Principal's Report
As we enter the second last week of term, the energy across the school has been nothing short of wonderful. Even as the year draws to a close, our students continue to embrace every opportunity placed before them, demonstrating curiosity, enthusiasm and a genuine love of learning.
Our Year 4 students returned from their first overnight camp at Sovereign Hill on Wednesday, and it was clear that the experience made a lasting impression. This important milestone in the upper school supports students to build independence, confidence and resilience. Many students shared that the evening light show was a standout highlight, bringing history to life in spectacular colour. Others were captivated by the olden-days school sessions, where they stepped back in time to experience what education looked like more than a century ago. These hands-on experiences bring learning to life in ways that ignite conversations and strengthen understanding.
This week also provided a special celebration for our Year 6 students, who enjoyed a well-earned trip to Funfields. In true student-voice fashion, Funfields won the vote convincingly, despite my personal (and clearly less popular!) preference for Luna Park. The day was filled with laughter, teamwork and moments that showcased just how much our older students value their time together. As they continue preparing for their transition into secondary school, experiences like this remind us of the strong connections they have formed and the confidence they have developed during their years at Golf Links.
Across both year levels, what has stood out most is the sense of community, gratitude and excitement our students bring to every opportunity. Whether they are stepping into the past at Sovereign Hill or racing down waterslides at Funfields, they do so with courage, kindness and an attitude that makes us all proud.
We look forward to continuing this momentum as we head into our final week of term and finish the year on a high.
BYOD Program for 2026 – Clarifying the Changes
As we look ahead to 2026, we would like to provide some clarity around our Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) program, particularly in light of the recent Department guidelines that will see BYOD programs cease in primary schools from 2027. Understandably, this change has created some confusion for families, so we hope the information below helps to clarify what this means for our community.
Our 2026 Year 3 students will continue to have the opportunity to purchase a BYOD device and bring it to school for learning. This option remains in place for their final four years at Golf Links, allowing for continuity, familiarity, and consistent access to digital tools that support their learning.
It is important to note that although BYOD programs will no longer commence in primary schools from 2027 onwards, existing programs are permitted to continue until participating students complete their primary schooling. This means:
- Students who opted into the BYOD program in 2025 will still be able to bring their devices to school.
- Students choosing to participate in the program in 2026 will also be able to bring their devices for the remainder of their time in Years 3–6.
- No new BYOD programs will begin from 2027, but current participating students will not be impacted.
In short, if your child is entering Year 3 in 2026, the BYOD program remains available to them. If your child is already part of the program in 2025, they will continue to use their device at school as normal.
We hope this helps to clear up any misunderstandings. Digital learning remains an important part of our teaching and learning approach, and we will continue to follow Department guidelines while ensuring smooth, supportive transitions for our students and families.
If you have any further questions, please don’t hesitate to contact the school office for assistance.
How to support your child under 16 with the new social media age restrictions
As many families will now be aware, significant changes to social media access for young people are coming into effect across Australia. From 10 December 2025, the Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act 2024 will require all social media platforms to:
- prevent children and young people under 16 from having a social media account
- deactivate or freeze existing accounts held by anyone under 16.
These changes are part of a national effort to delay social media use until young people are developmentally ready. Research shows that postponing access supports healthier relationships with technology, strengthens wellbeing and gives children additional time to build real-world connections and essential digital literacy skills.
Importantly, the responsibility for enforcing these age restrictions rests with the social media companies, not parents, carers, children or schools. Platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, X (formerly Twitter), Reddit and YouTube will all fall under these new requirements.
Messaging services, online games, and educational or health-based apps will not be affected and can continue to be used as normal.
How to help under 16s prepare for the change
Parents and carers continue to play a crucial role in supporting safe online behaviours. To help your child understand and prepare for the new rules, we encourage you to visit the eSafety Commissioner’s website. Here you will find:
- clear explanations of the new age restrictions
- practical tips on how to talk with young people about closing or losing access to social media accounts
- guidance on supporting safe, age-appropriate online interactions.
You may also choose to use the downloadable resources supplied by the eSafety Commissioner, which help visually reinforce the new requirements.
What this change means for our school
At our school, all age-restricted social media platforms are blocked for student use on the school network. This includes YouTube, which is not accessible to students onsite.
We will continue to support students in developing responsible digital behaviours and will work closely with families as these national regulations come into effect.
To stay informed or seek further advice, please visit the eSafety website.
Take care
Kirrily Lamers
Principal