberts (VicPol) visited our school to present to our Years 7–9 students about online safety and upcoming changes to social media laws. We thank Shane for his time and for supporting our students to better understand their roles and responsibilities in online spaces.

There has been a lot of information in the media about the upcoming social media age restrictions for young people under 16. To support families, I encourage you to read this helpful and independent guide by the Co-Founder and Director of SchoolTV, James Wilson. It is being recognised by many as a key resource in understanding the new regulations:

 👉 https://schooltv.me/wellbeing_news/special-report-new-social-media-regulations

Transitioning into 2026

We have also been focused on supporting students transitioning into our Early Commencement Program (ECP). This marks an important step into senior learning, and our aim has been to build confidence, routines, and a sense of readiness for this next stage. It has been wonderful to see students approaching this transition with increasing maturity and commitment.

At the same time, planning is well underway to support all students transitioning smoothly into 2026. This includes strengthening our work around attendance, belonging, Respectful Relationships and consistent Classroom Mastery routines across the College. For us, transition is not just about timetables and classrooms; it is about ensuring students feel safe, connected, and ready to flourish.

Social Emotional Wellbeing Survey

As part of this forward planning, students are currently completing the ACER Social Emotional Wellbeing (SEW) Survey. Developed by Professor Michael Bernard in collaboration with the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER), this survey explores nine key aspects of students’ wellbeing across three domains:

1. Feelings and Behaviours (i.e. levels of happiness, self-identity, behaviour and relationships)

2. Internal Strengths (i.e. self-awareness and self-management of social, emotional, learning and values)

3. External Strengths (i.e. the impact of positive influences at school, home and in the community.)

The survey is being conducted between now and the end of term, and we look forward to unpacking these results so we can more effectively target student wellbeing needs in 2026.

On a personal note, stepping into this role at St Augustine’s in 2025 has been incredibly fulfilling. I am deeply grateful for the trust placed in me and for the warmth, support and collaboration of our staff, students and families. It has been a privilege to serve this community.

As we head into the Christmas break, I encourage families to take time to rest, reconnect and enjoy time together. I’d also like to gently remind families to begin preparing school uniforms for 2026, ensuring all items meet College uniform requirements. Starting the year organised helps students feel confident, calm and ready for learning. 

With gratitude,

Alison Dietrich

Deputy Principal 

Wellbeing