'Away for the day' – mobile phones and wearable devices
The Department of Education has implemented a new mobile phone and smart watch policy across all schools in QLD.
Queensland state school students are required to keep mobile phones switched off and 'away for the day' while on school grounds and while attending school activities, such as representative school sport, excursions and camps. Students may hand their devices to the Office upon arriving to school for safe keeping and collect upon leaving.
Wearable devices, such as smartwatches, can be worn to school but notifications must be switched off so that phone calls, messages and other notifications cannot be sent or received.
Your child can continue to bring their phone to school to communicate with you, once outside the school grounds.
'Away for the day' supports schools to maintain a strong focus on educational achievement, and student wellbeing and engagement by:
· providing optimal learning and teaching environments
· encouraging increased face-to-face social interactions between students
· promoting the health and wellbeing of students through increased social interaction and physical activity
· reducing the potential for students to be exposed to the negative impacts of the digital world, resulting from unsafe or inappropriate technology use.
As a parent or carer, you play an important role in supporting your child to engage with technology in safe and respectful ways. Parents can support schools to implement the 'away for the day' approach by:
· talking with your child about the requirement to have their phone switched off and away for the day, and/or notifications disabled on wearable devices
· using the school's preferred communication method to contact your child during the day, such as phoning the school office
· establishing routines at home to help your child balance their use of devices and screen time.
Please contact the school if you have any questions or concerns regarding this policy.