Cyberbullying
The internet and digital technologies are now very much a part of life and learning. As an increasingly interactive medium, digital technologies bring with them exciting new opportunities to engage children and young people in their learning. At the same time these technologies also bring some risks. Increasingly schools are dealing with incidents of cyberbullying or unacceptable behaviour that have occurred in the online world or using technology such as mobile phones.
Cyberbullying is direct verbal or indirect bullying behaviours using digital technologies. This includes harassment via a mobile phone, setting up a defamatory personal website or deliberately excluding someone from social networking spaces.
The implementation of specific cybersafety initiatives in schools supports the safety and wellbeing of students and contributes to the prevention of cyberbullying or unacceptable behaviour via technology. A holistic approach to the respectful and safe use of information and communication technologies should include:
- policies and procedures within the school’s Student Engagement Policy to encourage cybersafe behaviour across the school including Acceptable Use Agreements
- access to professional learning opportunities for teachers
- specific teaching of the safe use of technologies for students
- internet safety awareness information or presentations for parents.
The Department’s Learning On Line website provides policy advice, resources, classroom activities and professional learning actions to support the safe and responsible use of digital technologies. Some schools have also implemented a range of approaches to complement classroom teaching and learning and promote cybersafety. These include frameworks, programs and professional learning available through:
It should be noted that incidents of offensive or suspicious online behaviour should be reported to the Australian Communications and Media Authority or the Australian Federal Police depending on the nature of the behaviour.
For information about reporting problematic behaviour, see: Cybersmart
For more information about the safe and responsible use of technologies, see: Learning On Line