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The department’s student use of mobile phones and personal devices policy (PDF 618 KB) was updated in 2023 to support safe and productive learning environments.
In line with the statewide ban, students are required to keep mobile phones and other personal devices off and away all day at school.
There are some exemptions (on this page), approved by individual schools, for students with exceptional circumstances and to support positive uses in learning.
This policy is compulsory for all South Australian public schools, and has been in place statewide since the start of term 3, 2023.
Review of policy in secondary schools
One year after full implementation, the department surveyed over 3000 staff, parents and students to consider how the policy is working in schools, and whether any changes are needed.
The findings of the review suggest the policy has been effective in helping promote safe classroom environments with reduced negative impacts from personal devices.
Read the mobile phones in secondary schools 1 year review report (PDF 727 KB) .
Use of mobile phones
Students at all public schools must keep their mobile phones and other personal devices, such as smart watches, switched off and put away while they’re at school. The policy also applies when students are attending school camps or excursions.
Students may only use their personal devices during these times if they’ve been given permission by the school in line with one of the policy exemptions (on this page).
This policy helps to:
- limit the times students may be exposed to negative impacts from inappropriate or unsafe use of devices, such as cyberbullying or harmful content
- promote classroom environments where teachers can teach, and students can learn, free from distractions caused by personal use of devices
- encourage use of breaks as quality time away from screens for more physical activity, play, and face-to-face connections.
The department consulted with key stakeholder groups to refine the details of the policy update, including exemptions for agreed positive uses of mobile phones and other personal devices.
The policy at your child’s school
Each school has developed a local policy describing how they are following the department’s policy. While the same policy applies to all schools, there is some flexibility provided so that schools can shape it to their individual context and needs.
Schools’ local policies will explain:
- how and where students need to store their personal devices at school
- how the school will respond if a student is not following the policy
- the circumstances where students may be permitted by their teacher to use a personal device for learning or another agreed positive purpose (if applicable)
- any other details specific to that school’s implementation of the policy.
Contact your child’s school if you have any questions about these details, or to see a copy of their local policy.
Schools are encouraged to consult with their communities when reviewing and updating their local policies, which are endorsed by governing councils.
Supporting safe and responsible use of devices
With the widespread ownership of mobile phones and other devices among children and young people it’s important for schools, in partnership with families, to provide clear guidance for students to become informed, safe, respectful, and responsible digital citizens.
Adults can support students to make safe and positive choices by modelling responsible and respectful use of personal devices and helping children and young people develop the tools to self-manage their behaviour.
This includes learning:
- when it’s appropriate to use devices for personal and recreational purposes
- the importance of also having some ‘offline’ time each day to focus without distractions from personal devices
- balancing screen time with physical activity or play, quality sleep, having face-to-face social connections, and spending time outdoors and doing other enjoyable offline activities for improved physical and mental health and wellbeing.
Schools teach students skills in digital literacy, staying safe online, and respectful relationships through their learning curriculum. There are also links to some resources for students and parents at the bottom of this page.
Use of school devices and student laptops
The ban doesn't apply to:
- laptops or tablets brought to school for learning purposes under a Bring Your Own Device program
- digital technologies supplied by the school.
These devices are covered by a separate user agreement and are connected to the school’s networks. This helps protect students from accessing content that is inappropriate, harmful, or illegal when they’re using digital technology for learning. Personal devices are different, as they may have their own internet connection and aren’t filtered by the school’s network.
We know that mobile phones and personal devices can also be powerful learning tools for students. That’s why the department has provided flexibility for schools to decide whether to permit student use of personal devices for learning.
Exemptions
Exceptional circumstances
Exemptions are considered and may be approved by principals on a case-by-case basis where:
- the student uses their device to monitor or manage a medical condition (to be documented in the student’s health care plan)
- the device is an agreed adjustment for a student with disability or learning difficulties (to be documented in the student’s OnePlan or other support plan)
- the device is used for translation by a student with English as an additional language or dialect (EALD)
- the student has extenuating personal circumstances requiring more immediate access to their device, such as being the primary carer for a child or family member.
Contact your child’s school if you need to discuss an exemption request due to these exceptional circumstances. The school may ask you for further information or documents explaining how the personal device would be used to support your child’s needs.
If an exemption is approved, the school may make some arrangements about how and when your child can access their personal device to use it for the exempted reason.
Alternatively, there could be other accommodations or strategies that the school can put in place to ensure your child’s needs are appropriately addressed.
Personal devices for learning
The department’s policy has some optional exemptions that individual schools can decide whether they want to include in their local policies. These exemptions allow teachers, at their discretion, to give temporary permission:
- for students (individuals or on a whole-class basis) to use their personal device for a specific learning activity
- on a negotiated basis for individual students wanting to use their personal device for another agreed, positive purpose
- to allow students to bring personal devices on a camp or excursion and use them for learning purposes and/or connecting with families at agreed times.
Refer to the local policy at your child’s school for information about whether they have included any or all of these optional exemptions, and how and when they may be used at that school. For example, some schools might only use personal devices in learning with certain year levels.
Communicating with your child at school
Students can still bring phones and use them before and after school:
- to help support safe travel
- for contact with family and friends
- for out-of-hours commitments such as part-time employment.
Use the school’s communication channels if you need to get in touch with your child during school hours. Contact the school office for more information about these channels. Likewise, school staff will contact you directly wherever needed.
Students are encouraged to always report to a school staff member in the first instance if they become unwell or experience an issue at school. This is so staff can provide appropriate support, including contact with parents and following formal processes for early collection from school where necessary.
Resources for students and parents
There’s more detailed information and ideas on our website about:
- supporting children to use digital technology safely and responsibly
- talking with your child about online risks
- what to do when your child has an online problem.
Raising Children website
The Department for Social Services’ Raising Children website has many resources for parents. Topics include:
- role modelling positive behaviour with devices
- supporting children’s responsible mobile phone use
- cyberbullying and online safety
- balancing screen time with other important developmental activities (including physical activity, quality sleep, socialisation, and creative time).
See the Raising Children resources for:
eSafety Commissioner website
The eSafety Commissioner website contains helpful resources and free webinars on topics such as:
- online safety basics
- how to use parental controls on devices
- advice about popular social media sites and apps
- managing screen time at home.
