Updated restrictions on students use of personal devices 

New Victorian Government restrictions on student use of personal electronic devices 

On 4 August 2026, the Victorian Government amended the Education and Training Reform Act 2006, requiring all Victorian schools to restrict student use of personal electronic devices during school hours. 

On Tuesday 20 October 2026, further information was published about how schools must do this (Ministerial Order 1515 – Personal Electronic Devices in Victorian Schools). 

To follow the new requirements, our school will have a new Mobile Phones and Personal Electronic Devices policy. This policy will be in place from 2027 and will be made available on our website by the end of the 2026 school year.

This new policy will restrict student use of:

• mobile phones
• smart glasses
• wearable devices, such as smartwatches
• personal audio devices, such as headphones and earbuds. 

Restricting these devices helps to ensure:

• a learning environment free from unnecessary distractions and disruptions
• a safe environment for students, staff and visitors

• greater opportunities for social interaction and physical activity during recess and lunchtimes, without the distraction or social pressures caused by devices.

   

From Term 1 2027, the following restrictions will apply to these devices if they are brought to school: 

• mobile phones must be switched off and securely stored during school hours
• wearable devices must have notifications, cellular connection and recording functions turned off during school hours
• personal audio devices must not be used during school hours.

Our school can only grant exemptions to these restrictions to support:

• student learning 
• health or wellbeing
• the management of risks when students are offsite

In addition to these restrictions, wearing or using smart glasses is prohibited on government school premises and at school organised event or activities, including those held offsite or outside regular school hours. This prohibition applies to students, staff, parents, carers, contractors, volunteers and other visitors. Exemptions can only be granted by the principal as a reasonable adjustment for disability and where the adjustment cannot be reasonably provided for by another device or approach.

Our school will provide further information to you prior to Term 1 2027. If you have any questions, please contact carlton.gardens.ps@education.vic.gov.au.

Frequently asked questions for families 

Who do the new rules apply to?  

The new legislative restrictions on mobile phones, smart glasses, wearable devices and personal audio devices apply to all Victorian schools, including government, Catholic and independent schools. Schools must implement the new rules for all students. 

The Ministerial Policy on smart glasses and covert filming devices applies to all government schools.  

What devices are restricted?   

The Victorian Government’s restrictions apply to:  

• Mobile phones: a telephone with the capacity to connect to cellular telecommunication systems.  
• Smart glasses: a device that is designed to be worn as spectacles and has the capability to send, receive, store, record or process digital information.  
• Wearable devices: a device that is designed to be worn on the body and that has the capability to send, receive, store, or process digital information (for example, smartwatches and smart rings), excluding smart glasses, assistive hearing devices or surgically implanted medical devices.  

• Personal audio devices: wired or wireless headphones, earphones, or headsets. 

   

Can my child bring their mobile phone to school?  

The rules for mobile phones are not changing in government schools. Your child can bring a mobile phone to school, but it must be turned off and securely stored away in the school office during school hours. We will tell you and your child where and how it must be stored. 

If you need to contact your child during the school day, please call our school’s administration office. 

Can my child bring a wearable device like a smartwatch to school?  

Your child can bring wearable devices such as smartwatches to school, but notifications, cellular connection and recording functions must be switched off during school hours.  

Some schools may also choose not to allow wearable devices such as smartwatches to be worn during school hours. 

 At our school, we don’t allow wearable devices to be worn during school hours. They must be stored in school office during school days. 

Can my child use smart glasses at school?  

Smart glasses pose unique privacy risks for students and staff. As such, your child cannot wear or use smart glasses at school or during any school activity, including outside school hours, unless they have an approved exemption to use them as a reasonable adjustment for disability. 

Other covert filming devices also must not be used at school or during any school activity.  

Can my child bring headphones or earbuds to school?  

Your child can bring personal audio devices such as wired and wireless headphones and earbuds to school. However, they cannot use them during school hours unless they have been granted an exemption, for example, for learning, health or wellbeing reasons. 

There may be certain learning activities/assessment throughout the school year where bringing headphones from home may be encouraged, but not expected. 

Who is responsible for my child’s personal electronic devices at school?  

Personal electronic devices owned by you or your child are brought to school at the owner’s risk. You and your child are encouraged to: 

• consider whether these items should be brought to school at all 
• obtain appropriate insurance for valuable items if they are brought to school. 

Our school does not have accident insurance for accidental property damage or theft. Refer to the School’s Personal Property Policy found on the school website.

Are there exemptions for use?  

The school can grant exemptions in limited circumstances. Please contact Tom Drummond via carlton.gardens.ps@education.vic.gov.au if you think your child needs an exemption.   

For mobile phones, wearable devices and personal audio devices, an exemption will only be granted where use is essential to support student learning, health or wellbeing, or to manage risks when a student is offsite. For example, a student could be granted an exemption to use their mobile phone to monitor their blood sugar and the administration of insulin.  

Due to the unique privacy and learning risks of smart glasses, an exemption will only be granted where use is a reasonable adjustment for a student with disability, for example, a vision impairment, and where the adjustment cannot be reasonably achieved through another device or approach. Exemptions for smart glasses will be decided by the principal. 

How do I contact my child in an emergency?  

Please call our school’s administration office on (03) 96636502. 

Are personal electronic devices restricted during activities outside school hours?  

The rules for mobile phones, wearable devices and personal audio devices apply during school hours. School hours refer to the hours within which a student is expected to attend the school at which they are enrolled. 

Schools can extend restrictions to school activities outside school hours, such as extracurricular activities and events. We will explain which restrictions apply before these activities. For rules related to camps and excursions, see below. 

Smart glasses are not to be worn or used at school organised events or activities, including outside of school hours, unless they have an approved exemption to use them as a reasonable adjustment for disability. For Out-of-School-Hours Care (OSHC), the student restrictions outlined in this policy on mobile phones, wearable devices and personal audio devices do not apply. The restrictions on smart glasses continue to apply during OSHC that occurs on school grounds.  

Can my child bring their personal electronic devices on camps and excursions?  

The rules for mobile phones, wearable devices and personal audio devices apply on camps and excursions during school hours. 

Your child must not bring mobile phones to school camps or excursions, including those outside school hours, unless we have approved an exemption or specifically authorised use. We will advise students and parents/carers in advance if this is the case. 

The restriction on smart glasses applies for the entirety of any school activity, including camps and excursions.  

What will be the consequences for my child if they don’t follow the rules?  

Our school will enforce the new rules under our school’s existing student engagement policies. The Student Wellbeing and Engagement Policy can be found on the school website. 

Do the new rules apply to other personal electronic devices such as tablets?  

The Victorian Government’s legislative requirements only apply to mobile phones, smart glasses, wearable devices, and personal audio devices.  

The new rules don’t apply to devices which are owned or managed by the school for curriculum delivery, for example, school laptops and tablets that are purchased by parents, carers, or the school for classroom use. 

Are hearing aids or cochlear implants also restricted? 

The new rules do not apply to any assistive hearing devices such as hearing aids or cochlear implants. 

If your child needs a mobile phone or wearable device to support their hearing, please contact us to discuss the exemption process. 

What is my role as a parent or carer?  

Please help your child understand and follow our school’s rules, including any exemption conditions, and support them to use technology safely and responsibly.  

Please see the eSafety Commissioner’s website for further information and resources.