Principal

Dear Parents and Guardians,

In this editorial, I am sharing with you information from our three Heads of School, Ms Woolcock (Senior School – Years 10-12), Mr Clark (Middle School – Years 7-9) and Mrs Morgan (Junior School – ELC and Foundation – Year 6) regarding our focus on students and smart devices. 

Following the implementation of the Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Bill (2024) on 10 December 2025, we have diligently communicated our updated Smart Devices  Policy to the Secondary Students during Year Level Assemblies and Form sessions, and to parents and guardians at Meet and Greet events. During these occasions, we presented the policy’s rationale, objectives, and the procedures for its implementation throughout the Secondary School.

Although smart devices are not as widely used across the Junior School, clear expectations have been established for our Year 5 and 6 students. Parents and guardians were informed of the Junior School Smart Device Expectations at this week’s Meet the Teacher evening, and these were also explicitly introduced and discussed with students. Posters outlining the expectations are displayed in each Year 5 and 6 classroom to support consistent understanding and reinforce responsible use.

The Smart Devices Policy is founded on the principles of care, clarity and consistency, and we have established clear routines that are easy to understand and uphold. By consistently upholding expectations across the school, we create routines that encourage calm, connected, and focused learning spaces. These routines help us to use technology purposefully and to promote digital wellbeing in our community.

In Secondary School the Smart Device Expectations are as follows:

• Phones must be stored in lockers at all times (including before and after school).
• No smart or learning devices in open spaces or classrooms during recess or lunch, as this is the time to prioritise rest and connection.
• Dedicated library zones are available for learning device use during breaks and study periods, and after school.
• Headphones are considered smart devices and follow the same expectations.
• Payments at Figtree Café need to be made via FlexiCard, cash or debit card, not via a smart device.

In the Junior School the Fast Five are as follows:

• At the start of each day, place your device in the classroom storage area.
• Smart watches must also be handed in.
• At the end of the school day, collect your device – this is your responsibility.
• When using Brooksbank Library after school, hand all devices to Library staff.
• If you are unsure about anything, ask a teacher for help.

These rules are simple by design. They minimise distractions, encourage face-to-face connection, and ensure devices are used only when they genuinely support learning. Smart Device Passes can be issued for documented medical or specific learning needs, keeping student wellbeing at the centre while maintaining overall expectations.  By establishing clear expectations from Year 5, we aim to support students to develop healthy digital habits in a way that is safe, consistent and developmentally appropriate.

As with any policy or process update at Camberwell Girls, we will continuously monitor and evaluate the implementation of the Smart Devices Policy over the coming months through our three schools. We will actively gather feedback and, where necessary, revise and enhance our practices to ensure that implementation is effective, sustainable, and aligned with the needs of our community.

The Smart Devices Policy, and the Secondary and Junior School Expectations are available under Parent Resources on MyCGGS .