Document Owner | Office of the Director |
Approval Date | 20 February 2019 |
Release Date | 02 April 2019 |
Compliance Date | 01 February 2020 |
Review Date | 01 December 2023 |
Updated |
5 October 2021 23 November 2022 |
Version History 5 October 2021 |
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23 November 2022 |
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Policy in Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong (CEDoW) is developed to support the implementation of consistent and comprehensive practices to guide quality Catholic learning and teaching in systemic schools in the Diocese of Wollongong.
Policy is developed within the context of specific documents and frameworks. These include:
Social media is used in Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong (CEDoW) to help create vibrant Catholic school communities of faith and learning. In this context, social media is any form of online presence used in a valid educational context that facilitates inclusive relationships, contemporary communities and multi-directional interactive exchanges of information, conversation or activity. Users of social media are required to manage their digital footprint by interacting responsibly and ethically, in line with our Catholic ethos, respecting the dignity of all involved.
This Policy has been developed to support CEDoW, schools and staff to minimise the reputational risk to CEDoW. It also supports schools to meet their compliance requirements with the New South Wales Education Standards Authority (NESA) and the Australian Education Act 2013 (Cth).
It is expected that CEDoW Staff and Non-staff workers will take all reasonable measures to comply with this Policy.
The Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong (CEDoW) Social Media Policy must be implemented in conjunction with the following policies and documents where relevant:
• CEDoW Staff Responsible Technology Use of Technology Policy
• CEDoW Student Responsible Use of Technology Agreement
• CEDoW Code of Conduct in the Protection of Children and Young People
• CEDoW Complaints Policy
• CEDoW Emergencies and Critical Incidents Policy
• CEDoW Enrolment Policy
• CEDoW Maintaining Right Relationships
• CEDoW Obligation for Reporting to Police
• CEDoW Student Pastoral Care and Wellbeing Policy
• CEDoW Social Media Statement
• CEDoW Staff Relations Policy
• CEDoW Suspension, Expulsion and Exclusion of Students Policy
• CEDoW Supervision Policy
• CEDoW Work Health and Safety Policy
1.1 | deliver the CEDoW Digital Citizenship Program to all students each year | ||
1.2 |
maintain a register to demonstrate that each student has engaged in the CEDoW Digital Citizenship Program each year |
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1.3 |
ensure all Staff complete the CEDoW Digital Citizenship Program each year |
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1.4 | provide the CEDoW Social Media Statement to workers who are engaged to provide services | ||
1.5 |
have a valid educational context when communicating and sharing content between students and parents/carers |
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1.6 | address the ICT Learning Across the Curriculum aspect of the syllabus, which includes the use of social media, for the purposes of skill development and engagement in learning | ||
1.7 | ensure that when social media is used to achieve educational outcomes, no student is disadvantaged when access is unavailable or restricted | ||
2.1 | ensure that where an official school social media presence is used for communication it is established, registered and maintained according to the CEDoW Social Media Administration Procedure | ||
2.2 | ensure each official school social media presence is compliant with the CEDoW Social Media Standards and has a link to the CEDoW Social Media Statement | ||
2.3 | use the Compass Event – Media Consent process in the CEDoW electronic Student Information System (eSIS) to contact parents/carers each year to: | ||
2.3.1 | request the parent/carer provide consent or decline to provide consent to the use of their child’s image and/or works, and | ||
2.3.2 | obtain and record the parent/carer’s response using the CEDoW electronic Student Information System (eSIS) | ||
2.4 | address any non-compliance with the CEDoW Social Media Standards as a result of the inappropriate use of, or content on, any social media that may negatively impact on CEDoW or any of its school communities: | ||
2.4.1 | by students according to the CEDoW Social Media Standards Non-Compliance (Students) Procedure | ||
2.4.2 | by workers according to the CEDoW Social Media Standards Non-Compliance (Workers) Procedure | ||
2.4.3 | by parents/carers according to the CEDoW Social Media Standards Non-Compliance (Parents/Carers) Procedure | ||
2.5 | adhere to the CEDoW Data Breach Response Procedure when a suspected data breach has occurred on any official school social media presence | ||
2.6 | take measures to remove any unofficial school social media presence that is being used for communication on behalf of the school and/or implies an affiliation with CEDoW or any of its school communities | ||
2.7 | report promptly to CEDoW any content on social media that may negatively impact on CEDoW or any of its school communities | ||
2.8 | adhere to the CEDoW Social Media Administration Procedure to establish, register and maintain each official school social media presence | ||
2.9 |
report promptly to the Principal when they are concerned about inappropriate use of, or content on, any social media that may negatively impact on CEDoW or any of its school communities |
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2.10 | report a suspected data breach to the Principal/Supervisor according to the CEDoW Data Breach Response Procedure | ||
2.11 |
participate in the investigation of a suspected data breach as requested |
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3.1 | ensure each student and parent/carer is provided with and signs the CEDoW Student Responsible Use of Technology Agreement at the commencement of each year | ||
3.2 | have processes in place for monitoring student interactions on each official school social media presence | ||
3.3 | adhere to the CEDoW Social Media Standards Non-Compliance (Students) Procedure when they are concerned about inappropriate use of, or content on, any social media that may negatively impact on CEDoW or any of its school communities | ||
4.1 | address any non-compliance with the CEDoW Social Media Standards by workers according to the CEDoW Social Media Standards Non-Compliance (Workers) Procedure | ||
4.2 | comply with the CEDoW Social Media Standards when using social media | ||
4.3 | not include students as friends on their personal social media | ||
4.4 | not follow students on social media | ||
4.5 |
not interact on personal social media with known current students of CEDoW schools, unless there is a valid context or circumstance that has been approved by the Principal |
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4.6 | not interact on personal social media with known former students of CEDoW schools, unless there is a valid context or circumstance |
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4.7 | not use DoW email accounts for personal social media | ||
4.8 | not use their personal social media in a manner that negatively impacts their ability to meet their professional responsibilities and duties and/or negatively impacts on CEDoW or any of its school communities | ||
5.1 | provide parents/carers with the CEDoW Social Media Statement at enrolment and at the commencement of each school year | ||
5.2 | advise parents/carers of: | ||
5.2.1 |
each official school social media presence approved by the school, to the exclusion of all others |
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5.2.2 |
the expectation to seek permission from the Principal to establish a social media presence that is in any way associated with the school |
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5.2.3 |
the expectation not to post content on social media of other students without the express consent of their parents/carers |
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5.2.4 |
the expectation to promptly notify the school of inappropriate use of, or content on, any social media that may negatively impact on CEDoW or any of its school communities |
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5.3 |
adhere to the CEDoW Social Media Standards Non-Compliance (Parents/Carers) Procedure when they are concerned about inappropriate use of, or content on, any social media that may negatively impact on CEDoW or any of its school communities |
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Australian Education Act 2013 (Cth)
https://www.legislation.gov.au/Series/C2013A00067
Australian Privacy Act 1988 (Cth)
https://www.legislation.gov.au/Series/C2004A03712
Privacy Amendment (Notifiable Breaches) Act 2017 (Cth)
https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2017A00012
Australian Copyright Act 1968 (Cth)
https://www.legislation.gov.au/Series/C1968A00063
NESA Registration Systems and Member Non-Government Schools (NSW) Manual
https://educationstandards.nsw.edu.au/wps/portal/nesa/regulation/school-registration/registration-system-and-member-non-government-schools-manual
NESA Australian Professional Standards for Teachers
https://educationstandards.nsw.edu.au/wps/portal/nesa/teacher-accreditation
ACBC Social Justice Statement 2019-2020 – 'Making it real: genuine human encounter in our digital world'
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1z-smae6bokJPlnRFTilmsUhoH857l1AD/view
NSW Policy Legacy Child Safety Handbook
http://nsw.childsafetyhub.com.au/handbook
Office of the eSafety Commissioner
https://www.esafety.gov.au
eSmart website (Alannah and Madeline Foundation)
https://www.esmart.org.au
ThinkYouKnow Australia
https://www.thinkuknow.org.au
Smartcopying: The Official Guide for Copyright Issues for Australian Schools and TAFE
http://www.smartcopying.edu.au
The Social Media Policy Self-Assessment is provided to support schools in their implementation of all Policy expectations.
Download the Social Media Policy Self-Assessment here [Download as a Word doc, or complete the self-assessment in Google doc format by selecting 'Open with Google Docs' then going to File > Make a Copy]
Social Media Policy Powerpoint Presentation for Schools
NSW Department of Education 'Digital Citizenship' Resources
Social Media Policy information flyer for parents
The Carly Ryan Foundation 'App Facts for Parents' Factsheets
The eSafety Commissioner's 'Supporting Student Digital Wellbeing' program – This free professional learning program provides evidence-based advice to help teachers integrate online safety into their teaching and wellbeing planning. For more details and to register, click here.
Commonsense Media's Digital Citizenship resources
Digital Citizenship in a Digital World – Technology In Action, Issue 7 (2019)
Data Privacy Day – 28 January
Safer Internet Day – 5 February
National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence – 15 March
Privacy Awareness Week – 15-19 May
Stop Cyberbullying Day – 21 June
World Communications Day – 29 September
Stay Smart Online Week – 7-13 October
World Kindness Day – 13 November
Human Rights Day – 10 December