Cyber-safety initiative welcome
Educationalists – and parent groups – will be pleased with a government announcement that 164 schools across Australia are participating in a national pilot program to address cyber-safety issues. (Gillard, 2010)
The program will be conducted in conjunction with the child safety charity The Alannah and Madeline Foundation.
Minister Gillard said the project will underpin policies and strategies to support the safe and responsible use of technology in schools.
Studies on cyber bullying, mobile phone safety, social networking sites, privacy and online computer games analysis is already being undertaken through the Government’s Youth Advisory Group.
Interestingly the Minister commented: ‘We are determined to provide teachers and school leaders with a range of tools to help them deal with bullying.’
Presumably the Minister must realise that such anti-social activity is hardly confined to school-based situations only.
Families and parents will keenly await the results of this pilot project as they are fundamentally responsible for their children’s welfare.
Furthermore as primary carers they set patterns of behaviour that (hopefully) will restrict or restrain anti-social cyber activity from occurring in the first place.
Australia-wide Catholic and independent schools (numbering 37 and 22 respectively) participating in the program include:
NSW - Catholic
De La Salle College, Revesby Heights
Holy Name Primary School, Forster
Our Lady Star of the Sea School, Miranda
Santa Sabina College, Strathfield
St Catherine’s Catholic College, Singleton
St Francis Xavier’s College, Hamilton
St James’ Primary School, Muswellbrook
St John’s Primary School, Lambton
St Joseph’s Primary School, Charlestown
St Paul’s High School, Booragul
St Therese’s Catholic Primary School, New Lambton
NSW - Independent
International Grammar School, Sydney
PLC, Armidale
Victoria - Catholic
CRC St Albans, St Albans
Holy Name Primary School, Reservoir
John Paul College, Frankston
Our Lady of Mercy College, Heidelberg
Padua College, Mornington
St Ignatius College, Drysdale
St Bernadette’s Primary School, Sunshine North
St Monica’s College, Epping
St John Vianney’s Primary School, Mulgrave
St Thomas More Primary School, Mt Eliza
St Charles Borromeo Primary, Templestowe
Victoria – Independent
Cathedral College, Wangaratta
Heritage College, Narre Warren South
Overnewton Anglican Community College, Taylors Lakes
Woodleigh School, Baxter
Mount Scopus Memorial College, Burwood
South Australia – Catholic
Our Lady of Grace School, Glengowrie
Sacred Heart College Middle School, Mitchell Park
St Aloysius College, Adelaide
Xavier College, Gawler Belt
South Australia – Independent
Trinity College Gawler River, Angle Vale
Wilderness School, Medindie
Tasmania – Catholic
Holy Rosary Primary School, Claremont
St Aloysius Catholic College, Kingston
St James Catholic College, Cygnet
Tasmania – Independent
The Friends’ School North Hobart
Queensland – Catholic
St Columba’s Primary, Wilston
Unity College, Caloundra
Xavier Catholic College, Hervey Bay
Queensland – Independent
A B Patterson College, Gold Coast
Canterbury College, Waterford
Clayfield College, Clayfield
Genesis Christian College, Bray Park
Moreton Bay College, Wynnum
St Margaret’s Anglican School, Ascot
St Stephen’s College, Coomera
Trinity Anglican School, Cairns
Trinity Lutheran College, Ashmore
Western Australia – Catholic
Aranmore Catholic College, Leederville
Bunbury Cathedral School, Gelorup
Western Australia – Independent
Lance Holt School, Fremantle
Methodist Ladies’ College, Claremont
Moerlina School, Mount Claremont
ACT - Catholic
St John the Apostle Primary School, Florey
St Thomas the Apostle, Kambah
Northern Territory – Catholic
St John’s College Hartzer Campus, The Gardens
Details of the Minister for Education’s press release on cyber safety can be read at http://www.deewr.gov.au/Ministers/Gillard/Media/Releases/Pages/Article_100210_131616.aspx
A list of all schools participating in this pilot program can be viewed at www.safeschools.deewr.gov.au
Comments: