Student Wellbeing
Term 2
Social Media in the School Context
While social media conflicts are most often not a school-based issue, we understand that these issues can impact the day-to-day lives of our students. Our school counsellors and teachers speak with students regularly about both the positive and negative experiences of social media use, but unfortunately there are limitations as to what staff can do to mitigate negative social media experiences without the crucial guidance, awareness and leadership of parents and carers in the home.
Concord School educates students on the risks associated with social media use via our social competency curriculum.
Concord School has a mobile phone use policy which we expect students to follow and appreciate parents and carer’s support in implementing. This policy exists to promote a safe and educationally focused environment for our students. We are pleased to provide Concord School parents and carers with information and evidence-based resources regarding how best to approach their young person’s social media/technology use. It is important to be aware of how social media can be accessed.
Where can your young person access social media?
- Phones (their own or someone else’s)
- Smart watches
- iPads/tablets
- Computers (all)
- Gaming consoles (PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo switch/portables)
- Some televisions (Smart TVs)
What applications are Concord School students using most?
- TikTok
- Snapchat
- Messenger (facebook)
- Xbox/Nintendo/PlayStation live chat in most games
- Discord
- Roblox
Where can you learn more about how to keep your young person safe?
- https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents
- https://parents.au.reachout.com/skills-to-build/wellbeing/things-to-try-technology
- https://schools.au.reachout.com/social-media
- https://parents.au.reachout.com/common-concerns/everyday-issues/cyberbullying-and-teenagers
- https://icannetwork.online/online-resources/
If you are worried about your young person’s mental health and wellbeing and feel that they would benefit from professional supports, your GP can help you access a mental health care plan for your child. A mental health care plan gives your child access to mental health supports via a psychologist.You can find below a list of mental health services for young people in the links below including information about mental health care plans in Victoria. It is important to state on your mental health care plan that your young person may have additional communication requirements/sensory needs so that an appropriate professional and service can be allocated.
Child & Youth Mental Health Resources
- https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/servicesandsupport/children-young-people-and-mental-health-services
- https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/mental-health-care-plans
- https://raisingchildren.net.au/pre-teens/mental-health-physical-health/mental-health-therapies-services/services-environment
Bronwyn Hart
Assistant Principal
Wellbeing